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Ski towns thrive during the snowy season. Having a constant blanket of snow means a steady stream of excited out-of-town skiers ready to enjoy the slopes. And while the fresh falling snow is advantageous for some, it can also be burdensome for local facility managers, as crews are constantly left having to clear parking infrastructure, sidewalks and other critical pathways. Snoqualmie Pass, Washington is one such community that sees its fair share of snow. Located 50 miles east of Seattle, the town on average receives up to 20-feet of snow per year, making it a must-visit destination for skiers, snowboarders, tubers, and more.

At the heart of the town lies The Pass Life, a local community of homes, adjacent to the popular Summit at Snoqualmie ski resort. While the two institutions may serve different purposes and have different challenges when it comes to snow removal, they both recognized the difficulties that come with consistently having to remove snow.

The Pass Life, a residential area with key walkways, carports, firepits and a pool, was becoming too difficult to maintain regularly. Traditionally, the compound would handle snow removal by shoveling or utilizing snowblowers. But the volume of snow would accumulate too quickly to handle, leaving the team in a bind.

Prior to construction, The Pass Life sought the counsel of the local contractors at Grant Mechanical. Originally the team was called upon to evaluate 3,400 square feet of property, however after carefully inspecting the site, the project grew in scope to include additional areas for snow removal.

With the new construction, a centralized, dedicated mechanical room was built on the property, Grant Mechanical worked with Ferguson and PacWest to source two Raypak XVer L 856 units, a hydronic heating solution designed to automatically assess temperatures and make adjustments to ensure environments are controlled and comfortable.

Chosen for its superior performance and because mechanical space was also needed for the pumps as well as a hydro-separator, the XVers proved to be an ideal solution, helping to melt snow in critical areas throughout The Pass Life. Now with 40,000 feet of 5/8 inch tubing installed across four manifold areas, The Pass Life is benefiting from having 15,000 square feet of its property free of snow, including two large parking structures as well as a pocket of residences.

Concurrently, across the street, The Summit at Snoqualmie was faced with similar challenges to replace existing boilers for snow mitigation throughout the resort’s public areas. With a nearly two-decade-old existing snow-melt system already in place, The Summit recognized a need for an entirely new, high-efficiency system. While looking to modernize, they also noted that their upgraded equipment would also have to fit into the existing equipment room.

With an eight- and eleven-pack sectional boiler systems already in place, Grant Mechanical made the determination that Raypak’s XVers with KOR Heat Exchangers would be the best replacement for the existing cast-iron boilers.

Utilizing high-efficiency stainless steel fire tube heat exchangers, the XVers + KOR was an ideal solution for replacing the pair of longstanding cast iron boilers, from both an efficiency and size standpoint. Featuring a radiant heat application, the new installation would aid The Summit by providing snow-melt on key walkways across the resort. Plus, the addition of new meters on the system would allow The Summit to consistently and accurately monitor how much propane is being used year-round so appropriate amounts can be ordered and at the ready when needed. In fact, in just the first year, The Summit estimated it saved more than $100,000 in propane costs alone compared to previous years thanks to the high-efficiency XVers.

While The Pass Life and The Summit may have had their own unique challenges, Grant Mechanical ultimately was able to find commonalities between the two facilities and provide similar solutions. Being able to find inspiration down the street allowed Grant Mechanical to grow its business while also helping two Snoqualmie institutions address crucial problems during peak seasons.