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ELK RIVER ARENA <br />1000 SCHOOL STREET N.W. <br />ELK RIVER, MN 55330 <br />(763) 635 - 1141 <br /> Fax (763) 635 - 1144 <br /> <br />To: Pat Klaers, Elk River City Administrator <br /> <br />From: Rich Czech, Arena Manager <br /> <br />Date: October 9, 2003 <br /> <br />Subject: The Barn's Rink Repairs <br /> <br />As I stated in my last memo, we were not able to pull the temperature down during the <br />start up procedures. This was due to moisture in the system that was freezing once the <br />temperature of the refrigerant got below freezing. <br /> <br />Since 1988, pipes in the floor have needed to be repaired. Every summer we check the <br />floor for leaks and then repair the leaks that were found. This year was no exception; we <br />made over 30 repairs to the floor this past summer. <br /> <br />During this year's start up we have been dealing with two different problems, moisture in <br />the system, and excessive leaks in the pipes in the floor. <br /> <br />The moisture in the system was caused from years of opening the floor for repairs and <br />from this past year when a pipe was sheared while the concrete was being sawed, <br />introducing water in the pipes. <br /> <br />The excessive leaks in the pipes in the floor this season were caused by all the times the <br />floor was opened for repairs. The best way I can describe this is to compare it to a cancer. <br /> <br />Since 1988 we have gone into the floor to repair leaks (cancer). For many years we were <br />able to stay ahead of the leaks. Eventually, the cancer in the floor has spread to where the <br />floor might be beyond repair. <br /> <br />From my understanding, there are three issues that occur when the pipes in the floor are <br />repaired. First, once the refrigerant and oil in the pipes were exposed to the atmosphere, it <br />created acids and alkalis that continue to rust the pipes in the floor at an accelerated rate. <br />Second, the piping in the floor has a natural electrical current. This current is changed <br />when the new piping is installed. The new pipe and the fittings that were used to repair <br />the leaks creates a different current that actually removes material from the existing pipes, <br />starting corrosion on the existing pipes in the floor that eventually results in the pipes <br /> <br /> <br />