INFORMATION #2 09-22-2003ELK RIVER ARENA
1000 SCHOOL STREET N.W.
ELK PdVER, MN 55330
(763) 635 - 1141
Fax (763) 635 - 1144
To: Pat Klaers, Elk River City Administrator
From: Rich Czech, Arena Manager
Date: September 20, 2003
Subject: The Barn's Rink Repairs
When starting the ice plant for the Barn, Sunday (September 14th) the temperature of the
floor would not go down like it should. We contacted the service technicians that we use
for service for this type of situation. We were told that we had moisture in the system
that's causing the refrigeration to freeze when it got below freezing, causing a blockage in
the system. This was caused from opening the floor to repair the piping in floor, not only
from this season, but from pass seasons as well.
After using several different techniques to thaw out the system, it was decided that we
needed to let the system thaw out naturally; doing this will take at least until September
22nd. After this we will try to remove the refrigeration from the pipes in the floor. If the
piping in the floor is not frozen this should be accomplished in one day. If it is still
frozen, it may take a few days longer. Once the refrigeration is out of the pipes we will
introduce nitrogen into the pipes in the floor. This will help remove the moisture from
the pipes as well as to check the pipes in the floor for leaks. We then will put a vacuum
on the pipes in the floor that will also help to remove any moisture in the pipes. This
process will take four to six days, depending on how much moisture is in the pipes. After
this process, we will then install dryer filters (that will take out the moisture out of the
refrigeration stored in the low pressure receiver) and start introducing the refrigeration
back into the pipes. The filters will have to be changed frequently to make sure that all
the water is removed from the refrigeration. We will then try to operate the system as
normal and, if all goes well, we should have ice ready for skating by October 6th. The
cost of this repair is estimated at $3,500.00. The lost revenue from ice sales is estimated
to be $8,000.00
If this process does not work, we may have to remove all the refrigeration from the
system, put a vacuum on the system and introduce new refrigeration into the system. This
process will take three to four weeks to accomplish, through the month of October and
maybe into November. The cost of doing this work is $15,000.00 to $25,000.00. If we
have to go to this extreme, we will be looking at loosing about $35,000 in lost revenues
from ice sales that would be cancel. This is the last resort.
I have cancelled or rescheduled all the ice hours on the Barn until October 6th. By October
1st, we should know the status of the Barn and should know if we need to make other
previsions.