HVAC

Staff Sgt. Dwayne Carter, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician, replaces the air conditioning unit cover on a wall unit in coalition compound March 25. Regular cleaning of the air conditioning unit's filter could prevent dorm fires. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tong Duong)

HVAC

Staff Sgts. Dwayne Carter (left) and Andrew Baines, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron heating, ventilation and air conditioning technicians, carry a new air conditioning unit to be installed in a dormitory. Sergeant Carter, deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and Sergeant Baines, deployed from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., perform the semiannual preventive maintenance procedure on window air conditioning units throughout coalition compound to prevent dorm fires. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tong Duong)

HVAC team helps base keeps its cool

Published March 18, 2008
By Senior Airman Tong Duong
379th AEW Public Affairs

Southwest Asia -- With the twist of a knob, servicemembers here can adjust the temperature of their workstation or dorm room to their liking because of constant maintenance and upkeep by the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron heating, ventilation and air conditioning team.

"We are dealing with extremes of up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer here, so we need to provide a place for our members to go and cool off," said Master Sgt. Robert Downing, Jr., 379th ECES, non-commissioned officer in charge of zone HVAC, deployed from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. "Without cooling, most of the buildings would reach a sweltering 140 degrees inside."

In charge of more than 6,000 cooling and chilling units throughout the base, the HVAC team works around the clock to keep servicemembers cool.

"In coalition compound alone, we have more than 3,600 window units, and we gained an additional 2,500 units after the Blatchford-Preston complex opened," said Sergeant Downing.

The HVAC team consists of 21 members, split into two teams, who ensure the units are functioning not only in the dorm rooms and work places, but also in the dining facilities, Desert Eagle Lounge, gym, library and just about every other place on base.

Airmen who have outdoor jobs and are in the heat all day appreciate the hard work HVAC teams do to keep the facilities livable.

"It's one luxury some servicemembers don't have" said Airman 1st Class Mercutio Clark, 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, a C-130 crew chief deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. "It's nice to know when I leave the flightline, I can watch a movie, eat or work out in a cool environment."

When we experience extremely high temperatures, people get drained and can't work, Sergeant Downing said. "Having a place to cool off enables them to regain energy to work hard the next day."