Heating and Cooling FAQ
First, please keep in mind that the weather in Kansas often changes in just a few minutes. For that reason, we don't keep a strict date for our annual changeover from heating to cooling (and back). The majority of our building HVAC systems operate in either heating or cooling mode and it takes 48 hours to complete a changeover.
Actual system changeover is based on long-range weather forecasts. As outside high temperatures fall below 55 degrees, mechanical cooling systems are shut down. Normally, the "daily life" of an occupied building (residents, lighting, computers, showers, etc.) generates enough heat to stay comfortable if daytime temperatures stay around 55 degrees. If the forecast shows temperatures below 55 degrees for three days or more, building heating systems are activated.
Unpredictable autumn temperatures make changeover decisions difficult, especially if a warming trend is forecast after an early cold snap. When temperatures are expected below 32 degrees, water must be drained from outside cooling equipment to prevent freezing damage. Similarly, a few warm days in spring might make a building uncomfortable before it's safe to shut down the heating plant (and start the air-conditioning) for the season.
Most of our larger buildings are heated and cooled with water loop line systems - room fans blowing across pipes filled with hot water (during cold weather) or filled with cold water (when it's hot). This is economical and works well, although we appreciate your patience for the few weeks each year when we're "in-between" seasons. During those times you might be more comfortable just turning off the fan unit in your room or opening your window.
Several of our buildings have window air-conditioning units installed by Student Housing. Residents in the Stouffer Place Apartments provide their own window air-conditioning units.
Although our building systems are kept in good repair, minor problems - a fan motor quits or a circulation coil becomes clogged - will occur occasionally. The vast majority of these problems are repaired during regular daytime working hours. It's unusual to have an emergency after-hours maintenance call for an individual room unit. If an entire building is without heat in cold weather, regardless of the number of occupants at the time, a service call should be made at once. If the building heat is off long enough, there will likely be no hot water for showers. Similarly, if an entire building is without air-conditioning during our hot weather months, maintenance should be called as soon as possible.
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