October 5, 2012
Kaiserslautern American
Page 13
786th CES prepares base for winter make sure the right amount of water is flowing through the pipes, which then gets heated up and provides comfort to those inside the Members of the 786th Civil Engineer buildings.” Squadron heat shop are ensuring memDuring a check, there could be any bers of Team Ramstein have heat this kind of discrepancy from a broken pipe or winter by performing checks on the heatpump, to an error in a control panel that ing systems of various buildings. has to be fixed. The 786th CES heat shop is respon“In this mechanical room there was a sible for making sure the more than 300 blown fuse, so the pump wasn’t workheating systems on base are functioning ing,” Brooks said. “We traced the probproperly. lem back to the control panel and worked “We start our checks months in advance on the wiring there to fix the blown fuse. with buildings labeled ‘critical’ by our We also check the pumps to make sure commander,” said Klaus Sinoteh, 786th that we get the proper water flow to the CES heating, ventilation and air conbuilding.” ditioning technician. “So we start with Senior Airman Casey Claveau, 786th Civil Engineer Squadron heating, ventilation and air These are routine checks done every schools, housing and dormitories, then we conditioning technician, performs a routine inspection on a panel that controls the water year to maintain the quality of life here, flow for heaters Monday on Ramstein. move onto the rest of the base.” Brooks said. Members of the heat shop perform checks on the proper voltage to control the water flow and by “I wouldn’t have any other job in the Air Force,” multiple different things in heating rooms. making sure there’s enough heat flowing into the he said. “We contribute to the mission by ensuring “We provide heat for everyone on base by doing building,” Said Senior Airman Richard Brooks, other Airmen are comfortable, thus letting them things like ensuring the water pumps are getting 786th CES HVAC technician. “We also check to focus on what they’re doing.” Story and photo by Airman 1st Class Trevor Rhynes 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
How does heat work in the KMC? Temperatures are falling and winter is on its way. So, when will the heat be turned on, and how does it work? Most of the buildings here in the KMC, including housing, are connected to central hot water heating plants. These plants produce hot water and distribute it to our buildings to provide heat through radiators. During the summer months, so little heat is needed that most of the system is deactivated. Once the temperatures drop to 55 F for five consecutive days and forecasts indicate that the average temperature for the next five days will stabilize below 55 F, the heat is reactivated. This is based on review of the weather data for the past seven years. In the KMC, the heating season is typically from October to May. What do I do if the centralized heat is not currently activated? First, conserve the heat you have already. Close the windows and window coverings at night to reduce heat loss. Close the doors to rooms you seldom use to help keep heat in the rooms you do use. Second, take advantage of natural heating. Open drapes and rollladens during the day so the sun can
Set the right temperature!
warm the inside of the room, just like the sun warms the inside of your car. If it is warmer outside than inside, open the windows to allow the warm outside air into the room. Close the windows in the evening when the outside temperatures begin to drop. Also, dress appropriately for the season. Layering is the best way to ensure your comfort throughout the day.
Once the heat is activated, how do I set the temperature? Your radiator control will look similar to the one pictured below. These controls are very different from the thermostats we see in the U.S. This radiator control is both the thermostat and the valve that controls the amount of hot water flowing through the radiator (thermostatic control valve). For the control to work properly, it must be surrounded by free circulating air. Do not cover it with clothes, curtains or furniture. Below is a chart that explains what the numbers and symbols mean. Cut it out and tape it up some place for future reference. Note: radiators do not provide instant heat. Hot water must pass through the radiator before the heat from the radiator is transferred to the room. Set the thermostat and allow time for the tem-
perature of the room to come up before making any more adjustments. Radiators are usually located below windows, which is normally the coldest part of the room. A setting of “3” should provide comfortable heat for the entire room. All too often, radiators are being constantly adjusted and then windows opened when it gets too hot. This is a huge waste of energy and money. Last year, the KMC’s heating bill alone was nearly $22 million. By following these simple steps, you will ensure the comfort of your home and workplace, while saving energy and helping to lower that bill. Let’s all work together to be good stewards of our resources. The thermostat/radiator combination is a simple and reliable system with few moving parts to malfunction. However, if the control valve malfunctions there will be either no heat or too much heat. Occasionally, air gets trapped inside the radiator and needs to be removed. Indications that air is trapped inside are knocking or gurgling noises or a radiator that only feels hot to the touch on one half. For assistance with any of these difficulties, call CE Customer Service at 489-6623 or 489-7703. (Courtesy of 86th Civil Engineer Squadron)
41˚F
5˚C
“Off ” setting. Use this setting in the summer when leaving for an extended period of time or in unoccupied rooms. The thermostat has a built-in safety device to avoid freezing.
1
54ºF
12ºC
Low setting. Use this setting when you leave work in the evening.
2
61ºF
16ºC
Medium – Low setting. Recommended for sleeping.
3
68ºF
20ºC
Medium setting. Start here and adjust to a comfortable level depending on the outside temperature.
4
75ºF
24ºC
Medium – High setting. Not recommended for office spaces.
5
82ºF
28ºC
High setting. Too hot – don’t waste energy!