Serving With Purpose in OKC – Emergency Repair Case Study

A cultural institution’s artifacts rely on a stable HVAC system to maintain exact temperature and humidity, a critical task invisible to most visitors. When a leak flooded the mechanical room, the risk of permanent damage to these priceless pieces was high, and any delay could disrupt operations. Sourcing parts, welding in tight spaces, and completing the repair overnight was a complex challenge that would have overwhelmed many companies. This situation demanded skill, determination, and integrity.

Guided by our core values of trust, loyalty, courage, humility, and excellence, the team collaborated seamlessly to restore the system by morning:

 

• FOCUSED DIAGNOSIS
  The team identified a cracked PVC flange in the chilled water return line, buried in concrete, requiring meticulous inspection in a flooded mechanical room under tight time constraints.
• COMPLEX SYSTEM ISOLATION
  Without isolation valves at the loop’s start, draining most air handlers and basement piping was a labor-intensive process, demanding precision to avoid complications.
• CHALLENGING REPAIR PROCESS
  Securing parts in the middle of the night was a major obstacle. The team relentlessly called suppliers, with the Client Consultant driving to pick up critical components once located. The Lead Construction Technicians took turns on manual labor to conserve energy while cutting the damaged steel pipe and welding new flanges for the 8” chilled water line in a cramped space with barely any room to maneuver, a physically exhausting task requiring exceptional skill and endurance. By chance, another technician on a separate call assisted by picking up additional parts and delivering them to the job site, demonstrating our team’s resourcefulness and humility.
• DETAILED RESORATION
  The team refilled the system with the plant’s make-up water, bled air from the mechanical room and the highest air handler on the second floor, restarted pumps and chillers, and checked for leaks to maintain stable temperature and humidity.

By morning, the system was fully operational, and the artifacts were secure:

• Legacy Protected: The artifacts were preserved, keeping history intact for future generations.
• Operations Maintained: The institution continued without disruption, supported by a restored HVAC system.
• Trust Strengthened: We deepened our relationship with the client, proving our reliability in a crisis