If you run a business, having an efficient commercial HVAC system is essential to keeping your employees happy and productive. Having a system that operates properly will also help you meet government regulations and save you money on energy bills. Commercial HVAC systems can also improve the air quality within your building, preventing airborne illnesses. This can be especially beneficial to those who suffer from allergies or asthma symptoms.
What Can A Commercial HVAC System Do For You?
A commercial HVAC system is a complicated piece of machinery that helps control indoor temperature, air quality and energy. It uses a variety of fuels (gas, oil, electricity) to heat or cool the air. It circulates the air through ductwork and refrigerant lines to distribute heating and cooling throughout the building. It also manages humidity, removing excess moisture from the air to prevent mold and other allergens.
Help Reduce Emergency Repairs
Emergency repairs cost a lot of money and can cause your business to lose valuable productivity. That’s why it’s important to take a proactive approach to maintaining your commercial HVAC system. Heating equipment such as furnaces, boilers and heat exchangers must be regularly inspected for problems. Cooling equipment such as roof-top units (RTUs) must also be checked for issues. Inspecting and maintaining these systems will ensure they continue to function properly throughout their lifespan – typically 15 years or more. Keeping your commercial HVAC system in good working order can also help you save on energy costs. A dirty air filter can slow down airflow and increase the amount of energy your heating and cooling systems use.
Helps Reduce Energy Costs
There are many ways a commercial HVAC system can help a business reduce energy costs. Some of these cost-saving measures include: Insulation – Older buildings may not be properly insulated, so you can save money by adding insulation to the building. Adding or updating insulation will prevent air from escaping through leaks in the ductwork, windows and doors. Programmable Thermostats – Turning down the temperature set points in warmer seasons and turning them up in cooler months can save you money. Changing HVAC filters regularly can also save you 5% to 15% of your energy bill. It’s a simple, inexpensive way to cut down on your energy expenses and keep your air quality healthy.
When the temperatures begin to dip, the last thing you want to have happen is a problem with your heating system. You might close your eyes and hope for the best, but that’s not going to help. The fact is, that at some point, you will need to invest in heat pump maintenance.
Read on to find out more about when to repair or replace your system’s heat pump.
The lifespan of a heat pump
Once your heat pump begins giving you consistent problems, then it’s likely time to have it replaced. This is typically when the unit approaches about 10 years in age, though some will last 15 years. Major components like the outdoor coil, compressor, accumulator and reversing valve will start to go bad. At this point, you go from heat pump repair to heat pump replacement.
You may also begin considering investing in a whole new unit. For example, replacing a compressor might be a bit cheaper than a new HVAC unit, but a newer unit will be more efficient, have lower operating costs and include a new warranty. If you’re facing major repairs, talk to a trusted HVAC technician about what’s best for your home or business.
Heat pump performance
Perhaps you’ve noticed that your heat pump isn’t performing the way you’d like it to. You’re not staying comfortable in your home or business, and you keep having to jack up the thermostat. Maybe you’re considering investing in a new, larger heat pump.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an option. The ductwork is designed for the heat pump, so a larger heat pump would require larger ductwork. Instead, you may want to invest in heat pump maintenance. A professional can tell you if you need ductwork modifications, an energy audit or a heat-load calculation.
DIY heat pump repair
Maybe you want to save money and are thinking of doing repairs yourself. This is a bad idea. Heat pumps are connected to a 240-volt circuit. That means severe shock and electrocution are possible unless you’re a professional who understands how these systems work. HVACs are more complicated today than ever before and include a range of circuit boards and sensors. Instead, bring in a trusted contractor to do the work right.
Changing air filters
Everyone knows that the basic element of heat pump maintenance is switching out the air filters. You should check these filters monthly while in peak use, such as during very cold or hot weather. Some filters are washable, while others are disposable and need to be replaced. If they’re dirty, then clean or replace them. If they seem okay, filters can last from six months to a year.
Do you need heat pump repair or replacement? Then it’s time to bring in the experts at American Refrigeration Inc. We offer honest, dependable services to meet all your heating and cooling needs. Our expert technicians are able to handle any commercial HVAC repair job. Contact us right now to find out more about our services and inquire about our rates.
Your home or business’s HVAC system depends on a few things to run smoothly. It obviously needs a steady supply of fuel and power, but it also needs a reliable and clean source of air in order to properly function. You can help keep your unit running in good order by ensuring it’s regularly cleaned and that all airways are kept clear, but there’s something else that you can do to help with the airflow.
Over the past few years of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have gained a new interest in the field of air filtration. Indeed, proper airflow has been proven to be one of our greatest allies in combating the virus. One of our best tools so far has been the high-efficiency air filters that we see more and more customers opt for; however, is such a filter right for you?
Read on for some more insights to help you make your decision.
Pros of premium filters
High-efficiency air filters are just what they sound like: They’re the best on the market at trapping particles that are trying to enter an interior space. In fact, they can trap nearly 100 percent of particles smaller than 0.3 microns; this puts them on par with the N95 and KN95 masks that we’ve all come to familiarize ourselves with.
It’s easy to see how installing such a tool in your home or office can make the breathable air that much safer and your loved ones and colleagues that much more protected against the threat of disease.
Another thing that high-efficiency air filters offer is an increase in air quality, not just when it comes to the risk of disease. Regular air filters are made to prevent dust and debris from entering your space and not much else. Allergens can still have free reign, so a high-efficiency air filter can be a boon if you spend much of your day indoors and are susceptible to allergies.
