Trained as a union pipe fitter in Pennsylvania, O’Roark moved west to the Colorado area, where he honed his plumbing skills and extended his expertise to the intricate mechanics of HVAC systems—a crucial aspect of his work ranging from residential homes to commercial businesses. He founded Altitude Backflow, a company that specializes in backflow prevention in addition to general plumbing and HVAC services. This venture reinforced O’Roark’s commitment to innovation and compliance with stringent regulatory standards—a testament to his dedication to quality and reliability in every project he undertakes.
Working with Dahl Plumbing, the local distributor of premium plumbing and heating products, the hotel management determined that a Mainline® heating and cooling system that features highly efficient technology that is specifically designed to operate at low ambient temperature typical of Colorado would be the ideal solution. Representatives at Dahl that were familiar with O’Roark’s established expertise in installing these types of systems recommended him for the project.
“As you might expect, in hotels it’s typical to have one guest that wants their room cooled and another guest that wants their room heated. This new technology uses refrigerant to transfer that heat or that cooling to different rooms to make it highly efficient,” explained O’Roark.
The PressACR System
The project, meticulously planned over three years and divided into phases, began with Phase One in early 2024. This initial phase focused on retrofitting 13 guest rooms, setting a benchmark for comfort and efficiency. Each phase demanded careful planning and execution, with O’Roark collaborating closely with the hotel’s maintenance engineer as they navigated the complexities of retrofitting a historical building without compromising its architectural integrity.
Enter the NIBCO®’s PressACR® system—a revolutionary approach to joining refrigeration piping that features enhanced efficiency, reliability, and safety. The scope of the project required that pressing technology be employed over traditional methods of silver soldering, which carried risks of contamination and required stringent fire safety measures. PressACR offered a streamlined, flame-free installation process. This not only mitigated risks but also significantly reduced labor hours—a critical factor in an operational environment as sensitive as a historical hotel with high guest occupancy.
O’Roark, who had not previously used pressing technology, was initially cautious about using NIBCO’s PressACR system. O’Roark had relied on conventional techniques such as silver soldering for his entire career. However, his skepticism was quickly alleviated upon learning about the system’s advantages during comprehensive training sessions conducted by manufacturers’ representative, Marshall-Rodeno Associated, at Dahl.
“The job was very intriguing,” admitted O’Roark. “I knew the system was from NIBCO, and I had installed hundreds of NIBCO valves over the years and never had a problem, so I knew it would have to be a reliable, quality system.”