Category: HVAC

Why your heating bill is too high

As cooler weather approaches, you will eventually have to turn the heat on. While it is obvious that your heating bill will be higher in the Fall and Winter, sometimes it seems too high. Learn which factors can contribute to raising your bill, and some tips you can follow to prevent an outrageous monthly cost.

What are the main factors that contribute to high heating bills?

Change in seasons
The most obvious factor is the change in season. When it’s cold out, we want our home’s to be inviting and warm. Some people will end up dialing their thermostats too high temperatures to rapidly heat the home. If the change is too drastic, your furnace will work even harder, which will consume more energy.

Laundry machine
Surprisingly, another factor is your laundry machine. When it’s cold out, we wear extra layers and blankets. Naturally, our laundry room will be a bit busier, since it will require more washing. You might not realize it, but you probably will end up doing more laundry in the winter. This also contributes to higher utility bills.

Your home is poorly insulated
If you live in an older home, or if it doesn’t have proper insulation, you could be losing a lot of heat through leaks. This could be the main reason why your home never gets to the desired temperature you set on your thermostat, especially if you have it always running.

Your furnace isn’t functioning properly
If you’ve decided that none of the above are possible reasons, then it could, unfortunately, come down to the efficiency of your furnace. Old and outdated furnaces lose their power after quite some time, and if you don’t have regular maintenance on your furnace, its lifespan could be much shorter.

How to keep your heating bill low
Lowering your heating bill is much simpler than you’d expect. Here are the steps you can take to reduce the overall energy consumption in your home.

Lower your temperature
This sounds counterproductive in the cold, but in all reality, you will likely not notice a drop in a few degrees. Yet, the minor adjustment could save up to 10% of your heating cost.

Use a programmable thermostat
Regular thermostats cycle at every hour of the day, which means it can run when you’re asleep or not home. This is not very efficient. Programmable thermostats, however, can be set to your daily routines. If you’re not home, you can adjust it so your heater isn’t running and wasting energy. This can reduce the cost of your heating bill significantly.

Wear more layers
You can stay cozy and warm but bundling up indoors. While you have your thermostat set to a lower temperature, doing more laundry won’t have as much as a consequence on your bill. Find a cozy sweatshirt, or cuddle with your favorite blanket. These are great ways to keep yourself warm in your home, while still having a comfortable room temperature.

Have your furnace inspected
If you are actively implementing these steps, and are finding no solace, then it might be time to have your furnace inspected. You should have your furnace looked at yearly to ensure everything is in working condition. A professional HVAC company can do a quick checkup to make sure everything is functioning as it should.

Wearable Technology Is Becoming Popular in the HVAC Industry – Industry News

Wearable technology like smart watches, glasses, and cameras are huge in law enforcement, construction, and even sports and action/adventure-based fields. But in 2017, it is also breaking into new fields most people might not have ever considered before. One such field is the HVAC industry. Several companies across the United States have already begun implementing wearable technology as part of their technicians’ standard equipment. As a result, contractors can share and review their work with consumers and utilize the recordings for educational and training purposes. But that’s not the only reason wearable technology is becoming popular in the HVAC industry in 2017. Continue reading “Wearable Technology Is Becoming Popular in the HVAC Industry – Industry News”

Why Hire a Ventilation Service Professional?

Ventilation in your office building is one of the most important aspects of an airtight and environmentally friendly facility. It can help to control the moisture level in the home and to provide energy efficiency, comfortable and healthy place to work. Many people don’t understand just how important it really is. Not only does it eliminate bacteria and disease, but it also allows the exchange of outdoor air with indoor air. Ventilation minimizes odors, moisture and indoor pollutants. Poor ventilation can lead to the growth of volatile organic compounds, radon and formaldehyde in your business. Even high levels of moisture can raise the humidity level leadings to mold growth and structural damage.

When ventilating your business, a professional company such as Corporate Mechanical can make sure that your building is accommodated at a rate of .35 air changes per hour. Proper ventilation should be able to accommodate the best quality of indoor air. The standard ventilation rate is 15 cubic feet per minute. As you can see, it’s important to hire a professional who is used to these calculations and can ensure the proper ventilation is used in your particular building.

It’s also critical that the company you hire for this service understands the basic functions of ventilation before a plan is devised. The ventilation system created should be able to draw in air from the outside, which can consist of less pollutants as well as water vapor. Corporate Mechanical offers a complete ventilation solution using the most updated equipment for your next project at your business. For a properly ventilated business, choose a professional company that is properly trained, experienced and insured. Serving Minnesota residents, they believe in providing a quality service experience to each of their customers time and time again.

What’s the Difference Between Commercial and Residential HVAC?

Residential and commercial HVACs provide the same purpose for their respective buildings, however, the systems are vastly different from one another. Here are the biggest differences between the two.

Commercial HVAC is Larger

The biggest difference is the size. Residential HVAC systems are much smaller than that of commercial sites. Commercials systems also operate differently, as they have different components, such as compressor, evaporates, condenser fans, and thermostats. Residential units rely on less power to operate, as there are likely less people coming in and out of a residential home.

