Photo By Master Sgt. John Gordinier | Staff Sgt. Harold Gaines, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron heating,...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — With temperatures on the rise, more and more Airmen deployed are looking to their air conditioning units for relief. When the AC units are not functioning properly, a small group of Airmen come to the rescue: heating ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems technicians.
"We maintain, repair and install all HVAC systems and related components," said Master Sgt. Dennis Salud, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron HVAC/R section chief deployed from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. "We ensure all mission-critical and support facilities have adequate HVAC equipment, inspect new facilities as they are being built to make sure contractors are following specifications, and make recommendations on plans that are being made for future facilities."
As summer approaches, this time of the year is the busiest for the HVAC technicians.
"We are trying to be sure all units are working properly before the hot season gets here," said Staff Sgt. Clint Ressler, 332nd ECES HVAC technician, deployed from Misawa Air Base, Japan. "It gets extremely hot during the summer here so that is our busy time. During the winter it doesn't get extremely cold here so that is our slow time and our time to get all air conditioners in good working order."
There is always an increase of work during changeover, said Staff Sgt. Alphonso Reed, 332nd ECES HVAC technician, deployed from Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
"During the changeover, we are mostly preparing for the next season, which consists of maintenance and equipment replacement," added the Waycross, Ga., native.
The HVAC technicians all say they are busier while deployed at Joint Base Balad. This can be attributed to the technician-to-task ratio.
"It's just the amount of manning we have here," Salud said. "Currently, we have a 16-person shop, and we have approximately 6,000 pieces of equipment that need to be maintained.
"Right now, we just received four local-national hires," added the Darien, Ill., native. "They are here for training. Between trying to get our job done and training them, it's a pretty good challenge juggling things around. Knowing the local-nationals are going to be our replacement as we draw down is a good feeling, because the more we get them trained, the fewer Airmen have to deploy here."
Although the shop may be undermanned, the technicians make it a priority to maintain each piece of equipment. With all the jobs throughout JBB, the HVAC technicians provide service to many customers.
"As an HVAC technician, I feel both unappreciated and appreciated — it depends on the customer," Reed said. "For example, if I go on a job and it takes longer than expected, the customer sometimes complains. However, there are always the more appreciative customers that are just glad to see us respond — especially when temperatures are 100 degrees-plus."
Overall, the HVAC technicians love what they do.
"I love to walk into an office that is 90 degrees-plus, fix their A/C unit, and it is 72 degrees or cooler when I leave," Ressler said. "It is a good feeling to know everyone in the office can do their job more efficiently because they are more comfortable."
| Date Taken: | 04.23.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2009 02:22 |
| Story ID: | 32747 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 436 |
| Downloads: | 319 |
This work, HVAC technicians enhance quality-of-life mission for Joint Base Balad, by MSgt John Gordinier, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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