Category: Maintenance

Why Schedule Commercial HVAC Maintenance This Winter?

During the winter, your Central Air Conditioning (HVAC System) is constantly working to keep your business comfortable. Commercial HVAC Maintenance is important because several issues arise within the wintertime that will result in expensive repair costs. If you choose not to get your commercial HVAC systems serviced this winter, the costs of repair will outweigh the costs associated with preventative maintenance.

Here are three reasons why you should schedule commercial HVAC maintenance this winter:

1) Prevention of Breakdowns

From January to March is when our Central HVAC Systems experience the most wear and tear, leaving them particularly susceptible to breakdowns. The winter months are especially hard on our AC units. During winter, we run our heating and cooling constantly as we try to stay warm inside and pull the warmer air outside. This puts a heavy load on HVAC Systems as they try to keep up with daily temperature fluctuations. Preventative maintenance this winter will help your HVAC system last longer and more efficiently.

2) Repair Costs of Broken Parts and the Cost of Replacing These Parts

If your HVAC System experiences a breakdown this winter, you can expect high repair costs as winter is the time when repair companies are most booked. It may be difficult to find a company that can come out and fixes your Central HVAC System on short notice, not to mention the high cost of a same-day service call. Normal wear and tear of a Central HVAC System can cause broken parts that will need to be repaired or replaced. The costs of such parts add up quickly and can be expensive. Preventative maintenance this winter will save you money in the long run by helping to prevent repair costs in the future.

3) Preventative Maintenance Can Identify Potential Problems With Your Central HVAC System

Preventative maintenance is an excellent way to save money on repairs down the line. Preventative maintenance is a service that allows a certified technician to thoroughly inspect a system for problems and wear and tear. The preventative maintenance service will provide a technician the opportunity to identify potential problems, such as clogged or dirty filters, worn hoses and belts, and refrigerant leaks. These problems can escalate into major repairs that would otherwise not need to be done if you had your HVAC maintenance performed this winter.

Identifying major HVAC problems early is ideal as it allows you to take immediate action before any permanent problems develop. If you are interested in learning more about preventative HVAC maintenance this winter, contact a professional commercial HVAC company.

5 Signs it’s Time to Replace Your Commercial Furnace

While it’s not the most enjoyable thing in the world, there comes a time in every furnace’s life when it has to be replaced. As much as you would like to believe that your furnace will never need replacing, it can be all too easy to notice signs that it is on its way out. If you take care of it, it will take care of you. Keeping on top of maintenance and repairs can help increase the lifespan of your furnace by up to 15 years in some cases. If you want to make sure that you are acting before something goes wrong, here are five key signs that it is time for a new commercial HVAC system or commercial heating unit:

1. Your commercial HVAC unit is over 15 years old

2. You notice a fall in your furnace’s energy efficiency

3. It’s starting to give you the heebie-jeebies – literally!

4. Constant repairs and maintenance are no longer an effective solution

5. A dirty commercial HVAC commercial heating commercial air conditioner commercial furnace commercial unit

You can check to see the age of your commercial HVAC unit by looking at the sticker or nameplate. If it is more than 15 years old, even if it’s still in good working order and you maintain it regularly, chances are that changing technology has made a replacement commercial heating commercial air conditioner commercial furnace commercial unit a better option. You can also refer to your energy bills – if they are up 15 percent over the last couple of years, it is probably time you considered replacing your commercial HVAC commercial air conditioner commercial furnace commercial unit.

The more efficient your commercial HVAC commercial heating commercial furnace commercial unit is, the lower your energy costs will be. If you find that commercial furnace systems are costing you more and more money or aren’t operating at their highest level of efficiency, it may be time to get a new commercial HVAC system installed.

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.

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.

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.

8 Tips to Save Energy at the Office

It seem energy bills keep getting higher and higher in both the residential world and the commercial world. By switching to more energy-efficient practices, not only will your wallet benefit but also the environment. Take a look at some of these 8 tips to save energy at the office. Some of them are quick fix, change of habit take the tips, as others are going to take some research finding new energy efficient technologies.

8 Tips to Save Energy at the Office


Use Energy Efficient Appliances. Look for appliances that have the Energy Star label on them. This is a movement from the federal government that specially marks high-rated energy efficient appliances.

Do Not Use ‘Standby’ Technology. When leaving the office for the day, be sure that everything is turned completely off and not left on standby mode. Standby keeps the energy flowing into the equipment even when it’s not being used.

Install Window Coverings. The use of blinds or shutters on the windows will help minimize the heat of the sun directly beaming in during the summer. Allowing your AC unit to not have to work harder to keep the air cool. On the flip side, open the shades in the winter to allow the heat and the sunlight in.

Install Motion Sensor Lights. Using a motion sensor type of lighting system in the office can help eliminate energy use from people leaving lights on. This is most practical in break rooms, bathroom and anywhere that would be easy for a turned on light to go unnoticed.

Install Water-Saving Fixtures. Saving water is also another way to conserve energy. Installing water saving faucets can help improve the amount of water used. Also, the use of low-flush or even dual-flush toilets can help keep the water use to a minimum.

Set the Thermostat. Setting the hours and temperatures on your thermostat will help monitor the temperature in your office. While you are present, have the temperature set for what you desire but when you are absent, turn the thermostat down. This will help keep your electric bills down from your heater or AC unit.

Hire a Green Energy Company. There are many utility companies that generate electricity from wind and other green alternative sources. By switching to one of these companies your electric bill may decrease and you will also be helping the environment.

