Tips for Extending the Life Span of Your Commercial Heating System

How can you maximize the lifespan and reduce maintenance on your commercial heating system?  A few simple procedures once a month can reduce repair needs and cost over the life of your system, and extend its life. As an added bonus, these easy tasks can also save energy, reducing your business’ carbon footprint. Sadly, only one-third of businesses fail to perform these easy tasks.

How Can You Extend the Life of Your Commercial Heating System?

1. Have a maintenance plan.
   Whether you handle basic AC maintenance in-house or prefer signing up for regular maintenance service with your local commercial HVAC service contractor, routine annual maintenance is crucial to the health of your system. Every missed maintenance equates to money lost – money that could have been reinvested into your business.
2. Add monthly maintenance to your business calendar.
   Set aside one day each month to perform HVAC maintenance tasks – and stick with it. Keep a log of maintenance performed, including:
   • Checking & replacing the air filter
     A high-quality air filter can minimize indoor air quality problems related to dust, mold, and allergens. These include issues that affect the health and performance of your employees, and the health and performance of your system. Ensure well-being by checking your filter monthly. Once it is dirty, it should be replaced immediately, at least once every 6-months. When you do change it, keep a log, recording its condition with photos if possible.
   • Verify the cleanliness of coils & clean them when necessary
     Once the filter is changed, visually inspect evaporator coils for the accumulation of dust, dirt, or mold. This is a high-moisture environment, prone to such issues. Following this, examine the condenser coils located in your outside unit. If one (or both) appears dirty, schedule a professional cleaning. To avoid costly system damage, this job is best left to professionals. Log any activity for later reference.
   • Keep the area surrounding your system clean
     Your system relies on adequate airflow for optimal performance. Each month, when you’re checking other system components, ensure the areas surrounding key system components are clear. Return registers should be unhampered by furniture, trash, or other debris. Your outdoor components should also be clear of grass, weeds, leaves, and trash that can stick to the motor or fan blades.
3. Schedule an annual inspection.
   Scheduling an annual maintenance inspection in the fall, before your system undergoes the stress of winter weather extremes, is crucial. A heating professional can ensure your system is running safely and efficiently. Furnaces can be checked for proper combustion and ventilation, ensuring your staff is safe from carbon monoxide dangers. Ducting can be checked for leaks to ensure optimal system performance. System components, ductwork, and dampers can be checked for dirt accumulations that can negatively impact efficiency and indoor air quality. Potential issues can also be headed off at the pass, preventing the need for inconvenient and costly emergency commercial HVAC repairs later.

Keep your commercial heating unit in tip-top shape, reducing breakdowns and boosting energy efficiency. Schedule your annual maintenance check with H & H Commercial Services today.

This blog was originally posted at https://hhcommercialonline.com/tips-for-extending-the-life-span-of-your-commercial-heating-system/

5 Mistakes you are making with your Commercial HVAC & How to Avoid

Your commercial heating and cooling system provide many business benefits, ensuring the comfort of employees and clients and helping you provide a safe, healthy work environment. However, commercial systems are unlike their more familiar residential counterparts, causing many system owners and operators to make mistakes that lead to the need for more frequent maintenance and repairs.

Are You Making These 5 Common Commercial HVAC Mistakes?

