Posts Tagged ‘emergency response’

The Secret to Long-Lasting Plumbing Systems

Monday, September 29th, 2025

Getting ahead of building maintenance is an important aspect of a property manager’s and building engineer’s role. It can be easy, however, to overlook the less visible aspects of a commercial property, including the plumbing and piping systems that run throughout. Losing track of the health of the plumbing in a building can be costly, but knowing what to look for and conducting regular check-ups can keep commercial plumbing systems running without cause for concern well into the future. 

Environmental Considerations

Extreme temperatures can affect the plumbing and pipes in commercial buildings. In Minnesota, this often means the risk of freezing pipes in the winter. Getting ahead of seasonal changes and taking stock of the internal systems in buildings can help prevent long-term damage or disastrous emergencies when freezing temperatures set in. Proper insulation and regular inspections are preventative measures building engineers and property managers can take to keep everything intact year-round. 

Water Quality Checks

Keeping a pulse on what is running through the pipes in a building helps maintenance experts get ahead of necessary repairs, changes, and updates. The quality of the water in the plumbing can be a big indicator of the health of the pipes. Hard water, for example, can cause extra corrosion and potential buildup. Water filters and commercial-grade softeners ease the strain on plumbing and piping systems, keeping the insides clean and cared for. 

Additionally, occupant usage can affect the water quality and plumbing health in the facility. If grease or non-biodegradable contents are being poured into drains, then the building systems will suffer. Educating occupants and encouraging proper waste disposal are key to extending the lifespan of the plumbing and piping in commercial buildings. 

Inspections and Maintenance

Establishing a regular inspection schedule for the plumbing in your facility keeps building engineers and property managers in the know of the health of the building and safeguards against emergency repairs or lasting damage. Inspections should include taking a close look at pipes, fixtures, water heaters, and other relevant equipment that may need maintenance tune-ups. These annual inspections can be conducted by building engineers, or by a trusted service partner such as Egan Company. Know what to look for and have a plan to make necessary repairs before potential issues escalate into major problems. 

Achieve Healthy Pipes

The responsibility of building maintenance does not have to fully rest upon property managers and building engineers. Let Egan Company help take care of necessary inspections, repairs, preventative maintenance, and emergency service for plumbing equipment. Our goal is to educate property managers and building engineers, supporting facility maintenance where needed and providing necessary resources to keep your commercial building systems healthy for the long run. Looking for a partner for your commercial property? Get in touch with our team and take some responsibility off your shoulders. 

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Emergency Response Helps to Avoid Costly Property Damage

Thursday, March 12th, 2015

Egan History Image 2Since the 1960s, Egan Company has provided operational support for buildings and their internal systems. Egan’s in-house 24/7/365 call center dispatches qualified trades personnel to service building infrastructures and controls.

Our emergency response is a service many of our customers find valuable. The League of Catholic Women, a local nonprofit organization, found this service useful this past New Year’s Eve when the boiler in their unoccupied Minneapolis building was not running, causing the temperature to rapidly drop to the mid-30s.

“We were two weeks from closing on the sale of the building in Downtown Minneapolis, and the waterline ruptured,” said Fran Rusciano Murnane, Co-President of the League of Catholic Women. “Chaos would have ensued were it not for the commitment, perseverance, and ingenuity of [Egan’s] Nick Millette, Dale Bocan, and Tony Lawrence.”

The City of Minneapolis had shut off the water two days prior because of the break in the main water line. As a result, the boiler ran out of water and stopped running.

Rusciano Murnane received a recommendation to install 30 space heaters throughout the building. However, the cost to deliver 30 heaters on New Year’s Eve would have been incredibly cost prohibitive, let alone the likelihood of finding a bulk quantity of electric heaters on a holiday.

van00srevisedPromises Made

Egan determined that the best solution was to try to get the boiler running. A tool was created that extracted water from the water heater into the boiler. The boiler ran for the next three to five days so water could continue to be forced into it.

Once a sufficient amount of water was fed into the boiler, it was safely turned on and the building began heating again. However, it was soon determined that another city waterline had ruptured that hadn’t yet been discovered. As a result, the waterlines inside the building were not draining, so the potential for additional burst pipes throughout the 20,000 square foot facility was very probable, resulting in extensive property damage.

Egan drained the water from the building fixtures and waterlines, but soon encountered a new problem: these two ruptured waterlines had caused water to leak through the exterior wall into the electrical room near the electrical panel.

As a result, the electrical components needed repair, but the situation was deemed unsafe with water still over the electrical panel.
Once the City shut off the waterline and the environment was safe, all damaged electrical components were repaired within five days of the initial service request.

Promises Kept

The League of Catholic Women was able to successfully close on the sale of their newly purchased building and avoid any costly property damage.

“I am in awe of the professionalism, skill, intelligence, and kindness of Nick, Tony, and Dale. Each of these gentlemen demonstrated the utmost concern in dealing with a dire situation on New Year’s Eve,” Rusciano Murnane said. “In an era of decreasing concern for the customer, these three concerned individuals exhibited the best training and outcomes that anyone could hope or expect.”

(The Egan team mentioned here includes: Nick Millette, HVAC Service Pipefitter; Dale Bocan, Plumber; Tony Lawrence, Electrician.)

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KARE 11 Electrical Fire Prompts Emergency Response and Upgrades

Monday, October 24th, 2005

In the world of live television, there’s no pause button. A significant transformer fire at KARE 11’s Golden Valley, Minn. facility forced a full evacuation of the building. While there were no injuries, employees remained unable to access the facility, and the extent of damage to critical broadcast systems was initially unclear. Egan Company responded swiftly with a complete electrical infrastructure replacement to restore reliable operations and help KARE 11 return to normal broadcasting as quickly as possible.

The original electrical system installed in the 1970s by a contractor not affiliated with Egan Company — featured an outdoor, weatherproof-rated bus duct running above ground into the indoor utility room. Building engineers, facilities managers, and Egan experts believe that prolonged exposure to Minnesota’s severe weather over the past five decades contributed to the system’s failure. 

Jesse Gesme, Electrical Special Projects Project Manager, said, “It was great to see everyone come together with all hands on deck, multiple project managers, estimators, and outside vendors, working with urgency to restore operations. The teamwork and quick coordination with the KARE 11 team made a big difference in getting the job done.”

Egan crews mobilized immediately when they got the call to restore power and begin installing new electrical systems to meet modern codes and standards. By noon the following day, the temporary outdoor generator’s final  connections were made to  re-energize the station  and work began on the installation of new electrical services and infrastructure both inside and outside the building. The final switchover from generator power to the upgraded permanent system took place nine days after the fire.

“We rely on Egan’s expertise and the quality of their work — both of which have met or exceeded our expectations,” said Marty McAlpine, KARE 11 Broadcast Engineer. “We valued their collaboration, approachability, and continual communication as the project progressed. The crew was with us every step of the way. It was clear they had our best interests front and center. Every day, multiple times throughout the day, they kept us in the loop and synced up at every stage of the project. They listened and understood our business needs and operations and answered every question we had. There were no shortcuts or loose ends. They were always on time, worked as long as it took, and ultimately completed the work on schedule.”

Safety remained the top priority throughout the process, consistent with Egan’s “Stay Safe” core value. Crews worked closely with KARE 11 staff to ensure operations continued without risk to employees or visitors. Station leadership has expressed confidence in Egan’s handling of the emergency and its commitment to quickly restoring reliable electrical service.

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