Category: Cooling

4 Reasons to Hire Out for Commercial Chiller Maintenance and Repair Services

When it comes to installing, maintaining and repairing commercial chillers and equipment, you want to be sure that only the best qualified people are involved. These types of equipment are an investment for your company, as well as a necessary part in doing your business properly. With this in mind, be sure that you trust the company in which you do business with as you move forward in your commercial installation, repair and maintenance decisions. Furthermore, remember these 4 reasons to hire out for commercial chiller maintenance and repair services.

4 Reasons to Hire Out for Commercial Chiller Maintenance and Repair Services

Quality Assurance

The quality and safety of your products are the most important things to your company and its reputation. Maintaining your commercial coolers and chillers becomes the backbone to your company’s quality assurance of your products. By hiring out your repair and maintenance services, you won’t have to worry about a system failure as long as you have regular check-ups on your equipment.

Top Brands

Having access to a knowledgeable expert about the top brands for commercial chillers is going to help you feel confident in your selection when purchasing this expensive equipment for your business. Along with knowing the best brands in the market, a true specialist will also know the best Energy Star rated chillers.

Full Understanding

When purchasing equipment through Corporate Mechanical, you will be able to access factual data that can help you make an informed decision. When it comes to purchasing and investing in equipment for your business, it’s crucial that you make the best decision with the vision of your company in mind. Being fully informed about what the equipment does and how it will benefit your business will help give you confidence in your investment.

Trusted Care

As a company who takes pride in our services and in making sure that our clients are completely satisfied, we at Corporate Mechanical strive to be the number one trusted professionals for all kinds of commercial equipment design, installation, maintenance, and repair. Whether you are in need of custom designs or just need assistance in finding the right equipment to suit your company’s needs, we want to be the ones that people call first and last. That is why we are on call 24/7 every day of the year. To ensure that things keep running smoothly each and every day.

With a strong commitment to excellent service and quality equipment, there is no better place to look if you are in the market for installing, repairing or general maintaining of your commercial chiller. With such vital assets to your company’s quality assurance, you will want to guarantee that your products are keeping their proper temperatures. Knowing that you are getting a quality brand and have a full understanding of the product will make the whole process much less stressful for you as the business owner. Keep us in mind for any commercial equipment needs in the Minneapolis, St. Paul area.

When Do I Need a New Air Conditioner?

Air conditioner malfunctions in your office can be a nuisance. Some of them are cheap and easy to fix, so you may or not need to buy a new unit. However for the best advice, contacting a professional commercial HVAC service may be the best idea. They are experienced and well versed in all things air conditioners.

When Do I Need a New Air Conditioner?

Common Air Conditioner Problems

The first problem is when your unit won’t turn on. This likely happens when the thermostat isn’t set correctly or the power isn’t reaching the unit itself. Make sure the thermostat is set to cool or AC and that the battery is fresh. Second, check the circuit breaker.

Another problem is that the comfort level isn’t the same. Most of the time this means you need to change the filter. This is a relatively cheap fix to maintain your unit.

Another warning sign your unit is going is if your utility bill is abnormally high. The spike in operating costs usually means inefficient operation. The most likely reason for this is a choked condensing coil. Call a pro for a tune-up.

If you notice weird sounds while using your air conditioner in your office, you may need a new fan motor or a fan blade.

Ultimately in order to keep your air conditioner working its best, you must maintain it. A commercial HVAC service can determine whether or not you need a new unit or whether yours can be repaired to work at a high performance level. Contact Corporate Mechanical to learn about their various services. Their professional, experienced and skilled team can help keep your system working its best and you feeling comforting in your work environment.

Common Problems With Commercial Air Conditioners

There are several reasons that a commercial air conditioner may not function properly. These could include a faulty thermostat. A bad thermostat could cause the air conditioner to come on or shut off more often than it should. It could mean that the air conditioner is not doing the job as well as it should be and that it is ultimately costing more money to run. This is typically a simple fix but could cause a great deal of problems for the proper use of the unit.

Another possible and common issue relating to an air conditioner is if the unit is not properly ventilated. If there is too much around the air conditioner and it isn’t getting enough air, it could malfunction or overheat. Making sure the area is clear of all items that could stop the air conditioner from working properly is important. This also includes the indoor ventilation system that runs to and from the air conditioner. Vents that are not properly set up, that are blocked by items or that have filters that are full of debris can cause the unit to work poorly.

An air conditioner that has a great deal of debris, has not been oiled and cared for and has not been tuned up can stop working as efficiently. This can be easily remedied by having a professional such as those at Corporate Mechanical come in regularly to service the unit. This also gives us a chance to see if there is any potential problems headed your way with the unit and address them or repair your air conditioner unit before it gets out of hand.

