How long does a chiller replacement project take?

Timeline depends on chiller size, building access, and whether replacement is like-for-like or involves system modifications. Typical projects range from 2-8 weeks from equipment arrival to commissioning. We schedule work to minimize impact on building cooling during the season.

What are the benefits of upgrading to a new chiller?

Modern chillers offer 20-40% better efficiency than equipment from the 1990s-2000s, reducing electricity costs significantly. They also feature improved refrigerants, better controls integration, lower maintenance requirements, and enhanced reliability.

Do you handle refrigerant transition for older chillers?

Yes. Many older chillers use refrigerants being phased out under federal regulations. We manage the complete transition including refrigerant recovery, proper disposal documentation, and selection of new equipment using modern, compliant refrigerants.

Can chiller replacement be done without disrupting building cooling?

For buildings with multiple chillers, we can stage replacement to maintain partial cooling capacity. For single-chiller buildings, we typically schedule during spring or fall shoulder seasons, or arrange temporary cooling solutions if summer replacement is necessary.

Chiller Retrofit: Upgrade Your Building's Cooling

Chillers are the most expensive equipment in any building's mechanical system. When replacement time comes, the decisions you make will impact your building's comfort, energy costs, and reserve fund for decades.

We manage complete chiller retrofit projects from equipment selection through commissioning. Our experience with centrifugal, screw, scroll, and modular chillers means we can recommend the right solution for your building's specific needs and budget.

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Energy efficiency gains

Modern chillers are 20-40% more efficient than equipment from the 1990s-2000s. The energy savings often pay back a significant portion of replacement costs over the equipment's life.

Refrigerant compliance

Many older chillers use refrigerants being phased out under federal regulations. New equipment uses modern refrigerants with better environmental profiles and assured long-term availability.

Improved reliability

New chillers with modern controls integrate seamlessly with building automation, offer remote monitoring capabilities, and eliminate the surprise failures that plague aging equipment.

Why proactive chiller replacement?

Chillers don't fail gracefully. A catastrophic compressor failure in July leaves your building without cooling during the hottest days—and emergency replacements cost 30-50% more than planned projects.

Avoid emergency costs: Planned replacement allows competitive bidding, proper equipment selection, and scheduling that minimizes impact on residents.
Energy cost reduction: Modern chillers reduce electricity consumption significantly—savings of $20,000-50,000+ annually are common for mid-rise condos.
Reserve fund planning: Proactive replacement aligns with reserve fund studies and can be timed to match available funding.
Utility rebates: Energy-efficient chiller upgrades often qualify for utility incentive programs, reducing net project costs.

Our retrofit process

Chiller replacement is a major capital project requiring careful planning and execution. Our process ensures successful outcomes with minimal disruption to building operations.

Assessment

Existing equipment evaluation
Building load analysis
Mechanical room assessment
Rigging path evaluation
Electrical capacity review

Engineering

Equipment selection
Piping design
Electrical engineering
Controls integration plan
Permit applications

Procurement

Equipment ordering
Lead time management
Utility rebate applications
Staging coordination
Rigging arrangements

Demolition

Refrigerant recovery
Oil removal
Equipment disconnection
Old chiller removal
Area preparation

Installation

Rigging and placement
Piping connections
Electrical hookup
Controls wiring
Refrigerant charging

Commissioning

System startup
Performance verification
BAS integration
Operator training
Documentation package

Chiller manufacturers we install

We work with all major chiller manufacturers and can recommend the best fit for your building's needs, budget, and long-term maintenance considerations.

Smardt

Oil-free centrifugal

Trane

Centrifugal & screw

Carrier

All chiller types

York

Centrifugal & screw

Daikin

Air & water-cooled

McQuay

Centrifugal & screw

Multistack

Modular chillers

Dunham-Bush

Screw & scroll

Also installing: Mammoth, Climacool, LG, Mitsubishi, Lennox, and other commercial chiller manufacturers. We help you select the right equipment based on efficiency requirements, space constraints, maintenance considerations, and total cost of ownership.

Compliance & safety

Chiller replacement involves significant regulatory requirements. We handle all compliance aspects so you can focus on building operations.

TSSA Compliance

All work performed by TSSA-certified refrigeration technicians. Proper permits, inspections, and documentation maintained throughout the project.

Refrigerant Handling

Certified recovery of existing refrigerant with proper documentation. New equipment charged with modern, compliant refrigerants. Full federal logging compliance.

Health & Safety

Full OHSA compliance including rigging safety, confined space protocols, and hazardous material handling. WSIB coverage for all workers on site.

For property managers & boards

Chiller replacement is one of the largest capital expenditures a condo corporation faces—often $300,000-$800,000+. We understand the governance, financial planning, and communication requirements for projects of this scale.

Board presentations: We attend board meetings to present options, explain trade-offs, and answer technical questions in plain language.
Reserve fund alignment: Projects can be timed to match reserve fund availability, and we provide documentation supporting reserve fund study updates.
Utility rebates: We identify and apply for applicable utility incentive programs, maximizing rebate recovery to offset project costs.
Progress reporting: Regular updates through our dashboard keep boards informed of project status, milestones, and any issues requiring attention.

Chiller Projects Across Toronto

We've completed chiller retrofit projects in buildings across the GTA—from single-chiller mid-rises to multi-chiller high-rise plants. See our project portfolio for examples of our work.

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FAQs

Timeline depends on equipment lead times, building access, and project complexity. Equipment lead times currently range from 12-24 weeks depending on manufacturer and specifications. Once equipment arrives, on-site work typically takes 2-8 weeks from demolition through commissioning. We work to minimize cooling disruption and can stage multi-chiller replacements to maintain partial capacity.

Modern chillers are typically 20-40% more efficient than equipment from the 1990s-2000s when operating at design conditions. The improvement is even greater at part-load conditions thanks to variable speed drives. For a mid-rise condo, this often translates to $20,000-50,000+ in annual electricity savings—a significant offset to project costs over the equipment's 20-25 year life.

We recover all refrigerant from existing equipment using certified recovery equipment. The refrigerant is either reclaimed (cleaned and resold) or properly destroyed per federal regulations. You receive complete documentation of refrigerant quantities and disposition for your compliance records. Many older chillers use R-22 or other refrigerants being phased out—recovery is especially important for these regulated substances.

For buildings with multiple chillers, we can stage replacement to maintain partial capacity—though not full design capacity. For single-chiller buildings, we typically schedule work during spring or fall shoulder seasons when cooling demand is minimal. If summer replacement is unavoidable, we can arrange temporary rental chillers to maintain building comfort during the transition.

Yes, many utility incentive programs offer rebates for high-efficiency chiller installations. Rebates are typically based on efficiency improvements and can range from $10,000 to $100,000+ depending on equipment size and efficiency level. We identify applicable programs during the proposal phase and handle rebate applications as part of our project scope.

Costs vary significantly based on chiller size, type (centrifugal, screw, etc.), building access constraints, and required modifications. Typical projects range from $200,000 for smaller screw chillers to $800,000+ for large centrifugal units. We provide detailed proposals after site assessment, including equipment options at different price points and efficiency levels.

Ready to plan your chiller retrofit?

Request a site assessment and detailed proposal. We'll help you understand your options, timeline, and budget requirements for a successful project.

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