Waywest Mechanical installs and services commercial chilled water systems in Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island. A chiller, usually on a roof or behind the building, cools water to roughly 4 to 7°C and pumps it through a water loop to coils in air handling units, which cool the air throughout the building. Chilled water systems suit larger commercial, institutional and industrial facilities.
Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM · quotes within the hour
When chilled water makes sense
For buildings where the temperature of the air, goods and equipment is critical — laboratories, data and equipment rooms, institutional buildings, food production and large commercial spaces — chilled water systems offer efficient central cooling with the ability to control individual areas separately.
How it works
- The chiller — usually installed on a rooftop or behind the building — cools water to roughly 4 to 7°C.
- Pumps circulate the chilled water through an insulated piping loop.
- Coils in air handling units or fan coils transfer the cold to the air.
- Fans distribute cool air to small or large indoor areas.
- Return water travels back to the chiller to be cooled again.
Advantages of chilled water systems
- Energy efficiency — central equipment with good part-load performance can reduce energy consumption
- Zoned control — different areas can be cooled separately
- Refrigerant stays at the chiller — the building loop carries water, not refrigerant
- Quiet operation in occupied spaces
- Long service life when the system is maintained
Our chilled water services
- New chilled water piping loops, pumps and valves
- Air handler and fan coil connections
- Insulation and condensation control on chilled water piping
- Balancing, flow testing and controls integration
- Loop water treatment, strainers and air separation
- Repairs, pump replacement and system upgrades
Chilled water loops are part of the industrial and institutional piping Waywest installs — see industrial mechanical services.
Service area
Chilled water system installation and service for commercial, institutional and industrial buildings across Vancouver Island.
What happens when you call
- A person answers
You talk to the Nanaimo office, or our own crew on the 24/7 line — not a call centre.
- You hear the rate first
We explain the service rate, or the emergency rate after hours, before anyone is booked or dispatched.
- A licensed technician arrives
A Waywest technician with a stocked vehicle diagnoses the problem and explains your options.
- You approve the work
Repairs go ahead once you agree. Larger jobs get a written quote you can take time to consider.
Quick facts
- Emergency service
- 24/7 at 250-616-1446 — typically on site within an hour in Nanaimo
- Office hours
- Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM, 250-729-2394
- Service area
- Nanaimo and Vancouver Island, Victoria to Port Hardy
- Licensing
- TSBC licence LGA0004592; licensed, bonded and insured
- Quotes
- Reply within the hour during business hours
- Page updated
Common questions
How does a chilled water system work?
A chiller removes heat from water, cooling it to roughly 4 to 7°C. Pumps circulate the chilled water through a piping loop to coils in air handling units or fan coils, where fans blow air across the cold coils to cool the space. The warmed water returns to the chiller to be cooled again.
What are the advantages of chilled water cooling?
Chilled water systems centralize cooling equipment, allow individual areas to be controlled separately, keep refrigerant confined to the chiller rather than piped through the building, run quietly inside occupied spaces and generally have long equipment lifespans.
Does Waywest service existing chilled water systems?
Yes. Waywest services chilled water loops, pumps, valves, coils, water treatment and controls, and coordinates chiller service, for commercial and institutional buildings on Vancouver Island.
Need this sorted out?
Call the Nanaimo office and talk to someone who can tell you what the work involves and when we can get to it.