How Facility Managers Can Ensure Better HVAC Performance

We take a lot of things for granted, including air, water, and air conditioning. Seeing as those in the UAE live in a desert environment, let’s take a minute to remember the person who first introduced artificial cooling into our lives. 

What began as an experiment with the concept of artificial cooling in the 1840s has today become an essential commodity in our daily lives, allowing us to seek relief during sweltering temperatures. This is thanks to the efforts of Dr. John Gorrie of Florida. However, we need to remember that while we are quick to enjoy the benefits of cooling and ventilation units especially during long working hours in office environments, we are not as proactive about keeping the large HVAC systems clean and conditioned on a regular basis. What we don’t tend to realize is the hours of continuous AC use day in and day out can lead to a variety of technical issues and defects, which if not handled in a timely manner, can result in severe damage, including causing the unit to break down completely. The best part, however, is that we don’t really have to undertake the task of ac cleaning ourselves. All we have to do is schedule an appointment with reliable facility managers who can provide regular and meticulous servicing and maintenance, to companies big and small, in order to prevent any future AC malfunctions.

The ABC of HVAC

Maintenance needs of commercial spaces differ from building to building especially when it comes to providing guests with the benefits of a clean and efficient HVAC system. Let’s go back to the basics. HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) consists of a variety of systems used to move air between indoor and outdoor areas. These systems manage heating, ventilation, and cooling. While all three of them are equally important, let’s shed light on the latter seeing as we reside in a hot and humid environment. An important fact to note here is that the purpose of an HVAC system is more than just cooling a space; it also serves to improve indoor air quality. While most employees receive their fair share of natural ventilation through doors and windows, it is not enough to maintain a comfortable indoor working environment. This is where mechanical ventilation makes its presence felt. Using the mechanical system from an HVAC unit, the air is brought in and then drawn through filters to remove dirt, dust, allergens, and other harmful particles. Once this happens, it moves on to remove any excess moisture followed by cooling or warming a room. At this point, in companies that have a central system, clean air happens to move through a network of ducts to gain access to the various areas in order to provide an ideal work temperature.

Using the Right Filter

No, we are not talking about the filters on your camera but the ones lining your company’s HVAC unit. Filters can get quite dirty over a period of time especially if you are working in an environment prone to dust, to begin with. One of the most important ways that HVAC system filters clean air quality is by trapping all kinds of dust, debris, and germs. The fewer allergens in the air, the better the overall health conditions of you and your employees. This will ensure that everyone continues to remain healthy, keeping several health-related issues to a minimum. However, in order for your employees to enjoy the perks of optimal air quality, you will need to make sure that your HVAC system is being cleaned regularly and thoroughly. So be sure to have your technician inspect and change the filters as and when required.

Inside Out

Commercial HVAC ducts act as entry and exit points for your combined business space. Unfortunately, dust and debris don’t just settle inside filters, they make themselves at home inside ducts, blowers, condensing units, and other moving parts as well. If it’s just a light film of dust, it won’t do any harm to the overall efficiency but a lot of debris can cause extensive damage to the entire system. In this event, an air duct cleaning expert will be able to carefully remove all the accumulated dust and debris, thereby preventing any corrosive damage from ruining your unit. While they’re doing this, they can simultaneously check your condensate drain to ensure there aren’t any clogs that can obstruct the flow of condensed water and cause moisture accumulation as a result. This kind of blockage usually leads to mold, water damage, high levels of humidity, bacteria, below par air quality, and uneven temperature regulation. In order for all these problems to disappear, your professional ac consultant will need to flush and clean the condensate drain so all excess moisture is removed thereby ensuring that only clean air circulates throughout your space.

Efficiency Is Everything

In today’s high-tech age, there are dozens of machines present in your office space and it’s in your best interest to maintain their upkeep in order for them to work efficiently. The same rule of thumb applies to ac cleaning as well. Seeing as an HVAC unit in its entirety includes heating, cooling, and ventilation, there are a lot of moving parts that require vigilant maintenance. Getting a visual inspection of the entire system by a professional maintenance company will help you better understand the specifics that need to be dealt with. It could be that the ac is not cooling well enough, forcing your employees to constantly adjust the thermostat to a cooler temperature. An expert technician can do a detailed thermostat check so that your entire staff can enjoy a comfortable work environment and save money on energy bills.

The Cooler The Better

When temperatures are soaring outside, you’re bound to decrease the temperature inside your workspace. In order for the HVAC system to work smoothly, you need to ensure it’s in perfect condition. If your employees begin complaining that the AC isn’t churning out cool air as efficiently or as regularly as they would like, make it a point to notify your facility manager about the issue the next time your unit is scheduled for maintenance work. Most times, this happens due to lack of enough refrigerant in the ac unit for it to continue cooling effectively. A simple process of topping up the refrigerant will prevent the compressor from working overtime. This can also prevent extensive damage to the system forcing you to replace it entirely.

Danger Should Be A Stranger

Faulty wires and ill-equipped ac units can pose a major threat to your place of business. This is why you need to ask your maintenance technician to carefully examine the electrical connections and evaluate the voltage of the entire system on each and every floor. If they are thorough, they will be sure to look for frayed and damaged wires and offer to replace them immediately in order to minimize future risks and component failures.

HVAC systems are not only used to filter and maintain indoor air quality but keep humidity at an optimal level. Large companies and small businesses alike are equally dependent on their HVAC systems running smoothly and efficiently all year round in order to provide employees with an ideal work environment and keeping productivity high. Like any other installation in the office, companies need to make sure that their HVAC unit is being regularly cleaned and maintained to prevent the entire system from breaking down. The best way to do this is to hire a reliable facility manager who will ensure that your system not only performs consistently in the present but continues to do so in the future as well. 

For ac duct cleaning services, schedule your FREE ac inspection with us NOW at https://adamscare.ae/contact/.