For most of campus, the annual steam outage comes and goes without any notice beyond slightly cooler building temperatures.
There are no ribbon cuttings, no crowds gathered around a construction site, and few visible signs of the work taking place beneath the surface. Yet for dozens of Facilities Services employees, the outage represents one of the most coordinated and consequential maintenance efforts of the year.
It is a massive undertaking that requires months of planning, hundreds of hours of labor, and collaboration across multiple Facilities Services teams. The result is a more reliable steam system that supports everything from heating and hot water to research, residence halls, and academic buildings.
In many ways, the annual steam outage is a perfect example of how the quiet work of Facilities Services helps ensure the university can carry out its mission every day.
Vols Plan Ahead
Planning for the next steam outage truly begins before the previous year’s outage ends.
Facilities Services reinstated annual campus-wide steam outages in 2021 after a decade of relying on shorter outages every few years, which resulted in more frequent unplanned outages that created challenges for building occupants and required employees to work under tight deadlines and extended overtime schedules.
Today, planning involves a complex balancing act. Teams evaluate maintenance needs across the steam distribution system, coordinate contractor work, consider academic and campus schedules, and identify the least disruptive window to complete the work.
“There is a timing sweet spot,” said Utilities & Energy Director Wes Willoughby. “We have to balance the amount of work that needs to be completed with what’s happening across campus and the least impact to our customers.”
Months before the outage begins, Facilities Services communicates with campus partners, allowing departments to prepare for temporary service interruptions and make any necessary accommodations.
The Race Is On
Once steam is shut down, the clock starts ticking.
Teams from the Steam Plant, Plumbing Services, Maintenance and Repair, Building Automation Systems, Utilities Project Management, and other Facilities Services sub-units spread across campus to complete work that can only be performed while the system is offline.
In more than 90 steam vaults across campus, crews perform critical maintenance including valve repairs, valve packing, expansion joint maintenance, inspections, and equipment replacements.
At the same time, Steam Plant personnel conduct annual inspections and certifications of the university’s boilers, tune equipment for maximum efficiency, and perform extensive maintenance on the turbine generator.
Many of these tasks happen simultaneously, requiring careful coordination between crews working long days throughout the outage, including weekends.
“It’s truly a team effort,” said Wayne Stalans, Utilities Superintendent. “Everyone has a role, and the work has to be carefully sequenced so that one team can hand off to another. Success depends on everyone working together.”
Looking Ahead
While the outage is primarily focused on maintenance and reliability, crews also use the opportunity to make strategic improvements to the steam system.
This year, teams installed nine new monitoring devices and a feeder that will provide additional visibility into the health of the underground steam system. The equipment will help operators better understand system conditions and monitor water chemistry throughout the network.
Crews also installed two magnetic strainers that will be evaluated as a potential long-term solution for removing iron oxide particles from condensate before they can cause future problems.
These upgrades may not be visible to campus, but they provide valuable data and help position the university for even greater reliability moving forward.
Safety Comes First
Safety remains a top priority throughout the outage.
Before work can begin inside any steam vault, crews must verify that conditions are safe for entry. With more than 90 vaults spread across campus, this process requires significant time and attention.
As the outage nears completion, teams begin preparing the system for restart by bleeding condensate lines and removing accumulated water from vaults.
Returning steam to a campus-wide distribution system is a carefully orchestrated process. Multiple crews are stationed throughout campus to bleed air from the system, monitor equipment, inspect for leaks, and adjust valves as steam pressure gradually returns.
The process requires patience, communication, and constant vigilance.
Reliability You Can Count On
The success of the outage is measured long after crews leave the steam vaults.
By repairing leaks, replacing aging components, and completing preventative maintenance, Facilities Services expects to recover more condensate and improve overall system efficiency. Just as importantly, the work reduces the likelihood of unplanned outages throughout the year.
Like many large universities, UT’s steam distribution system includes infrastructure that has served campus for decades. The annual outage provides an opportunity to proactively inspect, maintain, and replace components before they impact reliability, helping extend the life of the system while reducing the risk of future disruptions.
This year’s valve replacement efforts also strengthen the university’s ability to isolate portions of the steam system in the future, allowing for smaller, more targeted outages when maintenance is needed.
For campus customers, the most noticeable outcome may be that nothing happens at all.
Classes continue. Research continues. Residence halls remain operational. Hot water is available. Buildings stay comfortable.
Reliability is the goal.
And while most people will never see the work happening beneath their feet, dozens of Facilities Services employees know exactly what it takes to make it possible.
Their teamwork, planning, and dedication help ensure the university’s mission can continue uninterrupted, one steam line at a time.