WE ARE COMMITTED TO COLD AND WANT TO SHARE SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WITH YOU TO HELP SERVICE YOUR GLYCOL CHILLER.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is glycol?
Glycol is an antifreeze. There are two main types of glycol: propylene and ethylene. In food applications propylene glycol is used as it is non-toxic. Ethylene glycol is typically used in industrial applications.
What is the proper glycol to water percentage or mixture?
G&D Chillers recommends a 35% Inhibited Propylene Glycol to 65% water (24.75 brix). Measure the solution using a glycol refractometer.
Where do i set or install my chiller?
The chiller location needs to be on a flat, level surface, typically outside on a concrete pad. It can be installed on a roof, but this will require a roof capable for supporting the chillers operating weight. Make sure you contact your local municipality for any city and state regulations.
Does chiller placement matter?
Yes! Be mindful of air flow when deciding where to place the chiller. Overhangs can prevent air rejection, so Vertical Air series chillers should not be placed underneath them. Similarly, there should be no obstructions in front of the exhaust side of horizontal discharge units. Refer to your chiller manual for more detail.
What is the lead time to build my new chiller?
This varies depending on the time of year. A typical lead time is 4-6 weeks.
How much maintenance does a package chiller require?
Maintenance is minimal. Measure the glycol mixture quarterly throughout the year. Keep the condenser clear of obstructions and free of leaves and debris. It is good to establish a relationship with a qualified technician in your area. Yearly inspections after the first or second year are a good idea. G&D partners with multiple service companies throughout the country if you need a recommendation.
Do you provide consultation on how to pipe my glycol supply and return and tanks?
We will fully design and size your supply and return mainline with the purchase of your chiller. We work directly with you and your team to ensure that the system is installed correctly. Contact us directly to discuss our pre-insulated piping options.
What size chiller do i need?
There are many variables involved with the sizing of a Glycol Chiller. We have a team ready to ask you the questions to determine your precise requirements.
What is a btu?
British Thermal Unit: The amount of energy needed to cool or heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
What does it mean when someone says you need a 5 ton chiller?
A refrigerated ton is a measurement of BTUs, where 1 ton = 12,000 BTU/hr. It is important to know how many BTUs a particular chiller can produce at your required leaving glycol/water temperature.
Is a 5 hp chiller the same as a 5 ton chiller?
NO. This is where it can sometimes get confusing. At air conditioning temperatures a 5 HP compressor can produce close to 5 tons of cooling. However, if your application requires a lower glycol fluid temperature, that same 5 HP compressor will produce less BTUs/tons. This means more horsepower is required to produce 5 tons at those lower temperatures..
What should I set my chiller temperature at?
For our medium temperature chillers, we typically recommend a 26° to 30° Fahrenheit setpoint.
For our low temperature chillers, we generally recommend a -20° to -50°F setpoint.
For our high temperature chillers, called scroll chillers, we generally recommend 55° to 60°F setpoint
What material should I use for my process piping?
For our medium temperature chillers, we recommend using schedule 80PVC, copper, stainless steel and Georg Fischer “Cool Fit.”
For our low temperature chillers, we recommend using copper, stainless steel, or Georg Fischer “Cool Fit.”
What kind of product should I use to clean my condenser coil?
G&D Chillers recommends using condenser coil cleaner to clean your condenser quarterly. We recommend using any of the Nu-Calgon products but specifically “Nu-Calgon Special HD” as this ensures that you get proper air flow though the condenser and ensures the refrigeration pressure is staying within specifications.
Can I control my chiller remotely?
All our stationary G&D Chillers now come with a one-year free remote monitoring subscription. This system sends SMS text alerts for any abnormal conditions. The web-based interface allows you to pull up the information on your phone to help keep operations running smoothly. If your unit has a Carel PLC we can set up remote monitoring. For more information, start here and call us for details.
If you have an existing chiller out in the field, we can activate Simple Monitoring Solution (SMS) which is a web-based interface allowing you to log in to check chiller function at any time. Check out a video here from our website
Can my chiller communicate with our Building Management System?
Any of our chillers that have a Carel PLC can communicate via Modbus TCP.
Feel free to give us a call or email info@gdchillers.com for the Read/Write variables
What kind of spare parts should I have onsite?
G&D Chillers does not use proprietary parts when building your glycol chiller. Because of this any component that you may need should be readily available. You can email info@gdchillers.com to request a spare parts quote.
Installation of PVC Joint
Dairy Industry Chiller Overview with Andy
G&D Chillers – Heat Reclaim Overview with Paul
Dairy Industry Chiller Overview with Justin
Dairy Industry Chiller Overview
How Can Hot Weather Affect My Chiller?
How Do I Check Pump Rotation?
How Do I Control the Temperatures on My Tanks?
What Are the Electrical Requirements of My Chiller?
What is a VFD and What Are the Benefits?
What is a Y Strainer?
What Is Glycol?
What is the Proper Glycol to Water Percentage or Mixture?
What Regulates the Glycol Pressure in My Chiller?
What Should My Glycol Level Be?
What Size Pipe Should I Run for My Chiller?
What Temp Should My Chiller Be Set To?
What are some of the basic electrical components of my chiller?
Can I Use My Glycol Chiller to Cool a Space?
Do we provide piping consultations on how to pipe my glycol supply and return end tanks?
