Six months after leaking pipes caused water damage in The Village residence hall, University Housing is still trying to figure out who is responsible.
The issue centers around two incidents.
In March, a pipe ruptured in a stairwell at The Village and caused more than $30,000 in damage. John Henry's Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Co., the subcontractor that installed the original plumbing, paid for the damage through its insurance company.
Then in April, 23 pipes began leaking, and the subcontractor again fixed the leaking pipes, said company owner John Henry Zohner.
The problem, Zohner said, is which entity is to blame for the leaks.
Zohner said University Housing blamed his company for the faulty pipes. But Zohner said he completed the job according to contract and manufacturer's specifications - and he stands by that work.
"We are as innocent and honest as the day is long," said Zohner, who feels his company's reputation is unfairly tarnished. "And that's what really hurts about this whole thing."
Zohner said the pipes, which carry water for the liquid-based heating and cooling system in The Village, were damaged by over-heating and over-pressurizing above the manufacturer's specifications. That overuse caused the pipes to warp, Zohner said, and the glue holding the fittings together to melt.
At Zohner's request, the company that produced the fittings and adapters used in the plumbing system, Spears Manufacturing Company, analyzed some of the piping in question. Spears representatives concluded the damage was caused by heat, according to a letter to Zohner from the company."Based on our examination, we conclude the cause … is related to an excessive amount of heat and pressure, and was not due to a defect in material or workmanship," according to the letter.
Excessive heat appeared to have caused the damage, according to the letter, and "the adapters had leaked after being subjected to at least two temperature spikes in the range of 140 degrees."
Ted Weidner, UNL assistant vice chancellor for facilities management, said the water piped into The Village comes from the city cooling tower and is between 80 and 90 degrees.
He said the piping in The Village was inspected after it was installed, and no initial problems were detected.
"The contractors and the design engineer had to have signed off on the work," Weidner said.
He declined to comment on whether or not a heat spike could have caused the damage.
Weidner said there have been no problems with the piping in The Village since repairs to the plumbing system were made.
University Housing also installed new controls to the central heating and cooling system.
Weidner doesn't anticipate any more problems.
"I'm looking forward to a leak-free year," he said.
