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Physical Plant

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the Physical Plant hours?
Physical Plant is staffed Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. In the event of a building maintenance emergency during off hours, contact Public Safety at 585-2490.
Summer hours are 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
What would be considered a building maintenance emergency?
An emergency can be a roof leak, a plumbing leak, a smoke detector going off, an overflowing toilet or a toilet that is plugged where there are no other toilet facilities available.
Where is Physical Plant located?
Physical Plant is located at 126 West Street, across the street from the Indoor Track and Tennis Facility (ITT).
What services are available from Physical Plant?
  • Plumbing
  • Heating
  • Ventilation
  • Air Conditioning
  • Electrical
  • Elevator Service
  • Carpentry
  • Painting
  • Glass
  • Shade
  • Roofing/Sheet metal
  • Receiving
  • Building Services (Residential & Academic)
  • Grounds Management
  • Motor Pool

How can I make a service request?
The simplest and fastest way to make a service request is to submit your request using the online form.  Or you may email requests to ppsvcreq@smith.edu.  Our customer service desk can be reached by calling ext. 2400.
How do I reserve a college van?
Faculty, Administrative and Administrative Support staff may reserve a college van using the online Vehicle Request Form.
For questions regarding vans, please contact Facilities Management Customer Service ext. 2400.
Who do I contact when my phone, Internet service or cable are not working?
If your phone, internet service or cable are not working, contact Information Technology Systems (ITS) at extension 4487. You can also reach ITS by e-mail at phones@smith.edu.
When does the college turn the building heat on?
There is no pre-determined day, but it usually falls sometime before October 15, based on weather conditions. The heat in residence halls is set to maintain a temperature between 66 and 70 degrees. Outside air temperature, room size, number of windows, number of exterior walls, number of people, and amount and placement of furniture in a room all impact the room temperature.
My radiator isn't even warm, how do I turn it on?
The radiators are not warm all the time. When the sensor reads that the temperature in your zone is correct, the heat to the radiators will stop until the sensor reads a temperature that is below the set point.
What should I do if my room is too hot?
First, you can check on a couple of possible causes.
  • Is the outside temperature much warmer today than yesterday? (The heating system in a large building can be slower to adjust to fluctuating outside temperatures. This can be a particular problem in the fall and spring when the daily highs can vary be 20 or 30 degrees.)
  • Is there a window or door open elsewhere in the building that could be activating the heat?
If these do not seem to be the cause, please do the following:
  • DO NOT simply open the window. It wastes energy; it will not solve the problem and may, in fact, make it worse.
  • Call Customer Service at ext. 2400 or use the on-line service request form to place a service request. Please ensure that you provide your name, phone number, building, room number, type of problem and what parts of the building are impacted.
What should I do if my room is too cold?
First, you can check on a couple of possible causes.
  • Make sure that the radiator or other heating unit is not obstructed. If furniture is placed directly in front of the heat, pull it away from the wall to allow the air to circulate.
  • Check to make sure that there are no heat producing items (i.e. refrigerator, computer, lamp) placed in front of a thermostat or sensor. This would give a false reading of warm temperatures to the thermostat or sensor.
  • Check to make sure that there are no windows open. When closed, windows must be securely latched. If you have a storm window, ensure it is down and locked as well.
  • Make sure you are dressed for the season. Many people feel chilly at 65-70 degrees when wearing shorts and a t-shirt.
If these do not seem to be the cause, please Call Customer Service at ext. 2400 or use the online service request form to place a service request. Please ensure that you provide your name, phone number, building, room number, type of problem and what parts of the building are impacted.