U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Coehn Johnson, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron heating ventilation and air conditioning journeyman, operates a winch during routine maintenance at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 5, 2015. The winch is used to remove a panel containing a series of coils Johnson and his partner cleaned out with a boring tool. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Patrick S. Ciccarone/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Benjamin Mathias, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron heating ventilation and air conditioning journeyman, turns on a siphoning machine at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 5, 2015. The machine features a bore and brush which enters numerous coils of a chiller, cleaning it out by rapidly spinning while removing sediment and scale built up during the period when the unit is off during non-cooling seasons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Patrick S. Ciccarone/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Coehn Johnson, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron heating ventilation and air conditioning journeyman, controls a cleaning instrument during summer maintenance at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 5, 2015. This siphoning tool is used to clean out the inner coils of a chiller by rapidly spinning, and is controlled by a foot pedal system, allowing Johnson to advance and reverse the instrument to clean the full length of the coil from the inside. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Patrick S. Ciccarone/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Coehn Johnson, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron heating ventilation and air conditioning journeyman, cuts and replaces a seal during summer maintenance at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 5, 2015. After removing the panel on the chiller, Johnson replaced the seal by grafting and cutting a piece of rubber in place along the rim of the panel door. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Patrick S. Ciccarone/Released)

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Nuts, bolts and a bore brush sit atop a chilling unit at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 5, 2015. The chilling unit requires heavy maintenance during the summer, during which members from the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron heating ventilation and air conditioning team go out to clean, replace and restore to keep Misawa residents cool during the hot months of summer in Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Patrick S. Ciccarone/Released)

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HVAC Airmen provide Misawa a cool summer

Published May 5, 2015
By Senior Airman Patrick S. Ciccarone
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- During the summer months at Misawa Air Base, members from the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning team mobilize to ensure both the air conditioning equipment and quality of life and morale of Airmen and their families is maintained. In the process of chiller system cleaning and restoring, HVAC Airmen pry open the unit's panel, thoroughly clean the inner coils, replace the oil filters and restore the panel door's sealant with new material. The annual process from start to finish, takes over three hours and will not have to be done again until the following year.