Planned 29-Hour Steam/Hot Water System Shutdown Begins 9 PM Friday, August 22

Facilities will be performing a planned shutdown of the entire steam system for 29 hours to complete important valve replacements that will improve long-term system reliability. This shutdown is being coordinated in advance to allow you and your teams time to plan accordingly.

The facilities team will be in close contact with the CAR and leadership throughout the shutdown to support teams, troubleshoot issues, and provide updates. As we get closer to the shutdown date, be on the lookout for invitations to check-in calls to report any issues or request support.

When is this happening?

Start: Friday, August 22 at 9 PM
End: Expected by Sunday, August 24 at 2 AM

What’s affected?

No hot water (room-temperature water will still be available)
No steam
Limited temperature and humidity control throughout the hospital and adjacent campus buildings

This includes key areas such as Birth Center operating rooms, the main OR, sterile processing, laboratory, inpatient pharmacy, infusion pharmacy, sterile processing, the kitchen, and EVS. Any activity that requires the use of hot water or temperature/humidity control will be impacted, such as keeping newborns and patients warm, hand hygiene, patient showers, ability to wash dishes in the kitchen, use of non-disposable wash mops/rags in EVS, etc.

What to know:

Hand Hygiene

According to the CDC, cold or warm water removes the same number of germs when used with soap. Alcohol-based hand rubs are also effective and available, when appropriate.

Air Quality & Temperature

HVAC systems will continue to run with normal airflow and filtration.
Temperatures may gradually drop, but room air will remain clean, filtered, and pressurized appropriately.

Patient & Staff Comfort

Ensure warm blanket cabinets are fully stocked. EVS will support restocking as needed.
Staff are encouraged to dress in layers or bring additional clothing.

The HVAC team will be on-site monitoring the air handler systems to help control temp as much as possible.

Please print and distribute these flyers to inform impacted patients starting ahead of the shutdown on Aug. 22.

Procedural Areas

No elective procedures are scheduled during this timeframe.
Urgent/emergent cases may proceed as long as clinical conditions remain safe. If temperature/humidity fall out of range, follow the Temperature and Humidity Clinical Response policy checklist. Note that staff and licensed practitioners agree that the benefits of proceeding with the case outweigh the risks and what you are doing to mitigate risk, i.e. actively warming the patient, extra patient temperature monitoring, assessing for condensation, etc.

Other Notes

Sterile processing will be impacted. If you need these services, please plan ahead and contact Raj Goraya at Raj_Goraya@valleymed.org.
Eyewash stations will continue to function.
Curtain cleaning may be delayed until hot water service resumes.
EVS and the Café will shift to disposable supplies during the shutdown.
Showers in the fitness center will not have hot water during this time.
Cooling steam pipes may cause ceiling leaks. Facilities will have staff ready to respond; please call 690.3550.

Who to Contact:

Linen & EVS: 690.2100
Engineering & Facilities: 690.3550
Project Manager (Mark McGary): 690.4289

Thank you for planning ahead and supporting safe patient care during this temporary system upgrade.