Since the failure of the Orchard Mesa Pool boiler on November 14, the pool has been closed as Monument Mechanical repair technicians work with city staff to diagnose the problem. As a result, several fixes have been made to fittings, thermostats, valves, and sensors. Once those repairs were made; however, the boiler still would not heat, and it was determined that a new heat exchanger was needed. That part has been ordered and is expected to arrive in the next two weeks. The most recent repair effort got the boiler firing and heating; however, because of a leaking heat exchanger, it would not stay running to heat the pool.
The new heat exchanger will allow the boiler to heat the pool and raise the temperature to a safe level so Orchard Mesa Pool can be reopened. The total cost for all parts and labor is expected to be about $15,000.
The city’s efforts to maintain the Orchard Mesa Pool have kept it operational for almost 40 years but much of the aging equipment and systems have exceeded their useful life. The pool boiler is just one example; however, concerns also exist for the filtration, HVAC and electrical systems. In addition, the pool plaster typically has a useable life of 15 years but because city staff has continued to clean the pool and maintain appropriate pool chemistry, the pool has only needed to be replastered twice in the past 40 years.
Updates regarding the boiler repair and anticipated reopening of the Orchard Mesa Pool will be posted to Grand Junction Parks and Recreation social media accounts including Facebook and Instagram.