Bill Spade Electric recommends replacing aging heat exchangers; trustees request consolidated quote

A technician from Bill Spade Electric told Ross Township trustees that a leaking secondary heat exchanger in the municipal building’s furnace makes replacing both units’ exchangers the more reliable option, and he urged the board to consider replacing both because the units are roughly 19 years old.

Jason of Bill Spade Electric said the secondary exchanger was leaking and that, given the age of the furnaces, replacing a single exchanger may leave the other unit vulnerable to near-term failure. He warned, “heat exchangers aren't cheap,” and described parts-and-labor scenarios that could make full replacement comparable to multiple exchanger repairs.

The recommendation prompted trustees to ask administration to obtain a single, consolidated price for replacing both exchangers. Board members discussed a target figure—several trustees expressed that they would be willing to proceed if the contractor could reduce the two-exchanger job to about $4,000 total—without taking a formal vote at the meeting.

Administrator Lori Kyle said she would ask the contractor to provide a written quote and circulate it to trustees so they could approve a purchase order quickly if needed. No binding contract or appropriation was approved during the meeting; trustees directed staff to collect the quote and consider a purchase-order request for prompt action if winter temperatures require immediate repairs.

The administration also noted the building remains usable until repaired and that the contractor provides one-year labor warranties on new commercial equipment and 10-year heat-exchanger warranties on new units. Trustees asked for the quote to be shared electronically so members could respond before the next business day.