Maintenance Services

On This Page
Routine Maintenance & i-Service
Emergency Maintenance
Heat Concerns
Pests
Room Furniture
Avoiding Maintenance

Maintenance Requests
Residents can use the online Housing Service Request System to submit a routine maintenance request (from within the residence halls ONLY).

Related Sites
Environmental Health & Safety
Emergency & Service Numbers

Housing Services Maintenance & Operations is responsible for all building systems, repairs and room furnishings in the residence halls.

The Maintenance and Operations staff of carpenters, electricians, maintenance technicians, masons, painters, plumbers and trades workers help to maintain a safe living environment for students. The maintenance staff is available in each residential area from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Routine Maintenance & i-Service

If you have a routine maintenance concern, submit a Service Request Form online using the Housing Services Request System. If you do not have a computer with internet access in your room, go to your Cluster Office. By submitting the request, you give staff the right to enter your room to complete the job whether or not you are present.

You can use i-Service to track the progress of your request. If the work has not been completed to your satisfaction, please contact your Area Office.

Emergency Maintenance

Emergency maintenance staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Maintenance emergencies requiring urgent repairs include:

• doors that do not close or lock properly
• loose door knobs or knobs that fall off
• lock and key problems
• heat, power, or water loss
• flooding
• continuously running water (sinks, toilets, showers)
• clogged floor drains, sinks & toilets
• broken windows
• graffiti and vandalism of fire alarm or security equipment, etc.

All maintenance emergencies should be reported to your Cluster Office or Resident Assistant on duty. Please make note that some kinds of work may result in a billing charge for the service if occurring after normal work hours.

The online Housing Service Request System should NOT be used to report maintenance emergencies.

Heat Concerns

Heating Systems
Residence halls are heated through a variety of systems. In our oldest halls, the heat is maintained through steam heat, and in the halls built in the 1970’s, a circulating hot water system is used. In our newest halls, the heat is provided through a central air system.

Steam Heating: Northeast and Central
When steam is available, each room in the hall has a radiator with a thermostatic hand-value that controls the amount of steam that enters the radiator in the room. The building steam is controlled centrally by sensors and when the temperature reaches a desired point, no steam is available. During the transitional periods before and after the heating season, optimal heating and cooling conditions may not be met.

Please take care around the radiator and do not block it behind furniture because better airflow will heat the room more efficiently. If you have any problems with the heat in your room, please contact your RA or Cluster Office so he or she can respond according to our heating protocol.

Hot Water Heating: Southwest, Sylvan, and Orchard Hill
There are sensors located in zones throughout the hall to monitor the hall’s conditions. Water is heated to maintain a desired temperature within the hall which depends on outside and inside sensor readings. Individual room temperature control is not available and some rooms may be cooler or warmer within a zone. During the transitional periods before and after the heating season, optimal heating and cooling conditions may not be met.

Please leave the back wall of the room open and free of furniture so the proper airflow is available to efficiently heat the room. If you have any problems with the heat in your room, please contact your RA or Cluster Office so he or she can respond according to our heating protocol.

Central Air Heating: North Apartments
The central air system has three modes, Cooling, Heating, and Ventilation. While in the Heating mode, which is usually initiated in late October (residents will be notified when the switch is made), the system does not provide any cooling effects and vice versa. In both the Cooling and Heating modes, the system is monitored by Housing Operations and residents are able to adjust the thermostat of their apartment within 3 to 4 degrees of the maintained hall temperature (between 68 and 72 degrees). During transitional seasons, the Ventilation mode may be used, which circulates the un-tempered air from outside throughout the hall. In this mode, apartment thermostats do not work and temperature control can be achieved through operable windows, although optimal heating and cooling conditions may not be met.

Please, at all times, leave the adjustable vents in the apartment open 100% to increase the efficiency of the system. If you have any problems with the heat in your room, please contact your Cluster Office or Apartment Living Advisor so he or she can respond according to our heating protocol.

Pests

If you see any insect or critter in your room or public location, please use the online Housing Service Request System to submit a service request. Be sure to provide as much information as possible about the situation. If you do not have a computer with internet access, go to your Cluster Office.

The request will be forwarded to Integrated Pest Management and they will respond within 48 hours. If you do not get services within this time frame, please call your Area Office. Be aware that Integrated Pest Management will not exterminate beneficial insects such as ladybugs.

Room Furniture

Every student room is furnished with bed frames, mattresses, desks, chairs, bookcases, and wardrobe units or closets. This is the only furniture allowed in your room. For exemptions to this policy, refer to your Residence Hall Manual.

All furniture must stay in your room. Do not add to your room furnishings by taking furniture from common areas. Removing furniture from your room or adding furniture to your room from common spaces may result in a charge.

Report any damage to furnishings using the online Housing Service Request System.

All beds in the residence halls are capable of being bunked or lofted. Contact your Cluster Office for information on how to request lofting materials.

Lofting Kit Instructions- Safely lofting your bed

List of Buildings Capable of Lofting:

Avoiding Maintenance

There are some maintenance concerns that can be easily avoided. Here are some steps to avoiding maintenance:

• Avoid overloading the circuits with too many appliances or adapters
• Do not remove your screen or damage it in any way
• Treat your room furnishings as if you bought them yourself
  You will be responsible for the condition of your room when you move out. Room occupants will be billed for rooms that have sustained damage. To avoid damage billing, here are a few guidelines to follow:
• Do not cover more than 25% of your wall surface with decorations and always use rubber cement or another non-damaging type of adhesive
• Do not paint your wall or mark the interior of the room or furnishings with any non-removable material
• Do not add or remove University furnishings from your room
• Report any damage or concern as soon as possible