St. Patrick Church

Project Overview

When aging pneumatic HVAC controls began driving up energy costs and compromising indoor comfort, St. Patrick Church in Chesterton, Indiana, needed a reliable, cost-effective solution.

With the help of South Side Control Supply and mechanical contractor Premistar Indiana, the church replaced its decades-old pneumatic control system with a modern Prolon HVAC control solution.

According to the building owner, heating and cooling utility bills have decreased by approximately 50%, service requirements have dropped dramatically, and improved scheduling now allows the HVAC system to operate according to actual occupancy needs.

The Challenge: Outdated Controls and Rising Operating Costs

Built in the early 1980s, St. Patrick Church is an approximately 8,500-square-foot, single-story facility hosting Masses, baptisms, weddings, funerals, prayer services, school activities, and special events.

The original Johnson pneumatic control system had become increasingly unreliable. Equipment frequently operated around the clock regardless of occupancy, contributing to excessive heating and cooling costs, humidity concerns, inconsistent comfort, and unnecessary runtime.

Maintaining the aging system had also become difficult, as replacement parts were increasingly expensive and hard to source. The church needed affordable modern controls with better scheduling, lower energy consumption, and reduced maintenance.

The Solution: Modern HVAC Control Without Recurring Remote Access Fees

South Side Control Supply recommended Prolon pre-configured HVAC control panels for their affordability, ease of installation, and remote access without recurring subscription fees. The upgraded system manages five single-zone air-handling units with modulating hot-water heating and two-stage DX cooling, plus a boiler with two pumps.

Installed Prolon Components

• Five M2000 RTU controllers
• One M2000-BLR boiler controller
• One NC2000 panel with touchscreen interface
• Prolon pre-built control panels
• New Belimo damper motors, valves, and actuator assemblies

Premistar Indiana installed the equipment, while Jeff Dominici of South Side Control Supply designed and commissioned the control system. The original pneumatic panels were replaced rather than reused.

Scheduling That Adapts to the Building

The church can now schedule HVAC operation around parish office hours, regular Masses, and special events instead of running equipment continuously. Remote access supports monitoring and adjustments without requiring an onsite visit.

The Results: Lower Costs, Better Comfort, Less Maintenance

Approximately 50% lower utility bills

Father Jon Plavcan reports that heating and cooling bills have fallen by approximately half since the retrofit.
 

Reported recovery of project investment

Father Jon states that energy savings have offset the total project cost, including equipment, materials, and labor.
 

Significantly fewer service calls

The distributor reports a major decline in service requirements, with visits now primarily limited to scheduled maintenance.
 

Improved comfort and control

Flexible scheduling and improved temperature control better serve the church’s changing occupancy patterns.
 

Simpler installation and commissioning

Pre-built panels and straightforward configuration streamlined installation and system startup.

A Cost-Effective Investment in Long-Term Performance

For St. Patrick Church, the Prolon retrofit delivered more than a control system replacement. It provided a practical way to improve comfort, reduce equipment runtime, simplify maintenance, and manage operating costs.

The project illustrates how smaller commercial and institutional facilities can modernize HVAC controls with flexible scheduling, remote accessibility, and pre-built control panels—without the complexity and recurring remote-access fees of some larger building automation solutions.

Project Partners

Building owner: St. Patrick Church — Father Jon Plavcan

Distributor, design and commissioning: South Side Control Supply — Jeff Dominici

Installation contractor: Premistar Indiana — Steve Slasor

HVAC controls manufacturer: Prolon Controls