If an air conditioning unit is working too hard to heat and/or cool a space, it can cause it to be less effective. This could happen if the space it is trying to move air in is too big. Making sure that you are using an air conditioner that is appropriate for the commercial space it is in will help it to work better.

How Air Conditioning Impacts Productivity

How can the loss of commercial air conditioning impact productivity during hot summer days?

It’s hard to believe that after one of the coldest winters in history, summer is about to embark upon us, bringing with it much anticipated warmth, sunshine and the ability to be far more active outdoors. However, if you own a business, summer doesn’t necessarily equate to happier employees due to increased exposure to the Vitamin D supplied by the sun. In fact, chances are, that as a business owner, you probably already know that the loss of your commercial air conditioning for even a day can dramatically impact the productivity of your employees in a very negative way.

How Air Conditioning Impacts Productivity

Despite commercial air conditioning being created for the benefit of cooling machinery (mainly the paper press), it was quickly recognized as a breakthrough invention that benefited businesses greatly as consumers flocked to air conditioned movie theaters and stores. Hypothesizing that climate controlled environments could benefit not only machinery, but humans, as early as 1950, government researchers began studying the effects of air conditioning within the workplace. They quickly recognized the increased productivity of employees working within offices and factories that were commercially air conditioned. The initial study noted that air conditioning boosted the productivity of employees by at least 25 percent, as well as led to less employee absenteeism when compared to employees that didn’t work in air conditioned environments.

In addition to providing physical comfort to employees in various workplaces like offices and factories, commercial air conditioning also provides added health benefits as well. Medical journals are full of documented studies citing the adverse effects that extremely hot temperatures can have on a persons health. These studies include indisputable correlating data between summer heat waves and increased mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Loss of commercial air conditioning within your business, for even a day, can attribute to high levels of frustration, stress, exhaustion and thereby, naturally, decreased productivity.

William Nordhaus, an acclaimed Economist at Yale University, created a mapping analysis that found that individuals living and operating in cooler climates generated 12 times the economic production versus their counterparts living in the hottest climates across the globe.

Humidity also plays a large role in the comfort of employees and their productivity. The loss of commercial air conditioning within a work environment can wreak havoc upon the desired humidity level, attributing to sluggish employees and diminished work output. If the weather is highly humid, air doesn’t just feel heavier, it is heavier, and moves differently. High humidity doesn’t allow the human body to evaporate sweat as easily as it can at comfortable humidity levels. Commercial air conditioners supply climate controlled comfort by including condensing units that draw the humidity out of the air as it cools the workplace down.

The loss of commercial air conditioning within your business can have devastating effects on the productivity of your employees, so as warmer weather looms on the horizon, savvy business owners should be preparing to assure that their air conditioning systems are up to par in order to avoid not just the cost of emergency repairs, but also to assure that productivity remains at an optimal level.

Why You Should Consider an HVAC Package Unit

We all want to stay cool in hot weather and warm in the cold, but we may not have the space on our property or in our budget to accommodate a traditional HVAC system. There is an alternative, however. A packaged HVAC unit takes up less space, and is more energy efficient than other alternatives. If you want to get the most bang for your buck with your heating and cooling, consider a packaged HVAC system. Here are some of the biggest benefits to this kind of system.

Saves Space

We cannot all live in a spacious mansion. Some of us have limited space in which to live, and using up some of that real estate for an HVAC unit is just not feasible. An HVAC package unit instead gets installed outside your home or even on your roof. That way, you can use that extra space for other things that can add value to your home or provide more living space. Your comfort does not have to come at the expense of you being cramped inside your home.

Easier Maintenance

Usually when you have an HVAC maintenance plan, you are charged an upfront fee for the work, plus an hourly labor rate. The labor costs will be higher depending on how complicated the work is. With a packaged HVAC unit, a technician will not have to go back and forth from the exterior and interior, and will not have to contort themselves getting into tight spaces. There is the one simple unit to work on, which makes things easier for them and therefore much faster. It is also easier for you to spot problems since it is such a simple unit.

Ease of Installation

A packaged HVAC unit is assembled off-site in a climate controlled facility. It is tested before it makes its way to your home so it will work once it is installed. Since it is a single unit, it is incredibly simple to install and start. It will also be cheaper since it will only take a short time for the technician to get everything up and running, reducing those labor costs.

Energy Savings

Having a compact unit to handle all of your heating and cooling needs is the energy efficient choice. One unit does everything, and it doesn’t have to work as hard to get you comfortable. Most units have Energy Star certification, so you know that they will save you money on your energy bills. Multi-unit systems work much harder and expend much more energy.

