Today I got the big tour of the work being done on the HVAC system being installed in our church. It was explained to me, coming from a layman’s perspective. Chris from R.A. Flynn gave me the tour. We started in the bowels of the boiler room where Chris showed me the boiler piping and explained how the chiller piping was coming into the church. (The compressor units will be located on the roof, behind the nave area.) Chris then showed me how the pipes for the current system run through the undercroft towards the church front. One thing I did not realize is that every square inch of piping needs to be insulated. Chris explained that cold pipes sweat if they are not completely insulated. So, from the boiler room, through the dishwashing room, through the back hall ceiling, through the storage room, above the drop ceiling in the undercroft and into the storage closets, all those pipes have to be accessed and wrapped with insulation. Thank fully, Joe Lochotzki remembered an old organ pipe run from the K of C closet up to the choir loft. R.A. Flynn used this run for piping to the choir loft chiller units and will also use it for electrical. I was informed that I just missed the floor of the choir loft being torn out to run and insulate piping.
All four chiller units have arrived to tie the piping to. Two of the units will be installed in the choir loft at the very front of the overhang. Chris explained that air return holes will be cut in the front of the choir loft overhang. They will nicely follow the shape of the woodworking in the loft’s surround. Of course, they will be boxed in and hidden from view with the original panels. The other two units will be installed behind the new reredos that is planned for the sanctuary.
Chris then took me down to show me how the system tied in with out existing registers. I had heard, but it was verified, that the registers we now have are set up for a chilling system to be installed. My obvious question to Chris was, “Explain to me the difference between a cold water system and a forced air system.” (Some of you may think this is an uneducated question, but I bet there’s a number of you who need it explained, like me.) He explained; our system is set up with a series of pipes. In the winter these pipes carry warm water from the boiler to the registers. With the new air conditioning system, these pipes will carry cold water through the pipes which will, in turn, absorb the heat from the building and cool the environment. You can see the water coils inside the registers. These pipes will also sweat but need to be exposed to the church air and cannot be insulated. Our registers are equipped with drip pans and drains for use with a cooling system.
The Renovation & Beautification committee and Fr. Dave had many discussions about the “difficulty” of getting a commercial company to come in for a small installation like ours. We’re not quite commercial but way bigger than residential. So, of course, I asked Chris if we were one of the smaller jobs he’s done. He answered that, while we were small, the work required was significantly more difficult, because of the accessibility issues. He and his partner are used to doing installations on Churches that are being newly built. Chris also mentioned that, while he’s working in the church itself, he just feels like he’s being ‘watched’. I know what you mean Chris
