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Tales from the Thermostat Keeper: Spooky Stories and Solutions From the HVAC, Building Automation and Electrical Industry

Published on: October 29, 2024

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October should be about candy pumpkin carving, not equipment malfunctions and renovation timelines. Fall is pivotal for getting organized when it comes to HVAC maintenance and other building projects.

Don’t get spooked by the thermostat this season — learn from these HVAC, electrical, and building automation tales.

Don’t get spooked by the thermostat this season — learn from these HVAC, electrical, and building automation tales.

Spooky season is upon us and that means it’s time to dust the cobwebs off of your HVAC system — if you dare! Fall is a critical time to ensure the health of your HVAC system as well as the success of large-scale building projects before winter arrives. 

Don’t take it from us. Learn from these cautionary tales — just be sure to keep the lights on while reading!  


The tale of the aging boiler
It was a dark and stormy night — just kidding. It was actually a bright and blazing hot day when Kimco Controls received a call from longtime clients, Pushor Mitchell Lawyers. 

In the midst of a heatwave where temperatures were pushing 40 degrees Celsius, a compressor in the building’s air conditioning system had failed, putting the occupants at risk of being boiled alive (metaphorically)!

Pushor Mitchell is already a quarterly maintenance customer with Kimco, so the compressor was already on order, but due to delivery delays, it wouldn’t arrive in time to save the team. 

The Kimco team jumped into action and, using its intimate knowledge of the building was able to implement creative cooling solutions to keep the building at comfortable temperatures for another two weeks until the replacement compressor arrived. See the full story.

The moral of the story:
This scary story has a happy ending, thanks to several key factors that came into play.

  • Being an existing preventative maintenance customer meant that the air conditioning failure was predictable and a part was already on the way. Who knows how long the part could have taken to arrive if it was only ordered once the issue had arrived and had to be trouble-shot. 
  • Kimco’s familiarity with the building allowed for out-of-the-box thinking, including a temporary sprinkler system on condenser coils to prevent circuit overloading and adjustments to the building automation.
  • Pushor Mitchell Lawyers is an early adopter of building automation technology, which simplifies troubleshooting and can allow for building issues to be addressed remotely — sometimes before building occupants would ever be aware. 


The mystery of the vanishing lighting fixtures
For a new business, there’s nothing scarier than construction setbacks or other operational delays that can keep the doors from opening on time. Blowing past deadlines can make for costly errors.  

Plus, when the business has a specific aesthetic to adhere to, sourcing the correct materials is critical to success. 

So when Kimco was contracted to install the lighting at Wine & Beyond’s new Dilworth location with a tight three-month timeline, the stakes were high. The opening date was already being advertised around town. 

A wicked force was at odds with the opening, however. Supply chain issues caused by the pandemic, including reduced manpower and extended manufacturing times, made the correct materials and fixtures difficult to obtain.  

It might seem like witchcraft, but through hard work and resourcefulness, Kimco was able to source the correct materials on time for the opening. See the full story.

The moral of the story:
Kimco didn’t have to use any black magic to make the correct lighting fixtures appear. The success of the project was due, in part, to Kimco’s strong relationships within the electrical industry.

Working with an electrical supplier in Alberta, Kimco managed to ensure the correct lights would arrive on time. 

Dedication to the project was another factor in its success. Kimco electricians worked after hours and added last-minute finishing touches — even as the Wine & Beyond staff were beginning to stock the store with product.

The lighting installation was completed on time and budget and to the specifications of the Wine & Beyond franchise, including:

  • Showcase strip lighting in the specialty liquor cabinet and clear spirit bins on the shelves
  • Modern LED high bay lighting and LED track lights for the showroom floor
  • Under shelf lighting for ease of viewing
  • Complete lighting control system in the discovery room 
  • Occupancy sensors with LED flat panel lighting in the cooler and back offices

Kimco used lighting automation technology to run the store lights on timers, occupancy sensors, and dimmers to ensure proper lighting levels, making the space aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly.


The curse of the tasting room budget
When the Mirabel Vineyards team saw the quote to set up power for the space of their new tasting room in a heritage hut, it was enough to make one scream in horror. 

The Okanagan winery wanted to retain the beautiful heritage features of the site while meeting modern building codes. 

Kimco Controls was liaising with FortisBC to set up power for the space when the company proposed 600-amp, three-phase power for the site at $50,000 per pole and costly underground installations.

To the relief of Mirabel’s owners,  Kimco electrical experts were able to work with FortisBC to reduce the cost significantly through creative solutions. 

Today, the heritage hut tasting room meets contemporary electrical standards and welcomes guests with its intact heritage accents. See the full story.

The moral of the story:
The takeaway to turning a nightmare electrical quote into a sweet dream is working with experts who know their trade well and have your best interests in mind. 

Kimco significantly reduced the cost of this project by proposing an alternative plan to FortisBC, a 600-amp, single-phase power system, and a far less costly installation. 

The team also created a pre-engineered electrical design for the space and worked with other local contractors to bring the building up to code while preserving its aesthetic. 

HVAC contractors also treated the work with care, ensuring any installations did not affect the look of the hut. 


Tips for fall HVAC maintenance

Staying on top of HVAC maintenance now means avoiding the pitfalls of costly surprise malfunctions, energy inefficiency, and reduced employee productivity that can come with HVAC system failures. Make sure your HVAC system is ready for winter with these fall HVAC tips:

Have your furnace or boiler checked: Winter is not the time for your building’s heating to fail. Now is the time to make sure your furnace is ready for winter with a professional inspection. 

Air quality: Colder temperatures mean more time indoors. Keep air quality high by checking that no vents are blocked and air filters are replaced. Building automation does the heavy lifting when it comes to air quality control through monitoring and demand control ventilation. 

Schedule regular maintenance: Quarterly maintenance programs remove the guesswork when it comes to the inner workings of your building. Not only does regular maintenance prevent unforeseen equipment failures, but it also lowers costs by allowing you to budget and plan for equipment repairs and upgrades ahead of time. 

Don't be scared of HVAC, building automation, or electrical failures this winter. Schedule a check-up with Kimco Controls today. 


Work with a people-first company that has been on the cutting edge of building automation, HVAC, and electrical technology in the Thompson-Okanagan for 40 years. See how Kimco can help.


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