Due to expected weather and cold temperatures, our team is beginning the process of shutting down and draining the cooling tower, and preparing for seasonal maintenance. We are already scheduling our mechanical plant for annual chiller maintenance and repairs, and the team is making plans to conduct other tasks that can only be done while AC Service is unavailable.
AC service will not return until startup is scheduled, sometime in the Spring.
We realize there may be times it will be uncomfortable, particularly during warm and sunny weather. However, by design, the cooling tower cannot be running or have water in it when there are sustained freezing temperatures.
We appreciate everyone’s understanding while this change is being made for the season.
Overnight temps have been cool enough to require heating, but we have not had the timing necessary to provide AC during the day. So, sun facing units have had to deal with some discomfort.
Following questions our team had today – Thursday October 22nd – maintenance explained:
“Boilers were needed this morning and did not shut off until about 9:30am. Then, the system was in neutral [neither heat nor ac]. Residents will experience warm loop temperatures through early afternoon. Pumps are circulating water to bring the loop temps down to bring relief to the residents. But we won’t have time to switch to AC.”
This kind of demonstrated in real time what the challenge is…as explained in the previous posts, it takes about 8 hours to transition. That is roughly how long it takes the water in the line to cool down. So…in theory, if the heat goes off at 9am, even in neutral, the line could still be warmish until 5pm. By then, we would not be able to turn the AC on, because we will have to be ready to potentially provide heat again at night.
In Response To A Few Questions About When To Expect Heat…
While there is rarely a perfect scenario thanks to mother nature, our heating and cooling system is automated, and transitions will happen as weather conditions evolve. Presently it is set so that below 55, heating service comes on and above 60 AC service comes on. And we say AC for now, because at some point AC will be off permanently for the season, so seasonal maintenance can be completed.
Between outdoor temps of 55 and 60, typically the system will be in ‘neutral’ and there will neither be heat or air.
The reason for these settings, is because this is the range and limits where we typically observe hallway air temps around 72 or 73, give or take a degree or two.
That being said, our team does monitor temperatures throughout the building, and considers any feedback we are getting from residents. If hallway temperatures fall to 70 or lower, they may change the setting and begin providing heat sooner. If we get an avalanche of calls that folks are too hot or too cold, we may also make adjustments.
For now, we can say that given the present outlook, heat will be on more often, and we will transition to AC a lot less. Because it takes up to 8 hours to transition to AC and 8 hours to transition back to heat, 16 hour windows where AC would be nice, will now be few and far between.
More below.
We will balance any change over as best we can, but keep in mind the process is not just a flip of the switch. Transitions take up to 8 hours. The temperature of the water in the pipes must properly settle depending on whether we are moving from heating to cooling or cooling to heating which can take 6 to 8 hours either way, otherwise we risk damaging pipes and mechanicals. (We can’t just put superheated water into the chillers, and we can’t put chilled water into the boilers.)
Heating is the priority beginning September 15th, consistent with the Chicago Heating Ordinance. So, we can only switch to cooling if conditions will allow for a transition. Even then, we will only do so if temps are expected to result in discomfort and there is enough time to safely transition to cooling. Remember, it takes about 8 hours. This can be difficult to navigate, particularly when we have relatively cool outdoor temps but full sunlight during the day. Up to the point the valve project commenced, temperatures have not been cool enough overnight to justify transitioning. But the weather outlook now makes it likely we will be begin providing heat.
Our team aims to maintain hallway temperatures in the low 70s which tends to support unit temperatures in the 70s as well. We have sensors in multiple locations inside and out of the building and these are monitored almost obsessively. Typically, we expect the need for heating with outdoor temps in the mid to low 50s or colder. AC is typically available when the sun is out and temps are around the low 60s or higher. When the weather changes quickly, switchovers are challenging. When it’s 40 degrees in the morning, and climbs into the 70s in the early afternoon, the transition will be slow, if it happens at all. We have to consider whether heating will be needed again that night and the time needed to switch back over to heat, and so there will be times we may not switchover to cooling. We realize full sun during the day heats some units very quickly, and we have no control over that. Likewise, if hallways are holding steady in the 70s overnight, we may not switchover to heat. Once colder weather truly sets in, and we start expecting freezing temps, the cooling tower will be drained and annual maintenance will get underway. Cooling will not be available until Spring and heating should be available going forward.
It will not be 100% comfortable for 100% of our residents, 100% of the time during this transitional period. However resident comments and observations can help us make adjustments and improve conditions as much as possible. Contact us anytime at parktowercondo-mgmt@habitat.com, or call the office 773-769-3250.
