Winter Weather Alert: Critical Chiller Protection Tips for Extreme Ice & Freezing Conditions January 27, 2026 By John McCoy, Technical Support Manager – G&D Chillers As severe winter storms sweep across the country this week, we’re seeing conditions that pose a serious risk to glycol chillers, especially in areas experiencing heavy ice accumulation and unexpected power outages. While our November Winter Maintenance Tips guide covered seasonal prep, these storms introduce additional challenges that require immediate attention. Below are the top urgent considerations to help prevent catastrophic chiller damage during the current cold snap. Watch for Falling Ice Above Your Chiller Ice and snow buildup on roofs, overhangs, and structures near your chiller can break loose without warning. We’ve seen this scenario too many times: A sheet of ice falls → crushes coils or fan assemblies → leads to total chiller failure. Take these quick steps: ✔ Inspect roofs and overhangs for ice accumulation ✔ Safely clear icicles and snow over chiller placements ✔ Use caution—falling ice can be dangerous Even a single ice drop can destroy a chiller. A few minutes of prevention can save days or weeks of downtime. Keep Fluid Flowing — It's Your Best Freeze Protection Fluid movement is the difference between a system that survives freezing temperatures and one that fails. Just like rivers rarely freeze while lakes do, circulating glycol remains far more freeze‑resistant than stagnant fluid. What to do: ✔ Keep power connected to your chiller during winter ✔ Confirm pumps are running in freezing conditions ✔ Monitor flow and pressure periodically during extreme cold When storms cause unexpected power outages, the risk increases dramatically. Power Outage? Act Fast. Here’s What Matters Most. Short outages (1–2 hours) are typically fine. But in extended outages with low ambient temps, your chiller becomes vulnerable to rapid freezing. Your best protection options: Best: 🔸 A generator—it doesn’t need to power the full chiller, just the pump to keep glycol circulating. Minimum fallback: 🔸 A small space heater placed in front of the chiller, with tarps or covers to retain heat Worst‑case scenario: 🔸 Drain the glycol reservoir and exposed plumbing This prevents ice expansion from rupturing components—similar to a water-filled glass bottle in a freezer. Maintain the Correct Glycol Concentration Your glycol mixture is critical to protecting your chiller in extreme weather. 👉 Stay between 35–40% glycol to water. Below 35% = freeze risk Above 40% = reduced efficiency & pump strain If you haven’t tested your glycol recently, do it now—especially if the storm hits your region. Need Help? Our Tech Support Team Is Standing By. These storms are hitting rapidly in multiple regions, and our team is already helping customers respond to ice damage, freezing, and emergency prep. If you need guidance on: • Glycol concentration • Power outage response • Freeze protection • Flow issues • Ice accumulation hazards 👉 Contact G&D Tech Support: techsupport@gdchillers.com or give us a call 541.345.3903 We’re here to help keep your system safe through this extreme weather. Stay Safe and Keep Your System Protected Winter storms bring unpredictable conditions, but with quick action and the right steps, you can prevent the most common and costly types of chiller damage.