Most of UNC's heating/cooling processes, including critical medical and research equipment, use water as the heat transfer medium. The various pipes, fittings, valves, heat exchangers, coils, and pumps associated with this are subject to freezing, entrained/dissolved/free air, corrosion, scale, fouling deposits, and microbiological damage, which leads to piping system failures and valve malfunctions that lead to comfort/noise issues and increased energy use due to reduced heat transfer. Research and medical equipment, such as lasers, environmental chambers, walk-in coolers/freezers, cyclotrons, vacuum pumps, and MRI machines depend on consistent quality cooling water flow to function, thus it is important to chemically treat and proactively maintain these hydronic systems to extend their life and provide reliable heating/cooling performance.
In compliance with environmental and storm water regulations, operates, maintains, and improves heating and cooling hydronic closed loops. Tasks include cleaning and flushing HVAC piping systems, passivating, and chemically treating with appropriate corrosion inhibitors. These tasks are performed with heating hot water, closed loop chilled water, process chilled water, geothermal ground loops, boiler hot water, and energy recovery glycol closed loops. If necessary hardware or fittings are not already installed, modifies the system for a filter feeder, backflow preventer, pressure reducing valve, combination pressure gauge, makeup water meter, air/dirt separator, expansion tank, or similar per UNC standards. Sets up loops to properly operate in terms of pressure required for building height, relief valve operation, bleeding air, replacing filters, flushing strainers, allowing for thermal expansion due to energy saving temperature resets, and building level flow to enable proper function. Assists other staff in troubleshooting hydronic problems and routine testing, monitoring, documentation, and maintenance of HVAC water chemistry.
Education and Experience:
High school diploma or equivalency; or demonstrated possession of the competencies necessary to perform the work. Some positions may require special licenses or certification. Optional Guidelines: Experience in the trade(s) areas related to the area of assignment may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.
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