Air Conditioning Services

Air Conditioning Services of the Department of Facilities Services provides air conditioning and heating maintenance, construction, and renovation services for the Main and Agricultural campuses.

Basic Services
Emergency Services
Additional Services
Heating 
Changeover from Air Conditioning to Heating 
Changeover from Heating to Air Conditioning

 

 

 

 

Basic Services: Air Conditioning Services maintains existing equipment, including rebuilding of chillers, maintenance of large motors attached to air conditioning systems, and maintenance/ repair of air conditioning controls (neumatic, electric, and solid state). 

Approximately 30,000 tons of cooling capacity is available, provided by the following equipment: 

• Over 3,000 window air-conditioners, ranging in size from 5,000 to 32,000 BTU.
• Approximately 500 package & split systems ranging in size from 1 to 60 tons.
• Ninety-two chillers (centrifugal and reciprocating) ranging in size from 20 to 995 tons. 

Emergency Services: Emergency service for air conditioning equipment is available 24 hours a day. 

• To report malfunctions with air conditioning equipment call the Work Order Office, 974-2347. 
• After 4:00 p.m. on weekdays, report emergencies to 974-2158.
• After 12:00 a.m. Monday-Friday, on weekends, holidays, and days of administrative closing, report emergencies to 974-3114. 

Additional Services: Additional services provided by the Air Conditioning Services are listed below. For more detailed information visit the Services Guide. 

• Provides maintenance and service for stationary air compressors.
• Fabricates, installs, and maintains ductwork within buildings.
• Provides general metal fabrication services for items such as filter frames, strainers, expansion joints, grills, outside louvers, diffusers, gutters, and down spouts. 
• Fabrication, installation, and maintenance of fume hoods. 
• Installs, maintains, and repairs all ice machines, from those which produce small cubes to those with output of 400 pounds/day.
• Fabricates standard metal sign blanks for all University of Tennessee campuses. 
• Responsible for central vacuum systems (and some portable systems, upon request).
• Provides general maintenance welding services for such diverse items as handrails, chairs, carts, and file cabinets.
• Installs, maintains, and repairs refrigeration equipment with temperatures ranging from 98.7 degrees F. to -180 degrees F
• Responsible for the proper operation of building ventilation systems which provide outside air makeup and proper exhaust of contaminants

Heating: Air Conditioning Services is responsible for constructing, renovating, and maintaining all heating systems within buildings on the Main and Agricultural campuses, both systems which use steam from the central steam plant and those with separate or stand-alone systems. Just under 100 different heating systems are maintained in addition to the central steam system equipment. Heating systems located on the campus include all electric, gas fired boilers and hot air systems, and oil fired boilers and hot air systems. 


Changeover from Heating to Air Conditioning: Department of Facilities Services personnel perform required changeover from heating to air-conditioning in the Spring. Because of the equipment installed throughout the campus, buildings must be changed over separately. The Facilities Services performs the changeover on the basis of priorities established to 1) maintain required temperatures to protect equipment and research in progress, and 2) serve the greatest number of individuals and activities. Air conditioning changeover may not begin until outside temperature has reached at least 80 degrees F. for three consecutive days. Temperature projections are also considered. The wide swings in temperature during the Spring of the year have made this policy necessary. Special problems or hardships with this policy should be discussed with the Executive Director of the Facilities Services (208 Facilities Services Building, 974-2178).


Changeover from Air Conditioning to Heating: Facilities Services Department personnel change over building systems from air conditioning to heating each Fall. Because of the equipment installed throughout the campus, buildings must be changed over separately. The Facilities Services performs the changeover on the basis of priorities established 1) to maintain required temperatures to protect equipment and research in progress, and 2) to serve the greatest number of individuals and activities. Heating changeover may not begin until the outside low temperature has dropped below at least 50 degrees F. for a minimum of three consecutive days. Consideration is also given to temperature projections. The wide swings in temperature during the Fall of the year have made this policy necessary. Special problems or hardships with this policy should be discussed with the Executive Director of the Facilities Services (208 Facilities Services Building, 974-2178). 

 

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Contact Shop:

Darrell Lawhorn,
General Superintendent
Air Conditioning Services
131 Facilities Serv. Bldg. 
2233 Volunteer Blvd
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: (865) 974-3478
Fax: (865) 974-4213
Email: lawhorn@utk.edu

Submit a work order :
974-2347; online