Retail Store HVAC Coil Replacement – Restoring Cooling After Freeze Damage
At Velocity Mechanical, we understand how critical it is to maintain climate control in retail environment. We were recently called out to a local retail store where staff noticed water leaking from the mechanical room. What began as a leak investigation quickly turned into a full-scale HVAC restoration project.
The Problem: Frozen and Ruptured Chilled Water Coils
Upon arrival, our technician traced the water leak to the building’s second-floor air handler. The issue was soon identified: due to a fault in the smoke evacuation program, the outside air dampers had remained 100% open during a period of sub-freezing temperatures. This allowed cold air to enter the unit unchecked, freezing the water inside the chilled water coils.
As a result, multiple coils ruptured. One coil was patched and returned to service, but the other two had extensive internal damage and were beyond repair. To prevent further complications, the damaged coils were isolated.
The Solution: Coil Replacement with Zero Business Interruption
We were contracted to replace the failed chilled water coils and bring the air handler back to full operational capacity. This required detailed planning, precise timing, and careful execution to ensure the store could remain open without disruption.
The old coils were removed and new coils installed—all before the store opened for the day. Our team coordinated a well-timed lift and worked efficiently within tight deadlines to avoid interrupting daily operations.
Added Value: System Upgrades for Long-Term Reliability
While the system was offline, we took the opportunity to make important improvements:
- Pressure testing of the entire system and piping was completed to verify it was completely leak-free before refilling.
- Improper expansion tank piping was identified and corrected to improve system performance and reduce future risk.
- New freezestats were installed and thoroughly tested.
- We collaborated with the client’s building automation technician to ensure the new freezestats were properly integrated and would prevent this kind of freeze-related failure in the future.
Back to Business with Full Cooling Capacity
With the new coils in place and the system operating at full capacity again, the store now benefits from a more reliable HVAC system and improved freeze protection. Our focus on proactive upgrades ensures this client is better protected from future issues.