A Look at When to Change Your HVAC Unit

As a business owner, you cannot possibly expect good results if your employees are not comfortable enough to focus on their jobs and responsibilities. This is why an HVAC system is important for businesses, especially if the majority of your employees work inside a building and are in front of a computer screen from nine to five.

However, just like any other type of machinery, HVAC units will eventually malfunction. While most errors can be repaired by a trusted contractor, it is important for business owners to decide whether to call it quits with their current HVAC unit or have it fixed. Here are some factors for a business owner to consider:

Age

If the HVAC unit is at least a decade old, that means it’s nearing the tail end of its service life. It also means that in terms of efficiency, it pales in comparison to more recent units.

Operational Costs

A business owner will probably feel the inefficiency of the HVAC unit on operational costs. If the energy bills keep piling up due to the inefficacy of the unit, then it is time to replace it. The frequency of maintenance should also be a telltale sign.

Discomfort

Finally, if the office feels too humid, hot, or cold, then it means that the HVAC unit isn’t doing its job. That also means production will take a hit, as employees will feel too uncomfortable to work properly. 

Read More

Is It Time to Integrate Commercial HVAC, Lighting, and Electronics?

What can integrating three of the most energy-hungry aspects of commercial operations bring in a world that’s increasingly stringent about efficiency?

The “Big Three” of commercial operations—HVAC, lighting, and electronics—account for almost 70 percent of a commercial building’s energy requirements. These modern-day conveniences are nothing short of necessities for a conducive and productive work environment.

Quality commercial HVAC repair and maintenance can indeed help lower energy costs. At the same time, many businesses want to make the most out of what they can do to cut their energy use. As it stands, HVAC systems operate separately from lighting and electronics. Yet some experts now see an opportunity to unify these aspects and further reduce energy consumption.

http://www.altusmechanical.com/is-it-time-to-integrate-commercial-hvac-lighting-and-electronics/

Read More

Installing HVAC for Warehouses

Every company’s complex or industrial estate will have at least one warehouse within the premises. The place can be used to store predetermined products or simply to add some office space. However, the demands of activities inside the building will warrant extensive solutions for installing HVAC systems. When the warehouse is, say, several years old and fans are the only air circulation systems you see inside, you may want to invest in something newer.

Your team must define the objective for setting up the HVAC system– and most of the time, they will revolve around the facility’s intended use. At this stage, a commercial HVAC contractor can be brought in to better map out the gridwork, especially in ensuring that the final design is compliant with local civil engineering codes.

Sound tolerance will be a major issue when your employees are working inside the warehouse. The HVAC system must be thoroughly muffled when its moving components are close to occupied spaces. Consider investing in carbon dioxide sensors to help in air quality monitoring.

A warehouse equipped with a well-designed HVAC system will be worth its weight in gold to your company. The machinery will be able to take care of your workers’ health in controlled conditions. 

Read More

Never Call a Residential Technician to Repair Commercial HVAC Systems

One of the major red flags Union-Bulletin writer Sheila Hagar pointed out involved the inspection process. A local appraisal company recommended a home inspection company to search every nook and cranny of the building for problems, which the county hired. However, county officials failed to realize that residential and light/heavy commercial HVAC systems are different.

According to Michael J. Brandemuehl, professor and Professional Engineer from the University of Colorado Boulder, commercial heating and cooling systems have more hardware in place than a typical home system. It’s fairly easy to spot the difference because residential HVAC systems are normally not configured as rooftop units.

Residential systems may use a ground-based unit, but commercial systems may use more than one unit due to increased heating and cooling loads. It doesn’t take much to realize that most office buildings clearly have more rooms to heat or cool than a typical home.

http://www.altusmechanical.com/never-call-a-residential-technician-to-repair-commercial-hvac-systems/

Read More