Versatility and Reliability

While it is a single smaller unit, that does not mean that you cannot choose from the same number of options that a multi-unit offers. You can choose gas, heat pump, or electric. Each choice has its pros and cons, so make sure to discuss with your HVAC professional what option is best for you. Because of its size, it is also versatile. There are more places that you can have it installed, as opposed to a bulky multi-unit system.

Heats and Cools Large Spaces

While it comes in a smaller unit, a packaged HVAC unit can still provide comfort to large spaces, if need be. Not only that, but it will work on those spaces for a fraction of the cost of a traditional unit. A standard packaged unit can cool 12,000 thermal units per hour. That is enough to cool even a large showroom or small warehouse.

There is no reason not to choose a packaged HVAC unit, whether you are moving into a new place, upgrading your business, or upgrading your home. A packaged system provides you with the comfort you need, while also giving you cost and space savings and convenience. Contact a professional today to discuss how your space could benefit from a packaged HVAC unit.

If you want your HVAC system to run more efficiently, the experts at Corporate Mechanical can help. Reach out online or call 763-533-3070.

A Comprehensive Guide to Variable Frequency Drives

Variable frequency drives (VFD) are used in appliances and compressors of all sizes. They can help make electrical motors more efficient. They work by managing the frequency and the voltage so that they use energy in the most efficient manner possible. They are being used more and more as the development of the technologies has made the drives smaller and improved their performance. Here are some things to know about variable frequency drives.

AC Motor
Usually the motor for a variable frequency drive is a three phase induction. This is because such motors are generally the most economical. Less commonly used are wound rotors, permanent magnets, and synchronous motors.

Controller
A VFD has a controller that runs because of three sub-systems. Those sub-systems are the converter, the DC capacitor, and the inverter assembly. The converter stage is where the AC voltage is converted to DC voltage. The DC capacitor assembly and the inverter assembly work in tandem to initiate the three phase voltage. In 1983, the insulated gate bipolar transistor made it so that a VFD cost less and improved its amperage ratings.

Operating
VFDs have an extensive operator interface. It can start and stop the motor, as well as adjust the speed. There are types that allow for reversing the motor and even switching from manual control to automatic. VFDs are operated by either a computer network, digital controls, or the operator interface controls on the unit.

Drive Operations
A VFD will have three options for driver operations. Single quadrant operations are most common, and involve using constant or variable torque. Two-quadrant loads are needed when the torque alters its polarity but the speed is constant. For the highest performance, a four-quadrant load can handle speeds and torques that change direction and force.

Types of Variable Frequency Drives

Controlled Source Inverter
A controlled source inverter (CSI) works by using a SCR converter to convert all the incoming power to DC. CSI have a large internal inductor so that they can work efficiently and properly to handle the incoming power load. The advantages of this type of VFR are that the circuitry is relatively simple, they are very reliable, and they are capable of regeneration. Some of the drawbacks are that it relies on that large conductor, which is expensive, and that it is not compatible with multi-motor applications.

Voltage Source Inverter
Voltage Source Inverters (VSI) are similar to CSI in that the prime function is the covert power to DC by using a SCR converter section. However, VSI drives cannot regulate current, which the CSI drive can do. The VSI can create an adjustable frequency output for motors.

Pulse Width Modulation
The pulse width modulation (PWM) design is the most common drive controller. It can work with the largest variety of motors, and is very reliable. It is the most sold by manufacturers as well, so there are many brands from which to choose. As opposed the the VSI and CSI drives, PWM converts AC voltage to DC voltage. It does this by using an inverter section that also has gate bipolar transistor that are insulated. This creates a near-sine wave output. These drives are a low cost upfront, are compatible with multiple motors, and can operate through a power loss. The only issues are that it cannot regenerate, and can break down because of the switching transistors.

Benefits of Variable Frequency Drives
VFDs come with a host of benefits. For one, they are very energy efficient, in particular with regards to centrifugal load service. Estimates show that well over 60% of all used electrical energy is consumed by power motors. VFDs and other efficient technologies help to reduce that energy footprint.

Performance Control
VFDs allow you to regulate the amount of power a motor delivers. With fixed speed drive, a motor might be delivering more power than is needed. To have better process control, VFDs will regulate that power and only use as much energy as is required.

Now you know about the different types and benefits of using VFDs. Make sure to choose the right one for the job you have to do.

If you want your HVAC system to run more efficiently, the experts at Corporate Mechanical can help. Reach out online or call 763-533-3070.