Following commercial HVAC winter tips won’t just keep your facility comfortable; it will save money and increase the life of your HVAC system.
The Demands on a Commercial HVAC System Can Be Challenging
At PCS Energy, we’ve dedicated ourselves to helping our customers find the most energy-efficient solutions available for their facilities. Throughout the year, your heating and cooling equipment is expected to perform well in all sorts of conditions. No one wants their HVAC equipment to break down. In the summer months, you count on the air conditioning unit to keep your workspace at a comfortable temperature where your employees can be productive.
In the snow and ice of the winter season, you expect your heating system to keep out the cold and allow your staff to keep working in a healthy, warm environment. The challenges of commercial property are significantly different than maintaining support systems for a home or private residence. The square footage your systems have to heat and cool are often large, open spaces, and you can’t expect your employees to throw on a blanket or wear mittens to work.
5 HVAC Tips for the Winter Season
We do not believe there is a single solution or quick fix for comprehensive energy efficiency. It is an overall strategy requiring cutting-edge technology and the expertise of a qualified team. However, there are steps businesses can take to reduce their energy costs and increase the performance of their equipment. Depending on your location and the weather, the winter can be a punishing season. Let’s look at some of the ways you can start preparing your HVAC for winter.
Programmable Thermostats:
A smart thermostat is one of the best ways to save on energy. Your indoor air quality affects the productivity of your employees, but your HVAC system doesn’t need to pump warm air into the facility all night long. You can set a programmable thermostat to adjust to the peak hours of use for your facility and to let the temperature drop when no one is there. With these settings, you won’t have to worry about the building being comfortable at the right times. You can just focus on running your business.
Sealing and Insulation:
One of the most essential steps you can take to boost the performance of your HVAC system year-round is to ensure your facility has the sealing and insulation it needs. You can install weatherstripping on doors and windows. Eliminate drafts in the facility with ceiling and wall insulation. The sealing and insulation will make the efforts of your HVAC more effective and keep your systems from working harder than they would otherwise.
Replace Filters and Clean Air Vents:
Routinely replacing the filters and cleaning your air vents will not only reduce your electricity bills, but will also increase the indoor air quality of your facility. Clean vents and filters create less resistance for your HVAC equipment to work against during the winter season. Cleaner air leads to happier and healthier employees.
Winterize HVAC System Equipment:
Your outdoor equipment is vulnerable to the elements like ice and snow. Before the worst of the winter arrives, take the time to clean your equipment and make sure it is free of debris like animal droppings, dust, and dirt. You can add a waterproof covering that breathes to allow for moisture to escape and not collect in the unit. Also, you can routinely clean your equipment to make sure debris or animals do not affect the performance.
Preventative Maintenance:
Regular inspections and maintenance can catch problems with your HVAC system before they disrupt the performance of your equipment. Having a maintenance agreement in place with a qualified service provider also guarantees your business first-rate service if there ever is a problem. Preventative maintenance prolongs the life of your equipment and protects the investment you’ve made in the overall HVAC system.
Partner With a Service Provider Who Understands Energy Efficiency
You have to run your HVAC systems 24/7 to keep your workspace at its best, and you depend on them to not break down. Running systems like this for long periods of time in harsh weather demands more power and raises your energy bills. To keep costs manageable, you need to make sure your HVAC system is running at peak performance.
The staff members at PCS Energy are energy-efficiency experts, and can show you the actions to take to put your business on the path to higher productivity this winter. When you’ve followed these steps and want to take your efficiency to another level, reach out to our team. We can show you the advantages of energy-efficiency upgrades, HVAC maintenance, and process automation. Allow us to help you start preparing your HVAC for winter.
To learn about increasing the performance of your HVAC system, contact PCS Energy today.