Cons of premium filters
With that said, an air filter replacement in your future isn’t necessarily a slam dunk. For starters, high-efficiency air filters are more expensive than standard filters. They use more material, and they’re more difficult to manufacture, all of which pushes their price tag up.
They can also push your utility bill up a bit. The added filtration means that less air can pass through at once. This means your home or business will take longer to reach the desired temperature on your thermostat, so the actual HVAC unit will have to run longer. It also decreases the efficiency of the system for the same reason; the unit has to work harder to push air through a finer grade of filtration.
All in all, high-efficiency air filters can be a great choice for most homes or businesses, especially with remaining concerns over the threat of COVID-19; however, buyers should beware that such filters can cause their HVAC units to work a bit harder, so this kind of air filter replacement should be considered with care. Our team at American Refrigeration Inc is well versed in these kinds of HVAC questions, and we’re happy to lend our expertise, so give us a call today to discuss your heating and cooling needs.
When it comes to a lot of things, bigger is usually better. After all, who doesn’t want a bigger mattress to lounge on or a bigger shower to rest and relax in? While these are some fairly obvious examples that most people would agree with, when it comes to other things like the appliances that you trust in your home or workplace, bigger isn’t necessarily always better.
Your HVAC system is a finely-tuned set of machinery, and it takes some special knowledge to know what makes it perform best and what can seem like a good idea but ultimately just be more of a strain than anything.
Read on for some more thoughts about HVAC installation and why you should work closely with a professional technician before deciding what size unit you’d like to install in your home.
Risks of units that are too small
Picking an air conditioning unit isn’t just about avoiding one that’s too big—it’s about finding one that’s the right size for your home or office. An air conditioner that’s too small for your space carries with it a few risks. First of all, it will likely never get your house down to the right temperature after the HVAC installation is completed and it’s up and running. It simply won’t have the muscle to bring everything down to a cool and consistent temperature.
Second, it’s going to be brutal on your electrical bills. It will be constantly running as it strains to meet the temperature you’ve set, but it likely will never quite get there, so it will burn through power at a very expensive and inefficient rate. This also means that it will have a shorter lifespan, and HVAC repair could be on the horizon sooner than it should be.
Risks of units that are too large
On the flipside, our experience in the field of HVAC repair informs us that air conditioners that are too big for a space can be harmful as well. First off, a large unit is not going to cool your home at the consistent rate that an HVAC system should. It will cool it down immediately and then shut off, which means that it’s not fully cycling. This can cause larger electrical bills and also wear out the unit faster.
It can help to understand the detrimental effect of a short cycle length by remembering that HVAC motors use far more power when starting up than when running, so short cycles leave you more susceptible to higher bills and a more frequent need for HVAC repair.
Next a quick cycle like the one described won’t properly dehumidify the home. It might bring temperatures down quickly, but there will still be an uncomfortable level of humidity in the air. Only a normal-length cycle can ensure that this humidity is effectively removed from your home’s breathable air.
Picking an air conditioner that’s the right size for your home can involve some research, but it’s also best to work side by side with HVAC installation professionals. Our team at American Refrigeration Inc has helped people heat and cool their homes for over 25 years, and we want to earn your business next, so call us today.
The dog days of summer have officially arrived. For many of us, that means beating the heat by staying inside where there’s AC! However, unless you’ve scheduled commercial HVAC services in Eugene, OR, your unit might not be ready to keep your business nice and cool for the remainder of the summer. Keep reading to learn all there is to know about air conditioner maintenance.
The benefits of maintenance
Springtime and early summer are the ideal times to have your unit maintained, but it’s never too late to pick up the phone and schedule a tune-up. Here are a few of the reasons why you should call today:
Fewer breakdowns: Want to avoid paying a technician to fix your commercial AC each summer? Then have it tuned up every spring! A quick maintenance call can prevent breakdowns, which means you won’t have to waste money on repairs or suffer through the hot summer days without AC.
Prolonged lifespan: Air conditioners should last at least 10 to 15 years, as long as they’re maintained every season. Neglecting to schedule yearly tune-ups almost guarantees that you’ll have to replace your commercial unit sooner rather than later. Though a maintenance call isn’t free, it’s much less expensive than paying for a brand-new AC!
Warranty retention: Depending on the manufacturer of your system, you might have to schedule professional maintenance if you want to keep your unit under warranty. Most warranties stipulate that the unit must have a professional inspection or else the warranty is void.
What goes into maintenance?
Now that you know why it’s important, it may be helpful to understand what goes into an HVAC maintenance call. Here’s what our professionals do during a tune-up:
Inspection: Your HVAC technician will first take a look at your system and see how everything is running. If there are any evident problems, he or she will be able to fix them before they end up breaking down in the middle of the summer, when you need your AC the most.
Part replacement: Let’s hope that all of the components of your AC look good to go, but if they don’t, now is the time you’ll want them to be replaced. We may have to order special replacement parts, which don’t always arrive as quickly as everyone would like. But if you have the parts replaced in the spring, this shouldn’t matter as much, because you likely won’t need to be using your AC just yet.
Filter change: The air filter is responsible for keeping dust, debris and other particles from entering the system and contaminating the air. As you can imagine, the filter gets pretty dirty pretty quickly! Your HVAC technician will replace the filter to ensure you have nice, clean air. Though your HVAC pro will change your filter during the tune-up, you can also do this yourself every month to ensure a fully-functioning unit.
If you haven’t already scheduled HVAC services in Eugene, OR, now is the time to do so. Pick up the phone and give American Refrigeration Inc. a call today to have your commercial AC unit inspected and tuned up.
The Benefits Of Commercial HVAC Systems