Site Bite: Sizing an Evaporator Coil at JFK Airport

As an intern learning the ropes, stepping onto a high-profile jobsite like JFK Airport in Queens, NY, is both exciting and nerve-wracking. I had only been with Nationwide Coils for about a month when James and I were sent to JFK, so I was still getting comfortable with the various ways to take measurements, communicate effectively, and build strong relationships with customers.

The coil that needed replacing was located in the control tower, making this one of the most memorable jobs I've worked on so far.

Getting to the control tower took about two hours. The security was intense—background checks, thorough screenings, and escorted movement through the entire airport. Driving across the runway while planes landed and took off made the trip feel like an adventure, especially for someone new to the field.

Once we arrived, we had to wait for another escort to get inside. With construction ongoing in the tower, we used a temporary scaffolding elevator to reach the top.

When we finally reached the unit, we found a problem: the evaporator coil we were there to size had already been removed and scrapped. However, the original Trane® chilled water coil was still in place. Using his experience, James was able to use the dimensions of the chilled water coil to determine the size of the missing evaporator coil, and I took detailed notes throughout the process.

The mechanical contractor on site was very particular about the connection locations for the evaporator coil, which we didn’t have. But by climbing into the unit and measuring the existing holes on the side panel, we were able to capture the necessary information.

Understanding where the new coil would be placed allowed us to replicate the original connection points perfectly! This was just another example of why working with experienced professionals—and a motivated intern—makes all the difference. It was a great learning experience, and I’m proud to be part of the team at Nationwide Coils.