A new 800-horsepower boiler began operating at 7 p.m. Sunday at the SOBE Thermal plant, potentially ending a week of heating issues for 28 downtown Youngstown buildings.

The installation follows a series of equipment failures that left many city offices and businesses without adequate heat during a period of single-digit temperatures.

The disruption began Tuesday when a water line ruptured at the plant, disabling the boilers. Although workers repaired the line on Wednesday, steam pressure remained low throughout the week.

SOBE President John Rambo said the new unit arrived Friday evening after a delivery delay. The truck carrying the boiler was slowed by a flat tire near New Stanton, Pennsylvania. Once the equipment arrived, crews worked through the weekend to resolve issues with the control systems and start the unit.

The lack of steam heat severely impacted operations at Youngstown City Hall. On Friday, Law Director Adam Buente reported that the building was receiving less than 10% of its necessary steam pressure. Temperatures inside dropped to 38 degrees on the third floor and 44 degrees on the fourth floor.

Because of the cold, most city employees worked from home while only critical staff stayed on-site. Buente contacted state officials to request help, noting that the extreme cold forecast for the coming week created a dangerous situation for the downtown area.

Before the new installation, the plant operated with one 650-horsepower boiler and one 250-horsepower boiler. Company officials said that the capacity was not enough to heat the downtown buildings during winter weather.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has been monitoring the utility to ensure it provides reliable service. With the 800-horsepower boiler now running, officials expect the system to recover and increase temperatures in the affected buildings.