A Checklist for Commercial HVAC Maintenance for Spring 2020

When beautiful spring weather rolls around, it’s easy to forget about your HVAC maintenance needs. However, when summer heat sets in and your system is working over time, overlooked maintenance can quickly rear its ugly head, turning into a failing system and costly repairs. To avoid the need for emergency service and ensure your system will keep you and your staff cool and comfortable through the summer season, performing a few spring maintenance tasks with the help of your HVAC mechanical contractor is essential.

Spring Maintenance to Prepare Your System for the Summer Season

Don’t overlook these essential summer AC maintenance tasks:

• Cleaning
  Commercial HVAC contractors in NJ know improper cleaning is the cause of more than half of all summer air conditioner failures. To avoid this, don’t neglect these key spring cleaning tasks:
  • AC filter change
    Filthy filters force your system to work harder, negatively impacting efficiency and indoor air quality.
  • Coil & fan cleaning
    Condenser coils outdoors can become clogged with dirt, mold, and plant debris or suffer damage from winter storms and ice. Likewise for blower fans. Evaporator coils can also become clogged with dust and dirt from unchanged AC filters, making it difficult for your system to maintain temperature.
  • Drain line maintenance 
    Drain lines should be regularly cleaned per manufacturer’s instructions to prevent mold/mildew, mineral, and dirt-related clogs that can lead to interior water damage.

• Electrical inspection
  Regularly inspecting your system’s wiring in the spring, looking for loose connections, burnt wires, and shorts, can uncover damage from rodents who may have sheltered within your system over the winter.
• Refrigerant check
  Commercial heating and air conditioning systems with low refrigerant levels will struggle to maintain temperature. If levels in your system are low, it is essential to check for leaks to avoid wasting costly refrigerant and the need for repeated service.

A Well Maintained Systems Saves Energy Dollars

Well performing commercial HVAC systems reduce energy consumption, helping your business balance monthly utility costs, even in temperature extremes. If you and your staff struggle to keep up with AC maintenance demands, it’s best to consider an HVAC maintenance agreement.

Ensure a well-performing, reliable system and predictable energy costs with the help of a commercial HVAC service company you can rely on. Schedule annual spring maintenance or learn more about an annual maintenance agreement from H & H Commercial Services today.

 This blog was originally posted at https://hhcommercialonline.com/a-checklist-for-commercial-hvac-maintenance-for-spring-2020/

Fight Viruses and Flu by Maintaining the Right Humidity Levels in Your Spaces

With the incidence of coronavirus on the rise nationwide, businesses and families are scrambling to guard themselves against the virus. In addition to the social distancing, health, and hygiene recommendations of the CDC, there are also other ways to slow the transmission of flu and viruses indoors. The best commercial HVAC service companies know this includes maintaining ideal humidity levels.

How Do Humidity Levels Help Slow Virus Transmission?

Studies from the National Institution for Occupation Safety and Health (NIOSH) show you may be at a decreased risk of exposure to flu and other viruses in a space with normal humidity levels than in a dry environment. At 23% relative humidity (RH), 70-77% of airborne flu particles were able to cause infection one hour after coughing, the dry air causing the particles to float in the air for a longer period of time.

What is the Ideal Humidity Level to Slow Virus Transmission?

To slow the transmission of flu and other viruses, an indoor humidity level of around 43% is best. The NIOSH study showed in an environment with 43% RH, only 14% of flu particles were able to remain airborne to cause an infection. This higher humidity level was equally effective on both small particles, which tend to float in the air longer, and large particles.

How to Monitor Indoor Humidity Levels

You can monitor the humidity levels in your home or office using a hygrometer, which can be ordered from an online retailer for as little as $8.

Options for Boosting Relative Humidity

If humidity levels are low, you can add moisture to the air with a humidifier. A humidifier is an easy and affordable way to raise humidity levels indoors and combat the risk of flu and other viruses. For this, you have two options:

• Portable humidifiers
  Small and inexpensive, portable humidifiers only control humidity levels in a small space, requiring multiple units for adequate coverage in most workspaces, which costs more than an HVAC humidifier. Portable units also require daily filling with demineralized water and routine cleaning to prevent the growth of biological contaminants like bacteria and fungi that can pollute the air in your workspace.
• HVAC humidifiers
  These humidifiers install as part of your commercial heating and air conditioning system. They control humidity in every room and level of your office. HVAC humidifiers connect directly to your business’ water supply, using your systems blower system and ductwork to distribute moisture through the air. Maintenance is minimal, including changing the humidifier pads and a thorough cleaning with diluted vinegar once or twice a year.

Stay safe and healthy through the coronavirus epidemic. Ensure superior indoor air quality with the help of H & H Commercial Services. Contact us and schedule a complimentary consultation from a qualified HVAC contractor to learn more about available options for improving indoor air quality in your workspace, including humidifiers, exhaust systems, and improved filtration, today.

This blog was originally posted at https://hhcommercialonline.com/fight-viruses-and-flu-by-maintaining-the-right-humidity-levels-in-your-spaces/