Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

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Depend on Thermal Care for efficient and reliable process cooling equipment -- no matter what the need or application. Take a look at our advice for various inquiries.

Do you rent chillers?

Thermal Care typically does not rent equipment. Based on your cooling requirement and geographic location, we can provide recommended rental companies that carry Thermal Care equipment.  Please use to submit request for recommendation.

How do I determine chiller capacities at less than 50°F set point?

De-rate capacity by approximately 2% for every degree.

What should I expect when I purchase a chiller?

Thermal Care will support you through every step of the process. View our Glycol Chiller Preparation Guide for more information.

Where can I find a current operation and instruction manual?

Current manuals are located in the Resource Center under manuals

Why can't I find a manual for my chiller on your website?

Only current product manuals are shown on the web site. If a unit has been discontinued, contact Customer Service at 847-966-2636 or for assistance.

How do I locate drawings for my equipment?

Drawings are shipped with each unit and are generally located in the control cabinet. If unavailable please contact Customer Service at 847-966-2636 or at

Who is the rep in my area?

Thermal Care Sales can direct you to the best person to contact for your project. They can be reached at 847-966-2260 or at  You can also find information about our sales representatives by clicking here.

How do you tell the age of the unit?

The serial number of a unit from 1995 to present uses the last 4 digits to indicate the month and year. If your serial numbers starts with letters please contact Customer Service at 847-966-2636 or at

Does Thermal Care charge a credit card fee to process orders?

Yes, 3%. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover Card.

Who is Thermal Care's preferred small parcel shipment carrier?


Does Thermal Care have any distributors?

No, Thermal Care has no authorized distributors

Who should I contact to start up my Thermal Care equipment?

Please contact Customer Service at 847-966-2636 or at

Where do I find warranty information on my unit?

Warranty information can be found by clicking here.

Where do I find 5 year compressor warranty information on my unit?

Warranty information can be found by clicking here.

What do I do if my equipment arrives damaged?

Inspect the equipment for any visible damage and verify all items shown on the bill of lading are present. If damage is evident, document it on the delivery receipt by clearly marking any item with damage as “unit damage” and notify the carrier. In addition, notify our Customer Service Department at 847-966-2636 and they will provide assistance with preparing and filing freight damage claims, including arranging for an estimate on repair costs; however, filing the shipping damage claim is the responsibility of the receiving party. Do not install damaged equipment without getting the equipment repaired.


Shipping damage is the responsibility of the carrier. To protect against possible loss due to damage incurred during shipping and to expedite payment for damages, it is important to follow proper procedures and keep records. Photographs of damaged equipment are excellent documentation for your records.

How does Thermal Care typically ship equipment?

The most common and economical method is LTL but partial and dedicated shipments can be arranged.

What is high refrigerant pressure and how can I reset it?

High refrigerant pressure is an inability to remove heat. Condenser must be cleaned and manual reset must be reset.  Refer to the chiller operation and instruction manual for location.

What is refrigeration?

Refrigeration is a thermodynamic cycle. Chillers use refrigeration to extract heat from the process circulation fluid and then ultimately reject it to the atmosphere.

What is a condenser?

A condenser is s a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the refrigerant gas to an external cooling source (water or air are typical mediums). This transfer causes a phase change from gas to liquid condensation.

What is an evaporator?

Evaporators are heat exchangers that transfer heat from the process fluid into the refrigerant causing a phase change, evaporation.

What is a BTU?

A BTU (British Thermal Unit) is the most common unit of heat measurement in the United States. It is based upon the amount of energy to heat one pound of water by 1°F. A kcal (kilocalorie) is an International System of units (SI) measurement of heat.

What is a heat exchanger?

Heat Exchangers are designed to transfer heat from one fluid to another without mixing. The fluids are physically separated by the heat exchanger allowing heat energy to between them. The fluids can be a variety of compounds – water, oil, refrigerant, etc.

What is an expansion valve?

Expansion valves reduce the high pressure, high temperature refrigerant liquid to a low temperature, low pressure liquid/vapor mix. The valves are installed in the refrigeration circuit after the condenser and before the evaporator. Sensing the temperature at the evaporator’s outlet (superheat), the valve controls the amount of refrigerant supplied to the evaporator by maintaining superheat.

Where do I find remote condenser information?

Remote condenser information is included in the corresponding chiller operation and instruction manual.

Where do I find refrigerant charge information?

Refrigerant charge information for chillers is located in corresponding chiller operation and instruction manual. Please contact Customer Service at 847-966-2636 or at for remote units.

Where do I find glycol mix information?

Glycol information for chillers is located in the corresponding chiller operation and instruction manual.

How do I tell if my chiller is undersized?

The most obvious indication is when the chiller's compressor runs continuously but is unable to achieve the set point.

What is the difference between ethylene and propylene glycol?

Ethylene glycol is the less expensive option but it is also toxic.  It has lower negative impact on heat transfer as well as pump performance. Propylene glycol can be up to 15% more expensive than ethylene and with its higher viscosity inhibits heat transfer and pump performance more.  However, it is non-toxic which over the past 10 years has made it the preferred choice of industrial cooling systems.

What is a Y-Strainer?

A Y strainer, also commonly referred to as a wye-strainer, is a component in process water lines that physically removes solids and other particle contaminants.  These are included as standard in Thermal Care chillers to protect the evaporators from potential clogging. View video for information on how to change a Y-strainer. 


Can I install my chiller outside?

Many Thermal Care chillers are available with outdoor duty designs.  This is standard for some larger units and separated as an option for other chillers.  Be sure to consider the installation location to avoid closed off areas that inhibit airflow or create extended periods of direct sun exposure.  Also, ambient temperature exposure is important.  Very low temperatures can affect a chillers ability to start while high ambient temperature can reduce the chillers available cooling capacity.

Why does my chiller alarm for high refrigerant pressure when I have the access door open?

The chiller uses its condenser as one of the walls of the enclosure. The air pulled through the chiller by the fan must go over this condenser to remove the heat from the refrigerant. If an access panel is open, the majority of the airflow will circumvent the condenser through the unrestricted panel door opening. Not enough heat will be removed from the refrigerant and the pressure will start to increase eventually reaching critical safety levels causing the unit to shut down. By replacing the access panel while the unit is in operation you can avoid this issue.

What is a weighed water test?

This is a method to directly calculate the required cooling for an application. While the process is running, measure the flow rate and temperature rise through the process.  Using this info, the real-life cooling requirement is determined. This is a more accurate method than using theoretical calculations based upon assumptions. Thermal Care recommends including a safety factor to ensure enough cooling capacity for worst-case scenarios.

What is a VFD?

A VFD or variable frequency drive, is an electronic piece of equipment that controls the speed of a motor by adjusting the frequency of the electrical supply.  These are often used with pump and fan motors to control the fluid flow rate or air volume flow.  A VFD can be manually set to a specific frequency or can accept an external input from a sensor.