Success Stories > Broken Equipment
You're Smarter Than a Thermostat
UC Davis has over 1,000 buildings on campus, which makes it difficult to search for potential mechanical repairs.
Every time you use TherMOOstat, you help us see what is "normal" and "abnormal" in campus buildings. Your comments also prompt our investigations when we're looking into mechanical systems.
Your Comments Prompt Us to Look Twice
In our HVAC controls system, there are alarms that let us know when equipment isn't running properly. However, alarms can't catch everything, and that's where you come in. The detailed comments you leave with your TherMOOstat feedback direct our attention to specific areas of the HVAC system. Sometimes we find things that we wouldn't have found without your insight.
Rock Hall is a large lecture auditorium that can host over 200 students at once. We don't receive a lot of feedback from Rock Hall compared to the rest of the classroom spaces on campus.
On January 12, 2017, we received feedback reporting abnormally cold temperature. Although our system didn't report any alerts of mechanical failure, the comments prompted us to dig a little deeper.
The setpoint for Rock Hall Room 194 is typically at 75°F, but the actual temperature ranged from 56 to 68°F. This influx of responses and the significantly low recorded room temperature kicked off our investigation.
We found a heating hot water pump malfunctioning, which meant the air supplied to the room wasn't being heated but in fact, remained cool. Our team alerted a Facilities HVAC technician, who checked on the issue and it was resolved quickly.
"It feels like we're on an Arctic Tundra."
"It is very cold. It feels like the AC is on."
Actual room temperature
was way too low!
This is what the temperature should be.
Your Vote Matters!
Your TherMOOstat feedback alerts us of broken and malfunctioning equipment around campus. When you alert us to abnormal comfort issues, your feedback prompts us to dig deeper and find the underlying cause.