Keeping a cool eye on a problematic heating system

NORTH CANAAN — A delay in this summer’s planned renovations to the North Canaan Elementary School heating plant may end up saving significant tax dollars.

But the boiler system may have plans of its own.

Residents approved a plan at a June 25 town meeting to spend up to $700,000 to change the school’s original, problematic steam system to a hot water system. The plan was to begin work immediately, with classroom heaters revamped before school opened.

Contractor Perotti Plumbing would then have until the official beginning of the heating season in October to complete the replacement of pipes in the basement and removal of the boiler.

“A week after the meeting, there were a lot of changes to the plan,� North Canaan Building Committee Chairman Michael Perry told The Journal.

“We couldn’t be sure we’d get the new paperwork and permits done in time to complete the project. We just couldn’t take that chance.�

In a school, it’s not simply a matter of telling kids to put on a sweater. An inoperative heating system means school has to be closed.

“The plan now is to start as soon as the heating season is over next spring. We’ll work backward from the original plan and start in the basement. When school is out, we’ll do the classrooms.�

Savings are expected to come from the low price of copper pipe (prices have dropped recently). And less of it will be needed: An inspection revealed the school’s primary wing addition already has copper pipe.

“Frank and Charlie [Perotti] will be keeping an eye on the cost of materials over the winter, and we will pre-buy when the prices are lowest,� Perry said.

The renovation was carved out of the proposed school expansion plan. (The committee will resume regular meetings in the fall). When it became obvious the latter was not going to happen any time soon, Perry turned his attention to the pressing matter of a boiler system and pipes that he said could be poised on the brink of cataclysmic failure.

The change of plans leaves many fingers crossed that more spending to repair and maintain the system, plagued in part by hard water deposits, will be minimal this winter. In true small town fashion, the situation will be kept under control. No one knows the system better than Perry, Charlie Perotti and Head Custodian Les Robson. As board clerk and Time Out teacher, Perry is at the school everyday. Perotti drives his wife, Bonnie, there every day for her teacher’s assistant job.

“Les, Charlie and I have coffee together every morning,� Perry said. “We’ll be keeping a close eye on things.