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After York chiller failure, Bedford approves $267,910 replacement and seeks extended warranty on remaining unit
Summary
After staff reported evaporator-barrel failure and refrigerant contamination in a York chiller at the Bedford Center, the council on May 27 approved purchasing a replacement chiller from Johnson Controls for an estimated $267,910.
The Bedford City Council authorized the purchase of a replacement chiller for the Bedford Center (Generations Park at Boys Ranch) at an estimated cost of $267,910 during its May 27 meeting, after staff reported a failure in the center's secondary York chiller.
Parks and Facilities Director Mark Long told the council technicians from Siemens and Johnson Controls (the original installer) inspected the unit and found the evaporator barrel had failed and refrigerant had mixed with water inside the heat exchanger. "They did determine that the chiller was no good," Long said. Both Siemens and Johnson Controls told staff they had not seen this precise failure on similar units; staff said they could not determine the cause without a forensic audit.
Long said the failed unit was outside the original two-year warranty period; startup-based warranty timing meant the factory warranty expired Oct. 1, 2023. Because the building can still be cooled by the remaining chiller, staff characterized the situation as urgent but not an immediate shutdown risk. Staff requested and council approved purchasing a replacement chiller through Johnson Controls via the Soarscribe cooperative so the unit could be procured and installed quickly (staff reported an in-stock unit available in San Antonio).
Council members pushed staff to seek additional warranty coverage for the remaining chiller and to inventory other large HVAC items at the Bedford Center to identify further out-of-warranty exposure. Facilities Manager Chris Clark said rooftop units exist that are less expensive (roughly $15,000'$25,000 each) but that the two chillers are the largest single-ticket items. Staff said they were negotiating with Johnson Controls to add performance-maintenance coverage or an extended warranty for the remaining chiller.
Funding for the purchase was identified as PhaseNext bond interest (staff said about $1.089 million in interest earnings was available). Staff estimated the replacement could be mobilized and installed within about two weeks if the unit is available.
Councilmember Farco moved approval; Mayor Pro Tem Gagliardi seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Council instructed staff to press the manufacturer/installer for extended warranty coverage on the surviving chiller and to produce an inventory of large HVAC warranties at the facility.
