Air Conditioning & Heating Maintenance Tips

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As with any mechanical system, air conditioning and heating requires regular maintenance to keep it running smoothly and efficiently. Good maintenance saves you money.

Proper maintenance of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system will help reduce electrical consumption and therefore lower your utility bills. It can help increase the life span of your equipment, thus reducing the need for expensive repairs. What are some things you can do to get the most from your air conditioning and heating equipment?

Regular filter changes are an important part of your indoor environmental quality and HVAC equipment condition. Filter changes are first and foremost the most important element to air conditioning and heating system maintenance. Filter changes should be done monthly and/or quarterly depending on the filter type. Changing the filters of your ac equipment is a rather simple task with multiple benefits. Clean filters promote clean air, reduce allergens in the work space and allow for proper refrigeration process and pressures. What this means to you and your commercial building is a more productive work environment that promotes healthy living. It maximizes air conditioning capacity and gives you the full benefit of cooling, plus decreased electricity consumption results in lower utility bills and decreased overall operating costs.

Additional items to add to your maintenance list for getting the most value out of your air conditioning equipment include the following:

Clean drain lines and drain pans quarterly. Condensate treatment should be done to ensure proper drainage and to reduce the risk of water damage to the building.

Check and tighten belts quarterly. Tightening belts is critical to ensuring proper air volume, which affects the refrigeration process and cooling capacity. (lower utility costs.) If a belt breaks, your system will freeze up, causing potential water damage and compressor failure. If this happens, the ability to produce conditioned air is lost. Experiencing downtime of your air conditioning equipment can be disruptive to a productive work environment. Plus, emergency calls can cost upwards of an additional 30% due to overtime rates. Simple, regular maintenance can eliminate this risk.

Coil Cleaning. Clean coils annually and you can reduce electricity consumption, increase the overall efficiency of your unit, keep the air cleaner, increase the overall lifetime of the system and reduce repair costs. All that for a simple annual maintenance move that can be done quickly and at a minimal cost depending on the condition and location of your equipment.

Ensure Proper Refrigerant Levels. Checking refrigerant levels and pressures ensures proper dehumidification, which removes moisture to ensure a comfortable, cool and dry space.

Check electrical connections / motors. Oil and lubricate bearings to reduce friction (overheating). Reducing friction and heat will help decrease energy consumption and lower your utility costs.

Keep all air conditioning vents free of obstructions. A blocked return reduces air flow, which can cause your system to freeze up.

Contact D&J Air Conditioning today for a free building evaluation. We will inspect your equipment and provide a maintenance proposal specifically to meet you building and equipment’s needs.

Demand for HVAC continues to grow globally

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BCC Research estimates the total global market for commercial and residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems at $69.8 billion in 2013 and $75.4 billion in 2014.

This market is expected to reach $116.6 billion by 2019, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% over the next five years.

 

10 Simple Ways Your Business Can Save Energy (and money!)

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“Businesses in the UK waste on average 10-20% of the energy they buy.”
(Source: Confederation of British Industry)

 Saving money on your energy bill is probably a lot easier than you think. Being energy efficient makes a huge difference and boosts your businesses’ green credentials.

 

  1. When not being used, switch off computers and other appliances (don’t leave them on standby)

It may not be possible to turn a computer on-and-off when being used throughout the day, but if you and your colleagues get into the habit of turning off computers when leaving the office this can lead to huge savings. Peripherals like printers and scanners should also be turned off when not in use.

A single computer and monitor left on 24 hours a day will cost over £50 a year.

Unplug chargers when not in use. If a charger feels warm when it is plugged in without being attached to a device it is still converting energy.

  1. Switch Lights off

Encourage staff to switch off lights in unoccupied areas or where daylight is adequate. You could cut your lighting costs by as much as 15%, just by making sure you turn lights off in rooms and corridors that aren’t being used.

Remember to think of the cost savings of a product by the end of its lifecycle. Energy efficient lightbulbs may be more expensive initially, but they will save in the long run.

  1. Turn the heating down

Inefficient heating and cooling are often the prime reason for high energy bills. Simply reducing the temperature by 1ºC can cut your heating bills by 10%. Often in a business environment simple heat saving tips can be employed that will save money.

  1. Become aware of how much water you’re using

Can the hours of availability of hot water be reduced?

Make sure urinals don’t flush through the night. Devices which prevent urinals from wasting water can pay for themselves in a few months.

  1. Check for dripping taps and leaking pipes

A constantly dripping tap adds up to a lot of wasted water. Keep a regular watch on your water consumption to track down these kinds of problems.

  1. Reduce waste

Cutting the amount of waste your business has to handle is the most cost-effective and environmentally-friendly method of dealing with waste.

Seemingly trivial changes can produce significant savings, such as printing and photocopying double-sided, refilling printer cartridges, switching off lights and electrical equipment, and using rechargeable batteries.

Buy only what you need, control stock and streamline processes across departments.

  1. Refill printer cartridges instead of buying new ones

Whether inkjet or laser, printing cartridges are expensive. It’s much cheaper and more environmentally friendly to refill existing ones.

  1. Control your heat

Why lose up to 35% of the heat from your office through the walls and up to another 25% through the roof when you could install cavity wall and loft insulation?

Shutting the curtains, especially lined ones, will stop heat escaping through your windows.

Double-glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50%, resulting in a significant reduction to your heating bill each year.

Keep your doors closed between heated and unheated areas. This could reduce your energy bills by 10%.

  1. Defrost fridges and freezers

Defrost any fridges and freezers regularly to improve their efficiency. Don’t put hot food in the fridge – let it cool down first. Position fridges or freezers as far from cookers and heaters as you can

  1. Ditch screen-savers

Do not use screen savers. It is far more efficient to use the power down settings available, or to encourage staff to switch off their computer monitors when away from their desks