They Both Have Different Locations

In residential homes, the HVAC system is usually in the backyard or along the side of the house. Commercial units, however, tend to be located in a “swamp cooler” or on a building’s roof. Putting a commercial HVAC system on the roof is a great solution to saving space. This also helps with prevent noise pollution, due to the HVAC system’s ability to generate loud noise.

Commercial HVAC are Much More Complex

Due to the sheer size difference between the two, the structure is much different. Commercial systems require more adaptability, due to each and every business’s unique building structure. They also typically serve many more people than residential ones do. The drainage system is one of the most notable differences. In commercial HVAC systems, multiple pans and pipes are used to ensure the drainage is completely evaporated.

Commercial HVAC Has a Higher Maintenance Cost

The maintenance cost of a commercial HVAC system is much more than single residential units. This is due to all of the differences listed above, such as size and complexity. Commercial HVAC systems require highly skilled technicians to work on, as they also need to be professionally installed. You should never attempt to repair an HVAC system yourself.

Both residential and commercial HVAC systems serve the same purpose, however they are completely different machines.To ensure that your HVAC system (commercial or residential) is performing its best, make sure you are always getting routine checkups.

Xergy Currently Developing Greener HVAC Systems

Bamdad Bahar is the founder of Xergy. Xergy is a Seaford startup that is working to find a way to make greener HVAC systems for homes and businesses. Their goal is to find a way to convert the membrane technology used in fuel cells for climate control purposes. As a result, modern HVAC systems will be more environmentally friendly. Says Bahar of the project, “There are literally hundreds of applications for this membrane technology in everything from electronics to industrial to medical. But right now refrigeration and air conditioning is our main focus.” But what does this technology entail? How is it different from traditional HVAC technology? And how is Xergy currently developing greener HVAC systems to use on a larger, nationwide scale? Continue reading “Xergy Currently Developing Greener HVAC Systems”

Corporate Mechanical: Who We Are & What We Do

When it comes to energy conservation and HVAC services, we at Corporate Mechanical bring the most expert experience to the table. While designing and installing all different kinds of mechanical systems, such as piping, plumbing, water treatment, and ductwork, we are sure to be able to engineer the most energy efficient system for your company’s needs.

Our Expertise. We are not a great company all on our own. As our customers look to us to provide high quality services with integrity, we have to give credit to the 30+ licensed and certified technicians on our staff. It is our people that make Corporate Mechanical look good, because they provide superior products with strategic designs. We also back our installations by having our own in-house mechanical engineer. By keeping our engineering in-house, it also provides more cost-effectiveness than outsourcing it to another company. We hire all the best people in order to make our systems work well, and provide quality maintenance services from the best technicians as well. We understand the critical needs of our customers, so we make sure that we set high standards for ourselves in order to meet those needs by using the best minds in the business.

Our Energy Star Certified Products. By offering products that are Energy Star certified, you know that you have a product that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, plus help you save money on energy bills. In order to meet the certification standards, each product must meet the U.S. EPA and U.S. DOE energy efficiency guidelines. The Energy Star label can also be given to buildings that show high-energy conservation performance as well. So by using all Energy Star products, your building could receive this label that can give your company an upper-hand in the industry. By improving your business practices by reducing the impact on the environment, the whole world benefits.

We are proud at Corporate Mechanical to offer products and services the can help our customers stay committed to energy conservation and that want to be Energy Star recognized. These special Energy Star products can even get you rebates from Xcel Energy. By working with our Energy Rebate Specialists, we can help you find all of the rebates possible from your equipment, to help you not only save energy, but also save money.

Quick Xcel Energy Rebate Summary:

– Boiler, Cooling Efficiency
– Various Energy Conservation Programs
– Compressed Air
– Lighting & Heating
– Process Efficiency
– Efficiency Controls & Proposals

By choosing Corporate Mechanical for your commercial and industrial mechanical needs, you will have confidence that you will be able to get the most energy efficient system on the market. Our experts work hard to engineer high quality systems that will be Energy Star compliant. Keeping your energy usage and costs to a minimum not only helps your company but also the community.

Oversized HVAC Systems and Design Temperatures

In recent years, there has been a shift away from oversize HVAC systems that are simply too much for the space they need to heat and cool. This is because more emphasis in building and energy codes is towards energy efficiency. Buildings are required to have more accurate cooling and heating load calculations to prevent the problems associated with oversized systems. These problems can include short cycles and poor dehumidification, among other things. However, sometimes systems are still not sized correctly.

Things Are Heating Up

One of the problems that lead to oversized HVAC systems is that the installer used the incorrect design temperatures when making their load calculation. Here is how that happens. In the winter, heat bleeds from the building to the outside. In the summer, the building absorbs heat. How much heat is gained or lost, and how fast it heats or cools, is dependant on the difference in temperature from the outside to the inside. There is a table that provides the industry standard for the proper design temperatures for each season. However, too many contractors ignore or tweak those recommended temperatures when they are making their calculations.

