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Helm: district HVAC units aging, many use obsolete R‑22 refrigerant; phasing saves money but raises trade-offs
Summary
Contractor Helm presented a district HVAC condition assessment, flagged obsolete R‑22 refrigerant in many rooftop units and recommended options ranging from repair cores to full replacement; contractors said grouped replacements lower costs, while phasing may increase long-term expense and create mixed control systems.
Contractor Helm delivered a condition-assessment briefing to the Norris School District 160 board Wednesday, identifying aging HVAC equipment at the high school and elementary school and warning that many rooftop and heat-pump units still use R‑22 refrigerant, which the contractor described as obsolete.
"All the refrigerant in those units is an R‑22 refrigerant, and that's been obsolete," the contractor said, noting R‑22 manufacturing ceased and future availability depends on reclaimed supplies. Helm detailed that ASHRAE life-expectancy guidance and visible physical wear (hail damage, missing panels) informed ratings…
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