Emergency Chiller Rental Keeps Illinois Elementary School Cool

When an electrical fire takes down critical HVAC systems, schools can be left without cooling during the hottest months of the year.

For one Illinois elementary school, the loss of its permanent chiller system threatened to disrupt summer operations and scheduled events. To restore comfort and keep the building usable, the facilities team partnered with Garrett McKenzie for an immediate temporary chiller rental solution.

The Situation

A fire in the school’s electrical panel damaged the permanent chiller system, leaving the building without cooling. This posed challenges not only for staff working during summer recess but also for activities scheduled throughout the building.

The school needed:

An immediate response to restore cooling

A temporary chiller system capable of supporting the facility

Seamless tie-in to the existing mechanical system

The Response

Garrett McKenzie worked closely with the mechanical contractor and school facilities staff to determine the correct chiller size, select the best placement location, and plan tie-ins to the school’s house system.

The solution included:

155-ton temporary chiller delivered on a 53’ flatbed trailer

300 feet of 4-inch chiller hose for connection to the building

Power cable and tails to integrate with the school’s electrical system

The Execution

Once on site, the Garrett McKenzie team coordinated with electrical and mechanical contractors to connect the rental chiller.

Nearly 300 feet of chiller hose was routed to tie the unit directly into the school’s system. Power cabling was also installed to bring the unit online. The temporary chiller was positioned securely on its trailer for the duration of the rental, ensuring reliable operation with minimal site disruption.

The Result

In a matter of hours, the school regained full cooling capability. The rental chiller provided continuous air conditioning throughout the summer, allowing staff to work comfortably and enabling scheduled events to proceed without interruption.

Garrett McKenzie’s ability to deliver, install, and integrate a custom cooling package ensured that the school avoided extended downtime while waiting for repairs to the permanent chiller system.

Why Schools and Facilities Trust Garrett McKenzie

• Climate Control Solutions: Temporary chillers (air- or water-cooled), dehumidifiers, heating units, AC cooling, DX heating
• Temporary Power: Generators up to 2,000kW, distribution panels, ATS, transformers, portable fuel tanks
• Installation & Support: Site-specific sizing, load matching, setup, and breakdown with experienced technicians
• Logistics: Nationwide transport-ready fleet with crane and rollback trucks for rapid deployment

From schools to large commercial facilities, Garrett McKenzie specializes in providing emergency mechanical system support when it matters most.

Partner With Garrett McKenzie

When critical HVAC systems fail, Garrett McKenzie delivers scalable cooling, heating, and power solutions that keep operations running smoothly.

📞 Call us today at 877-469-1600
📧 Email: rentals@garrettmckenzie.com
🌐 Visit: www.garrettmckenzie.com

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