An 800-pound air conditioning unit that burned out Wednesday kept the student union about 8 degrees hotter the last two days, a problem that should be fixed by the end of today.
One of the six 100-horsepower motors on the roof of the Student Union Memorial Center stopped working around noon Wednesday, affecting parts of the food court, the Cactus Grill and other areas for the last two days, said Dave Parker, associate director of Facilities Management and operations of the student union.
A new air conditioner has already been ordered as a replacement, but students can still expect the building to be warmer than usual because installing the unit will probably take all day, Parker said.
"It's not unbearable, but it's uncomfortable," Parker said. "Today during lunchtime, it will be a little warmer than usual."
The building temperature yesterday afternoon was measured at 80 degrees, though the student union usually keeps it at 72 degrees, Parker said.
To compensate for the downed unit, the temperature in the Main Ballroom was lowered yesterday, and evaporative cooling fans were set up to pull cooler air into the affected areas, Parker said.
Fans have also been set up in various spots around the Cactus Grill so employees and students to feel more comfortable until the problem is fixed.
"We're doing everything we can," Parker said. "But there's no way to completely compensate for it when you lose one of the big ones."
Kathi Van Os, a division manager for Dining Services, said although the heat was uncomfortable the employees and customers seemed to be doing well.
"It's an unfortunate thing to happen the first week of school," Van Os said. "(But) things break and people seem to be understanding."
Amy Sopko, a mechanical engineering sophomore, said she felt the heat inside 3 Cheeses and a Noodle around 1 p.m. yesterday. She said she got used to it and cooled down enough to finish her meal.
"The heat certainly wasn't comfortable when you first walked in, but it's better than being outside in the 100-degree-plus heat," Sopko said. "It's Arizona. What can you do?"
The student union operating budget will take a $5,000 to $6,000 hit for the unexpected replacement because there aren't enough funds in the maintenance reserve budget to cover the large cost, Parker said.
Though the student union sets aside funds in the maintenance reserve budget to replace things like motors or worn-out carpet, they have to use emergency funds when machines break before predicted.
"We didn't budget for this, so we'll have to find the funds elsewhere," Parker said.
Like two of the other five units, the motor was installed five years ago and is past warranty. The other three units were installed three years ago.
"I would have hoped to get 10 years out of it," Parker said. "Anything mechanical or electrical will wear out, but this just failed sooner than we expected."