Your Summer Commercial AC Maintenance Checklist

2018 is on pace to be the fourth hottest year on record. As temperatures continue to rise year-after-year due to climate change, staying on top of commercial air conditioner maintenance pays twofold: Ensuring a system that won’t leave you in need of emergency commercial air conditioning repair on summer’s hottest days; and safeguarding efficient performance integral to controlling energy costs and lowering your business’ carbon footprint.

Your Summer Commercial AC Maintenance Checklist

Heating and cooling consume the most energy in buildings and impact employee and customer comfort. To ensure peak efficiency and reliable performance, look to these key commercial HVAC service tasks:

• Keep Filters Clean

  Commercial HVAC mechanical contractors in Philadelphia respond to a lot of service calls that could have been easily avoided with regular air filter maintenance. This is one of the most inexpensive and easy tasks you can accomplish, but also the most commonly forgotten. During hot summer months, swapping out dusty, clogged air filters regularly will allow air to move more freely through the system, cooling more efficiently. Mark it on the calendar, swapping the filter every 1-3 months.

• Schedule a Professional Cleaning & Tune-Up

  Commercial HVAC systems should be serviced before ‘busy season’: Once in the spring before summer heat sets in, and once in the fall before the winter chill. This will ensure proper, efficient performance. Make this one of your top maintenance tasks – or you’ll likely end up waiting on emergency repairs with others whose systems gave out during temperature extremes due to neglected maintenance. What can a pro do that you can’t?
• Carefully inspect and clean the outdoor coils and compressor.
  Dirty coils force your system to work harder, impacting performance and increasing energy costs.
• Inspect the condition of fan blades and lubricate motors.
  These components keep your compressor, which costs significant money to replace, cool.
• Verify the proper function of wiring, switches, belts, and other key components.
  These each directly impact how your cooling system operate. Verifying each part or piece is in good working order (tight, lubricated, etc.) requires a keen eye and attention to detail.
• Check and adjust refrigerant levels.
  Too much or too little refrigerant can negatively impact performance. Older system? The phase out of R-22 by 2020 makes this refrigerant increasingly more difficult and expensive to come by.
• Properly program thermostat(s).
  Revisiting thermostat settings each season ensures efficient operation.
• Check drip pans & drainage.
  Moisture-related blockages can result in mold growth and costly repairs.

• Check Ductwork.

  Ductwork is critical to safeguarding performance. Have your ductwork regularly inspected by your HVAC professional for leaks, which can take a massive toll on performance, reducing efficiency up to 30%. Also have your ducts checked within. Dirty ducts can negatively impact airflow and air quality, harboring bacteria, mold, and more.

• Don’t Forget Industrial Chiller Maintenance.

  Rely on an industrial chiller as part of your operation? These systems require regular maintenance to ensure performance too!

Struggling to find a knowledgeable, reliable provider of commercial HVAC in Philadelphia? H&H Commercial Services has the experience and expertise to install and maintain even the most specialized systems. Contact us to learn more today.

This post originally appeared on: https://hhcommercialonline.com/summer-commercial-ac-maintenance-checklist/

Is your Commercial HVAC System Operating at Peak Efficiency?

When it comes to maintenance, commercial HVAC contractors in Philadelphia see a lot of neglect. According to recent reports from the Building Efficiency Initiative, less than 50% of companies perform routine, preventative maintenance critical to efficient HVAC operation. And they’re paying for it. Is your commercial HVAC system operating at peak efficiency?

Signs Your Commercial HVAC Energy Dollars are Going Up in Smoke:
Poorly functioning HVAC systems cost businesses billions in wasted energy annually, alongside hidden healthcare and productivity losses resulting from the negative impact ailing systems can have on employees. Does your system show signs of inefficiency?