Carel Control Unit Overview
What types of chillers do you offer? (Andy)
![Is this a turnkey package? [Brewery Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=OTI1OjYzNw==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "Is this a turnkey package? [Brewery Version]")
Is this a turnkey package? [Brewery Version]
![Where should I put the chiller? [Brewery Version] (Andy)](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=OTM0OjY3MQ==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "Where should I put the chiller? [Brewery Version] (Andy)")
Where should I put the chiller? [Brewery Version] (Andy)
![Can you walk through your controls? [Brewery Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=OTQzOjY2NA==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "Can you walk through your controls? [Brewery Version]")
Can you walk through your controls? [Brewery Version]
Will these chillers grow as my need for capacity grows?
Can I use my chiller to cool my walk-in?
What is the difference buying from G&D VS. an On-Site build?
Do you offer custom solutions?
![What kind of maintenance should I expect? [Brewery Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=OTg4OjY4Mg==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "What kind of maintenance should I expect? [Brewery Version]")
What kind of maintenance should I expect? [Brewery Version]
Do you offer piping design?
![Do you use proprietary parts? [Brewery Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTAwNjo2NDY=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "Do you use proprietary parts? [Brewery Version]")
Do you use proprietary parts? [Brewery Version]
What if I have questions after my chiller is delivered and set up?
What features do you have for redundancy and reliability?
What is the difference between scroll and hermetic?
![What size chiller do I need? [Brewery Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTA0Mjo2MzU=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "What size chiller do I need? [Brewery Version]")
What size chiller do I need? [Brewery Version]
What types of chillers do you offer? (Justin)
![Where should I put the chiller? [Brewery Version] (Justin)](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTA2MDo2Nzc=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "Where should I put the chiller? [Brewery Version] (Justin)")
Where should I put the chiller? [Brewery Version] (Justin)
How do you run efficiently at those temps?
![Can you walk through your controls? [Cannabis Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTA3ODo2NTA=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "Can you walk through your controls? [Cannabis Version]")
Can you walk through your controls? [Cannabis Version]
How cold can it go?
![What kind of maintenance should I expect? [Cannabis Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTA5Njo2Njg=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "What kind of maintenance should I expect? [Cannabis Version]")
What kind of maintenance should I expect? [Cannabis Version]
What type of piping should I connect to?
![Do you use proprietary parts? [Cannabis Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTExNDo2MzI=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "Do you use proprietary parts? [Cannabis Version]")
Do you use proprietary parts? [Cannabis Version]
What special design features have you taken to get it to cool at these temps?
![Is this a turnkey package? [Cannabis Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTEzMjo2NDA=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "Is this a turnkey package? [Cannabis Version]")
Is this a turnkey package? [Cannabis Version]
![Where should I put the chiller? [Cannabis Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTE0MTo2Mzg=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "Where should I put the chiller? [Cannabis Version]")
Where should I put the chiller? [Cannabis Version]
![What are the benefits of a tandem scroll? [Distillery Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTE1MDo2OTE=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "What are the benefits of a tandem scroll? [Distillery Version]")
What are the benefits of a tandem scroll? [Distillery Version]
![How do you run efficiently at those temps? [Distillery Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTE1OTo2OTQ=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "How do you run efficiently at those temps? [Distillery Version]")
How do you run efficiently at those temps? [Distillery Version]
What considerations do you make when designing for distilleries?
![What do you do differently to run at higher temps? [Distillery Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTE3Nzo3MTg=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "What do you do differently to run at higher temps? [Distillery Version]")
What do you do differently to run at higher temps? [Distillery Version]
![Is this a turnkey package? [Distillery Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTE4Njo2NTI=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "Is this a turnkey package? [Distillery Version]")
Is this a turnkey package? [Distillery Version]
![What are the benefits of a tandem scroll? [Industrial Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTE5NTo2Nzg=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "What are the benefits of a tandem scroll? [Industrial Version]")
What are the benefits of a tandem scroll? [Industrial Version]
![How do you run efficiently at those temps? [Industrial Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTIwNDo2ODE=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "How do you run efficiently at those temps? [Industrial Version]")
How do you run efficiently at those temps? [Industrial Version]
![What do you do differently to run at higher temperatures? [Industrial Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTIxMzo3MjY=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "What do you do differently to run at higher temperatures? [Industrial Version]")
What do you do differently to run at higher temperatures? [Industrial Version]
![Is this a turnkey package? [Industrial Version]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTIyMjo2MzM=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "Is this a turnkey package? [Industrial Version]")
Is this a turnkey package? [Industrial Version]
Can I use my chiller to cool my barrel room? (Andy)
How do I hook up my portable unit to my tanks? (Andy)
![What size chiller do I need? [Winery Version] (Andy)](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTI0OTo2NDA=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "What size chiller do I need? [Winery Version] (Andy)")
What size chiller do I need? [Winery Version] (Andy)
What chiller do you offer for the wine industry? (Andy)
When would I need heat? (Andy)
What other support do you offer to wineries?
When would I need heat? (Justin)
Can I use my chiller to cool my barrel room? (Justin)
How do I hook up my portable unit to my tanks? (Justin)
![What size chiller do I need? [Winery Version] (Justin)](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTMxMjo2NDg=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzQwIDQxNiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MTYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+ "What size chiller do I need? [Winery Version] (Justin)")
What size chiller do I need? [Winery Version] (Justin)
