| FAQ's
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on a question to see the answer : Q:
As an independent contractor, how is it that you maintain a relationship with
the chiller manufacturer's who also function as competitors. A:
This is one of our more frequently asked questions by new customers. Simply, the
"OEM's" have and always will be - Manufacturers. This is what they wish
to do, do it well and by no means would trade off for a "service business".
They do however, have service organizations as a requirement for start-up and
warranty support and secondly function for after-market service.
The manufacturer themselves recognize, they simply may not make each end user
pleased, yet must be sure that their product is indeed supported. Therefore, for
their own interest and that of the chillers owners, product, training, parts and
support are made available to competent independent contractors throughout the
United States.
Q: The OEM's have Factory Service Technicians, how are you
able to provide better service?
A:
Interesting question. Actually all the OEM's throughout the continental USA employ
from local labor pools as do the neighboring independents. So, in fact the difference
is not who is a "Factory technician" but who is "Factory trained"!!!
Our field service engineers are indeed Factory trained on Trane, Carrier, York,
Dunham Bush and the major Steam Turbine Manufacturers. Furthermore, this is performed
on a remedial basis often throughout an OEM's product line.
It is our experience that the local OEM's provide less factory training than most
may think! Please ask, it is indeed important.
Q: How about technical specifications, clearances, tolerances
and mechanical drawings on a product…where do you find this resource.
A:
Our library consists of literally thousands of mechanical drawings, disassembly
guides, bills of materials, clearances, tolerances and OEM service guides and
specifications on chillers as old as Carrier 1940 vintage 17M's through new York
YST, Carrier 19XR, Trane CVHF and every panel and processor ever in production.
Q: As an independent, you apparently have a choice, which manufacturer
do you prefer?
A:
Well the answer to this question is more interesting in the first statement…the
choice?
Yes as independents, first and foremost we can simply be impartial. Therefore
if a particular OEM excels in a specific aftermarket product, panel, VSD or even
new chiller, we can comfortably and freely offer and justify this to our customer.
This is a level of latitude and diversification simply not afforded to the customer
by the OEM, as he must market what he has available. Q:
So Hybrid plants must be your specialty? A:
Yes, plants that do have multiple chiller manufacturers certainly provide the
owner a convenient single point of service.
Q: Can you purchase genuine factory parts?
A:
Yes and the OEM's frankly can't sell us enough. In 15 years we have sold OEM Trane,
Carrier and York parts in excess of 10 million dollars and have never used an
aftermarket or reproduction part, or alternate lubricant.
7Q: What is your geographical service area?
A:
Obviously for an emergency service agreement, we keep it local to NY Metropolitan
Area, New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island. However, major overhauls, upgrades,
repairs and retrofits have been and continue to be performed throughout the continental
USA. In addition consulting is performed at this level as well.
Q: Are you willing to support other independent contractors?
A:
Due to the focused market of the HVAC business we are in, a great deal of our
business is procured as subcontractor to other HVAC contractors. We have and continue
to maintain and develop relationships similar to these for years.
Incidentally, we are on occasion subcontracted by the OEM's as well.
Q: What other services do you provide besides chillers and
turbines?
A:
Well, we do service package and unitary HVAC, however this is not our target market.
We find that with the complexity of today's sophisticated chiller processors,
controllers, applications, compressors and capacity devices that a broad brush
simply doesn't cover the wall well. We are indeed pleased to express a focus in
a core sector.
Q: So exactly what is it that ICACS does to chillers…just
repairs and maintenance?
A:
While chillers clearly need remedial maintenance and occasional repair, we must
not forget many are expected to operate for 20-25 plus years, and replacement
can often be costly or moreso - not practical.
We therefore offer a list of aftermarket upgrades as simple as control panel retrofits
and as complex as jobsite remanufacturing, providing new equipment warranties
and new lifecycle expectations, via motors, tubes, controllers, compressor drivelines,
impellars, etc. Q:
Do you subcontract your labor? A:
No…All of our staff are in-house employees of Industrial Cooling, Inc.
Q: Who are some of your customers?
A:
NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation
Chief Medical Examiners Office of NYC
New York Public Library
Seagram's Building
UN Plaza
Bloomingdales
Lord and Taylor
NYC Board of Education
Cushman and Wakefield
RFR Realty
George Comfort and Sons
CUNY
Freeport Power Plant
Woods Group Power
Plants
NYU Medical Center
Evergreen Equities
NY Botanical Gardens
St. Vincent's Hospital Q:
How often does an overhaul/bearing inspection to a turbine or compressor need
to be performed? A:
The real concern is too soon or too late but generally speaking 5-7 years on a
compressor with normal operation would experience moderate to excess bearing wear.
A unit that may have experienced periods of surge, liquid carryover, high condensing
temperatures, oil dilution or high oil temperature may see significantly more
aggressive wear in a fraction of this period.
Turbine manufacturers require annual bearing inspection followed by 3-year cap
lifts and internal inspection, as do the building insurance companies. Q:
I see you address' new "lifecycle products" or "enhancement products"…what
can I expect from these? A:
Well "life-cycle" overhauls are just that. We can completely and cost
effectively restore an older chiller to new chiller conditions providing 20 year
plus life expectancies, often with new OEM warranties and serial numbers.
This is accomplished through both, motor and/or starter changes, tube replacement,
control retrofits and compressor overhauls. Efficiency's captured can often exceed
20-25%! Q:
Does an oil analysis determine bearing wear…or the time required for an internal
inspection? A:
We view oil analysis as a "proof-negative", whereas if we find significant
wear metals it suggests a problem, however if wear metals are not pronounced it
does not insure the bearing's are indeed acceptable. Furthermore, oil analysis
only indicates conditions associated with the lube oil circuit (associated bearings
and journals) and not indicative of internal rotor and compressor conditions.
Try to imagine a small bit of dust that accumulates on your desk each day, if
it is cleaned before you notice it - you don't realize the accumulation. This
is exactly what is occurring in a lube oil circuit with a fine micron oil filter
- the particles are often captured in the element prior to the oil sample.
Oil analysis should be used as a guide only as bearing wear and more so for acids
and moisture. Q:
For years I have had refrigerant analysis performed…Do I need this and an
oil analysis? A:
While moisture and acids can indeed be found in both, we primarily use a refrigerant
analysis to determine HBR (high boiling residue) which tends to be oil content.
3% oil can result in 8% reduction in chiller efficiency and performance, 9% can
reduce performance by 25%! Q:
I have a low pressure chiller that has several small leaks for years, yet has
no symptomatic or adverse operating conditions as the purge maintain the vacuum…do
I need to repair such leaks? A:
No…if you simply wish to keep operating the chiller until symptoms occur.
However, you must understand what is occurring, the chiller is introducing air,
non-condensables and moisture. These components in the presence of refrigerant
and oil create formulated acids and "wet" the walls, vanes, shafts and
motor stator of your chiller. The dessicants and purge can tolerate only small
amounts of these by-products.
Therefore, although performance is not impacted, the chiller is exposed to a degenerative
environment, ultimately resulting in greater problems.
Furthermore, small amounts of refrigerant are indeed vented even with todays efficient
purges.
Q: Can you provide training to our staff?
A:
Yes we can provide operational maintenance training. We can also provide technical
training and overhaul training to our customers and other contractors. | 