• Abnormally High Energy Bills
  Unexpectedly rising energy bills are a sure sign your HVAC system is running inefficiently.
• Running Constantly
  A system that runs constantly is struggling to keep up with cooling demands. This can result from something as simple as neglected air filter maintenance or coil cleanings, or be as serious as a dying system in dire need of replacement.
• Uneven Heating/Cooling
  Warm and cold spots in the workplace are sure sign something’s amiss with your system.
• Frequent Cycling On/Off
  Frequent cycling could point to dirty coils, a malfunctioning thermostat, compressor issues, or an aging system struggling to keep up with demand.
• Excessive Dust
  Excessive dust resulting from an ancient air filter or leaky ductwork ruins both efficiency and air quality.
• Constant Repair Needs
  If you’re on a first-name basis with your local HVAC mechanical contractor, you may be spending more on commercial air conditioning repair, commercial heating repairs, and energy bills over the long run than you would on a newer, more efficient system.
• Age
  Systems more than 10-years-old are substantially less efficient than their newer, higher-SEER counterparts.

How Can Your Business Safeguard Commercial HVAC Efficiency?

• Change Air Filters Regularly
  This simple, inexpensive maintenance can save you 5-10% on HVAC expenses, safeguarding system life, and preventing system strain, comfort, and air quality issues that can negatively impact employee productivity. Be sure to swap them monthly.
• Keep the Outside Unit Clear
  Clearing airflow-blocking debris is a cheap and easy way to safeguard efficiency.
• Ensure Ductwork is Properly Sealed
  Properly sealing and insulating ductwork, particularly ductwork located in unheated/uncooled spaces, can help you improve heating and cooling efficiency by 20%. That’s some serious dough!
• Install a Programmable Thermostat
  Ask your local HVAC service pro about programmable and smart thermostats that could help you save hundreds annually – and prevent office temperature control battles.
• Schedule Regular, Preventive Maintenance
  Routine maintenance and cleaning in the spring and fall, before temperature extremes hit, is an affordable insurance policy against exorbitantly high energy bills and the highly-costly possibility of catastrophic system failure. Keep things on-schedule with a maintenance plan.
• Upgrade Your System
  HVAC systems account for 39% of energy used in commercial buildings nationwide. Replacing your ailing unit with a newer, high-performance system can save you 10-40% in energy and emissions annually, making dollars and sense for your business.

HVAC operating and repair expenses taking a bite out of your bottom line? H&H Commercial Services can help. Contact us to learn more about ways you can lower operating expenses via preventative maintenance and other smart system investments today.

This post originally appeared on: https://hhcommercialonline.com/commercial-hvac-system-operating-peak-efficiency/

Great Commercial Air Conditioning Repair Keeps Your Computer Room Running Smoothly

No matter how cold the weather may be outside, there's likely one room in your building that must be kept chilled at all times: the computer room.  If you're running a large set of computers - or hosting server farms - then you know just how much heat they can put out... and how disastrous it can be if they ever overheat.  

H&H Commercial Service specializes in commercial air conditioning repair solutions for computer rooms, and we should be one of the first places you call if you ever start having trouble.

Ways H&H Commercial Service Can Protect Your Data Center

1. Application-Specific Repair Work

We know that computer room cooling solutions are not one-size-fits-all.  Temperatures which might be appropriate for one set of equipment could cripple another.  Before beginning any A/C repair work, we'll make sure we understand the equipment you're using and its specific environmental needs.

2. Humidity Control

Very often, data center air conditioning systems include humidity control as an integral part.  We are well familiar with these systems, and partner with top brands ourselves to ensure temperature and moisture levels are properly controlled.  

3. Extensive Parts On-Hand

Since we have a strong focus on computer room work, we keep relatively obscure parts in stock that many other commercial air conditioning repair companies would have to special-order.  This means we can get your repairs done quickly, and for less extra cost, than the alternatives.

4. Protective Maintenance for Long-Term Safety

We know that there's simply no such thing as "acceptable risk" when it comes to network hubs and data centers.  With every repair or installation job, we're looking towards the future and watching out for small problems that, if fixed now, will prevent much larger problems later on.  When you call in H&H Commercial Services for your computer room air conditioning needs, we want you to know your computer systems will be safe for years to come.

H&H Commercial Services Is Philadelphia's Top Option in Commercial Air Conditioning Repair

For over thirty-five years, H&H Commercial Services has provided excellent commercial air conditioning repair, as well as full HVAC maintenance and installation, to the Philadelphia area.  We've built long-lasting relationships with our clients thanks to our dedication to quality service, excellent brand offerings, and timely work.

Please contact H&H Commercial Services today for a full consultation on your air conditioning work.