With winter just around the corner, have you considered checking the health of your facility’s HVAC system? A fault can lead to disruptions and discomfort for employees and customers, resulting in costly energy bills and repairs. Here are five things you can do this fall to avoid maintenance later and keep your facility’s HVAC system running smoothly all winter long.
1. Before it gets too cold, test it out!
Give your furnace a trial run when the outside temperatures are still moderate. Temporarily set your heat 5 degrees higher to see if your furnace can handle the increased load. If it can easily increase the room temperature during this test, then it should be able to hold your regular desired temperature once the snow flies.
2. Make sure your equipment’s air filters are clean.
Restricted airflow from a plugged filter could trip a high-temperature safety switch in your furnace that requires a manual reset. Restricted airflow also makes the blower motor work harder, which causes wear and tear on your equipment and increases energy costs.
3. Program your thermostats to setback 5–10 degrees during unoccupied times.
Rate of heat transfer refers to how quickly heat leaves a space that is intended to stay warm. This rate increases as the temperature outside gets colder, creating a greater disparity between outside temps and the temperature inside. Setting thermostats back 5–10 degrees during unoccupied hours means your furnace won’t have to work as hard to offset the cold outdoor temperatures. Learn more about how thermostat setbacks can help you save energy and lower heating costs.
4. Check your outside air intake level.
Outside air intake system components can malfunction and cause a greater amount of air to be introduced to your building than designed. When outside temperatures are at extremes, this can result in a furnace that's unable to sustain the load. Excessive outside air entering your HVAC airstream through a manual damper or economizer damper system will significantly impact the runtime of your furnace, increasing your energy costs.
5. Consider whether it’s time for an HVAC upgrade.
If your rooftop unit (RTU) or boiler is aging or needs frequent repairs, it may be time to replace it with more efficient equipment. For systems that still have useful life left, electronically commutated motor (ECM) upgrades and variable frequency drive (VFD) installations may offer opportunities to reduce energy use. ECMs can improve fan motor efficiency, while VFDs allow compatible fans and pumps to adjust their speed to match your building’s needs. Check with your utility provider for rebate programs that can help you lower project costs.
Interested in a free HVAC assessment for your business?
CEE’s HVAC experts are here to help Xcel Energy commercial customers in Minnesota find energy-saving solutions tailored to their building and budget. We provide free, no obligation assessments, free ecobee smart thermostats, and rebates covering up to 60% of project costs.
