Frequently Asked Questions

Whom do I call when there is a maintenance emergency?

Call Work Control at 647-2059.

Who cleans my building?

Building Services at 647-2059 can answer questions about specific buildings.

Who replaces burned out lights?

Work Control - call 647-2059

Who maintains the temperature in my building?

Work Control - call 647-2059

Who's responsible for dumpsters?

Waste Management Services empties the trash and recycling dumpsters located at all University building loading docks. Generally, the brown dumpsters and compactors are for waste; the blue dumpsters are designated for paper and cardboard recycling. At most locations, these are emptied on a regular schedule. Some locations are on a "call in" service. Call 763-5539 to request emptying or if the compactor is broken. A few locations, including the Medical School, Dental and Chemistry, are on contracted service coordinated through Waste Management Services.

How do I obtain a work request for Plant Operations services?

Call Work Control at 647-2059 for information. Also see Obtaining Work Orders.
Please note: If the work requested is departmental customer pay work, it may be necessary for a form to be filled out with authorization for charging an account.

Whom do I call for moving and trucking?

Moving and Trucking is handled by the Plant Material and Moving Services office. Call the Call Center at 647-2059 to set up a Work Request.

Whom do I call about snow removal?

All requests for snow removal, de-icing or sanding are handled through the Grounds office. Call 647-2059 to report areas that need attention.

Whom do I call about pest control?

Call Building Services at 647-2059. A member of our office support staff will forward you one of our four pest management specialists based on the location and type of pest problem you have.

Who do I contact with compliments or concerns involving Plant personnel or quality of service?

Plant Operations Customer Service, Plant Operations Customer Service (get address) (38.103.63.61), or use our "Tools" menu (top of every page) and use our "Comment on our service" form.

What's it take to get the Air Conditioning going in my building in the Spring?

When the decision is made to bring a building "on line" for air conditioning, a number to things must happen for that to be successful. First and foremost, Mother Nature must be cooperative: temperatures need to be above freezing on a regular basis.

There are a variety of methods to cool buildings. The bigger buildings have systems that are engineered for the size of that building and that building's use. The most common at the "U" is the chiller and cooling tower.

I will walk you through the "average" startup:

Cooling Towers - generally take between 1 to 4 days to prepare depending on size and location. This time line does not include repair issues that are discovered during preparation.

• Visually inspect the cooling tower inside and out. How did it survive the winter?
• Clean debris from the tower; leaves, dead birds/animals, etc.
• Check fans, switches, and controls
• Check valves for operation
• Start to fill the tower with water. A tower can hold between 2,000 and 15,000 gallons of water depending on size.
• Purge the tower of air as it fills Filling takes time.
• Start the tower for circulation.
• Clean debris from pipes; scaling, loose bits of pipe (pipes deteriorate over time)
• Clean strainers of debris

Now that we have the tower running, lets go work on the chiller:

Chillers - generally take between 3 to 7 days to prepare depending on size and location. This time line does not include repair issues that are discovered during preparation.

• Visually inspect the chiller.
• Check pumps, switches, and controls
• Check valves for operation.
• Check coils condition
• Remove any anti freeze/glycol from coils
• Repeatedly flush coils until clean
• Start filling chilled water piping, the chiller, and the coils. (This is the biggest hurdle)
• Purge air from the chiller.
• Get water flowing.
• Clean debris from strainers and coils.
• Start the chiller
• Add gradual load and continue to purge air.

Note that this explanation leaves out all the details, the process is actually much more complex.

Additional questions? Call 647-2059.

Where can I get more information?

Phone: (734) 763-9333

Address: 326 East Hoover

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1002

Content modified: April, 2008

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