HVAC systems can be complex. Don’t get us wrong, sometimes a job is as simple as replacing an old piece of equipment with a new one. Often, however, that’s not the case. When our client in Clinton, MD called, needing to replace their 30+ year old cooling tower, the job was anything but simple. In fact, it took a combination of expertise, determination, and a bit of detective work to make sure they were fitted with the right equipment.

In the end, three key factors enabled us to effectively solve our client’s problem:

Here’s an old yet sophisticated cooling tower system at St. Mary’s Piscataway in Clinton, MD.

1. We understand systems with complex configurations.

Our client had an old system, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t sophisticated. This wasn’t a scenario where a new piece of equipment would be placed and plugged in like a refrigerator. The cooling tower featured an underground pump, so that water traveled underground in order to reach the tower. What a previous firm hadn’t realized is that you needed to access a subterranean room to properly assess the system. Our technicians were able to quickly understand the system set up and move on to the hard part…

It took some detective work to figure out the best option to replace this system.

2. We’re able to identify and properly research replacement options for old equipment.

This cooling tower was so old, and in such poor condition, that the model number had literally rusted off. For newer equipment, it’s not rocket science to look up a brand name and model for a replacement. In the case of this system, and many older ones, you need to trust that your mechanical services firm has the right knowledge, the ability to do the research, and the contacts to source hard-to-find equipment. With our knowledge of the way the system was configured, we were able to figure out the exact original model and procure the replacement.

3. We had to expertise to fit new equipment with an old system.

On top of being able to understand the intricate workings of a complex system, firms need to handle the challenge of adding new equipment to a system that may have been built ages ago. In the case of a cooling tower, new technology has to be fitted with a system that may be over twenty years old. If your firm doesn’t “know their stuff”, you could end up with an over-sized or undersized unit – and all the problems that go along with that. In the end, after waiting months for other firms to unsuccessfully come to a solution, Trimark was able to give concrete recommendations after just two days.