Temperatures are always in flux, whether inside or outside a building. How much heat a building games or loses is in flux as well, even from hour to hour and day to day. If the goal is to keep the temperature of a building at a constant, such as 72 degrees, then the difference in temperature from outside and inside will be less in the evening and morning during the summer when it is cooler. When the temperature difference goes up, then the cooling load will have to rise as well. In most cases, buildings have air conditioners that are not designed to change the amount of cooling based on the change in temperature. THis would require split heat pumps, which are not common.

Design Temperatures

This is where design temperatures come in. Since most HVAC equipment is fixed capacity, and not variable, the design temperature will help make sure your system is operating at its best. The question is, what do these temperatures represent? In Winter, the 99% temperature refers to the level that the outdoor temperature will be above for 99% of the time. This is based on a 30-year average. This means that in the climate in which the building is located, the temperature will only be below that point for 1 % of the time. For example, in hotter cites, the 99% winter design temperature may be 25 degrees or so.

In the summer, the 1% design temperature is the point that your climate will be above for just 1% of the time. In a hot place, that point could be in the 80’s, for example. In the past, there used to be 97.5  and 2.5% temperatures. Those are no longer used since the current design temperatures have become the new standard.

Contactors and Design Temperatures

In general, contractors do not like having to return to the scene of a job to adjust things if the customer complains about being uncomfortable. This is why they will install oversized systems to make sure there is always enough cooling and heating. They do not know how about the other factors that come into play with the temperature of a building, such as insulation and infiltration. Despite this, if you are having a new system installed, make sure that the contractor uses the correct design temperatures so that you will not only be comfortable, but you can avoid any issues with having an oversized system for the space that you have.

Las Vegas HVAC Convention Sets New Bar For HVAC Industry Conventions

The inaugural Service World Convention 2016 was just held at the end of October at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. The event was presented by Service Nation Inc. and BNP Media, who wanted to do something beyond a traditional seminar. As a result, Service World Convention provided one of the most impressive lineups of keynote speakers, educational seminars, and face-to-face networking opportunities many attendees had ever seen. Consequently, more than 700 HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors attended the event from all over the country. CEO Matt Michael commented on the turnout: “If Service World is this good right out of the chute, imagine how much better it will be in 2017. Every contractor owes it to their business to attend Service World every year.” But what was it that made the Las Vegas HVAC convention so successful?

Las Vegas HVAC Convention – Service World 2016

Renowned Industry Leaders

Event organizers recruited an impressive lineup of industry leaders to speak at the convention. Hudson Inc. CEO Adam Hudson and “Blue Collar Coach” Kenny Chapman were among the keynote speakers. In addition, former race-car driver turned motivational speaker, Derek Daly, gave a heartfelt appeal to all HVAC contractors in attendance. “The greatest power we all possess is the power to choose,” he said. “You must make a choice to step closer to extraordinary because, if you do, it doesn’t matter what your competition does.”

Training Seminars

Training and educational seminars were provided in four categories, or “lanes”. These included leadership, sales, business development, and marketing. Todd Liles, founder of Service Excellent Training, provided an in-depth panel on hiring millennials. The presentation was titled Killing the Professional: How to Create a Sustainable Team Member. During his speech, he spoke of the importance of the hiring process and of hiring millennials. “Millennials think differently than older generations. Is it bad? No, but it’s different,” he said. “Millennials are not the future, they’re our now. We have to be flexible and willing to do what it takes to find the help we need.”

A Great Success

Service World Convention 2016 drew more than 700 attendees, all made up of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors. Organizers are already beginning to plan next year’s convention, as a result of the enormous success of the Las Vegas HVAC convention. The 2017 Service World Convention is set to take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The Benefits Of Hiring a Commercial HVAC Maintenance Company

If you own a business, you will certainly understand the importance of keeping it well maintained. Many businesses overlook their HVAC systems and this leads to problems later down the line. For example, you may not realize that your air conditioning isn’t working until a heat wave strikes the area. Your employees will overheat and they won’t work to their maximum ability. This can all have an impact on your business so it really helps to have an HVAC maintenance company on-hand if you want to keep your business operation at a high level of efficiency.

The Benefits of Hiring a Commercial HVAC Maintenance Company

What an HVAC Maintenance Company Can Do For You

An HVAC maintenance company can work with you to make sure that your air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems are in full working order. They can also help you to fix any problems as soon as they arise, and this can help you to save money at a later date. You will also find that by hiring an HVAC professional you can make your systems last much longer and this is a great way to cut back on cost at the end of the year.

An HVAC company will also be able to tell you how energy efficient your systems are. For example, if your systems are not very energy efficient then you could be wasting money from the start of your business day to the moment it closes up for the night. Over the year, this can really add up but it is something that you might not even be aware of. An HVAC professional will be able to help you with all this as well as advising you accordingly so there are certainly many benefits when you hire one for your business.