1. Insufficient space surrounding the system.
   Knowledgeable HVAC mechanical contractors know your HVAC system needs space to function properly – at least 2 feet surrounding the system, regardless of its location. Without this necessary space, your system will be forced to work much harder than it should, shortening its lifespan.
2. Constant thermostat adjustments.
   Constantly fiddling with the thermostat setting is a common problem in American workspaces. This creates issues on multiple fronts. First of all, it leaves most of the inhabitants of your building uncomfortable as they struggle to manage a continually changing indoor climate. Second, it is a tremendous energy waster. And lastly, it forces your system to work harder and more frequently than it should. If your business suffers from “thermostat wars,” talk to your commercial HVAC company about the benefits of adding a smart thermostat with a lock to prevent these issues.
3. Incorrect system sizing.
   If the HVAC equipment servicing your place of business is not the right size for the space, you’ll experience comfort issues. Systems that are too small cannot keep up with the temperature control needs of large spaces. Oversized systems also suffer significant problems, such as frequent cycling off/on, and poor humidity control that can lead to larger moisture issues in your business.
4. Improper ducting.
   Like your system, your ductwork must be correctly sized to distribute air effectively. You cannot simply attach a new unit to old ductwork and achieve proper airflow/ventilation, nor can you replace ducts and expect your older system to accommodate the change. All system components must be expertly sized to work together successfully.
5. Neglected maintenance.
   These common commercial maintenance issues can cost you a great deal of money, robbing you of the opportunity to reinvest funds back into your business:
   • Dirty air filters
     Dirty air filters expose your customers and staff to allergens, bacteria, and other contaminants. Worse, this buildup forces your system to work harder, destroying performance and efficiency.
   • Improper cleaning routine
     Failing to clean and maintain drainage components can lead to mold and bacteria proliferation. If water (or sludge) accumulates and freezes, fluids can also back up, creating severe structural damage.
   • Repairing an ancient system
     Paying for frequent repairs to an ancient system is an unwise investment. If your system is more than 15-20 years old, the money you’re spending on repairs and energy to run an inefficient system could be more effectively invested in a new Energy Star model.

It’s not too late to correct your mistakes. Solve these common commercial HVAC issues before they become a costly problem with the help of the commercial air conditioning contractors at H & H Commercial Services today.

This blog was originally posted at https://hhcommercialonline.com/5-mistakes-you-are-making-with-your-commercial-hvac-how-to-avoid/

Considering a Heated Pool? Here is What You Should Know

Indoor heated pools offer year-round enjoyment, whether you have one at our hotel, gym, or residence. However, proper indoor pool humidity control and water temperature are crucial to an enjoyable experience. Ensure you make the most out of your indoor swimming pool with these tips for those new to natatoriums.

5 Things to Consider with a Heated Pool

1. Heating technique
   You have several options for maintaining proper water temperature. These often differ from residential to commercial settings, as pool size and room size are factors in choosing the best method. Larger pools (and pool rooms) require more energy to heat.
2. Pool location
   Your geographic location will significantly affect your optimal system type. Locales with year-round warmer weather will have far more moderate needs than pools located in cold environments with harsh winters. Choosing the best pool dehumidifier with a pool water heating assist feature can help you meet these needs during normal conditions. However, additional resources may be necessary to counteract the effects of temperature extremes, such as a dedicated heater that runs on natural gas, liquid propane, or electricity.Which heating system style offers the most cost-effective heating? In general, liquid propane systems are best, however, energy costs vary by region, which could make an electric heat pump system a more savvy solution. Your local HVAC mechanical contractor can help you identify the most cost-effective solution for your natatorium.
3. Evaporation
   Heated pool water is best kept 2-4°F below pool room air temperature to control the rate of evaporation. Dectron dehumidifiers that channel heat from the refrigeration cycle back to the pool room, repurposing heat to warm the room or the pool, are a great way to use equipment to your advantage in this regard. These systems, with optional pool water heating, assist option, allow you to regulate water temperature for the cost of running the dehumidifier alone, reducing energy expenses.These systems, which generate heat during the dehumidification refrigeration cycle, can repurpose produced heat to maintain pool room air and water temperature. These systems work best for heating pools with large surface areas, and in warm climates. Here, outdoor conditions overheat the natatorium, and the dehumidifier can also serve to cool the room, much like an air conditioner. This form of ‘heat recovery’ negates the need for a dedicated water heating source certain times of the year, providing substantial energy savings.
   Dehumidifiers also control mold, mildew, and corrosion, reducing moisture content in the air, and preserving comfort and air quality.
4. Frequency of use
   If you have an outdoor pool, your indoor pool may be used less in the warmer months. In this instance, choosing a commercial heating system you can easily adjust can significantly reduce energy expenses during these times.
5. Pool activities
   Pools used for exercise require a far lower temperature than those for more relaxing or therapeutic experiences, such as senior care, varying from 78°F to as high as 88°F

Sweating pool heating bills? Find an affordable, effective natatorium comfort solution with the help of H & H Commercial Services today.

This blog was originally posted at https://hhcommercialonline.com/considering-a-heated-pool-here-is-what-you-should-know/