Use Laptops. Your average laptop versus a desktop computer will use less energy and can be more efficient. The idea is to buy the quality computer laptop over and less expensive one.

Taking note of your energy use in the office will help you to better assess the areas in which you can improve. By slowly changing some equipment and habits, you can start to lower the costs of your office energy bills month by month.

What To Know About Eddy Current Testing

Eddy current testing is a way for those who work with specialty metals to test for imperfections, such as cracks or gaps. These flaws are detected by electromagnetic induction. It can catch these flaws on the surface of the material, but also in the sub-surface. Not only that, but eddy current testing can also be used to measure the conductivity and thickness of a material. Here are some things that you might find interesting about eddy current testing.

Nondestructive Testing (NDT)

Eddy current testing is categorized as a nondestructive testing method. This means two things. For one, the system is reliable, safe, and cost-efficient. The other is that the testing is conducted without causing harm to the material or any parts connected to it. It will also do nothing to affect the use of them in the future. There are several NDT techniques, including simply using the eyeball test, and eddy current testing is one of the most important.

It is Vital in Everyday Life

It may surprise you to hear that eddy current testing is an important part of our lives, but it is absolutely true. Eddy current testing is used in many industries and for many of the products we interact with daily. As an example, eddy current testing is the preferred method to use for testing oil and gas pipelines, chemical manufacturing, nuclear reactors, and our local water systems. There is portable equipment for eddy current testing to perform inspections on site, such as on bridges. Public safety is greatly enhanced by using eddy current testing, which makes it important to us. Not only can it be used for those large components, but it can also be used for smaller parts that also have an impact on safety.

Different Probes Depending on the Mode

ECT uses test probes that come in several styles and sizes. They do not just have different shapes, but also have varying modes of operation. Take, for example, an absolute measurement probe. This probe creates eddy currents by using a coil. These currents then track any changes in the current field. Another probe has two coils, so that the operator can use comparisons to find flaws. If there is a coil lingering over an imperfection, and the other is over a good spot, then the operator gets a signal.

There are Several Factors That Can Affect Eddy Current Testing

Eddy current testing equipment generally comes with several settings. There is amplitude, frequency, and sensitivity, among others. These all need to be considered when performing ECT. That said, there are other factors in play as well. You must consider anything that might affect the flow of the currents, such as any properties of the material you are testing. If there are obstructions, then an adjustment to the settings may be required.

Magnetic permeability is one of those factors that can affect how easily the currents flow through a material. When measuring permeability, there can be interference created when using ferrous materials. That makes it hard to use eddy current testing for accurate results. To get over this, technicians can use magnetic saturation or different coil arrangements to get accurate readings.

When it comes to interference, even ambient room noise can cause problems for eddy current testing. The best option is to try to filter out any noise in the environment to get a good signal. There can also be issues if the part or material being tested has sharp or geometrical edges. Technicians can use a special scanning technique to overcome this.

The eddy current testing procedure is used on several materials, such as tungsten and molybdenum rods. It is an effective way to inspect materials for damage, cracking, fractures, and pitting.

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 Guide to Pneumatic Control Systems

You may have heard of pneumatics before, but may not really know what it means. At its most basic, pneumatics involves using pressurized air or gas. A pneumatic control system helps to control an HVAC system by using compressed air. Here is how a pneumatic control system works.

Process

The compressed air used by a pneumatic control system is pushed through plastic and copper tubes. It starts from a controller, and travels to a controlling device, which is most often a damper or a valve actuator. There are sensors attached to the lines that measure any changes in temperature, humidity, static pressure, and other factors. In effect, the compressed air is the method by which all of this data is communicated. A thermostat will be connected to these lines and will regulate the air accordingly.

Actuators

Pneumatic actuators are the motors that drive the whole system. They control the valves and dampers. They are extremely durable and reliable, and are very cost-effective. There is no need for regular maintenance on these actuator types, either. In just about every factor, whether it be durability or affordability, these actuators are superior to electric actuators.

Modular Control Components

The components that make up the system provide excellent performance and versatility. These components, such as receivers, thermostats, and pneumatic relays, can be custom configured to fit your building’s needs. No matter what, they will relay the necessary data accurately regardless of how the system is configured.

Limitations

Despite it being an uncomplicated system, there are some limitations to pneumatic controls. Because of its simplicity, building managers often overlook or forget the need for quality preventative maintenance. It is not a process that can be handled by just anyone. The air supply should be checked regularly to make sure that it is clean and dry. Also, a regular maintenance program is required to inspect all components of the system. Every two years or so, components should be adjusted to make sure there is no shifting of the setpoint.

Maintenance and adjusting are best handled by professional contractors who know the ins and outs of pneumatic controls. They will make sure that your system is running smoothly and efficiently at all times.

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

‘Green Ductwork’ Gaining Popularity As Industry Standards Improve

We live in an eco-friendly world. Politics, science, business, public safety. Evidently nothing has been left behind when it comes to going green. Hence a new trend that’s making waves in the HVAC industry. ‘Green ductwork’ is a new term that more and more HVAC professionals are becoming familiar with. While there is no finite definition to the new term, most everyone associates it with recycled materials related to ductwork and other HVAC materials. New standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program are continuing to drive improvements in green materials and improved awareness of public health and environmental concerns.

Green Ductwork

Eco-Friendly Materials

According to LEED’s page on the U.S. Green Building Council’s website, “LEED-certified buildings are resource efficient. They use less water and energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” As a result, new HVAC equipment is being developed from recycled materials that have a lesser impact on the environment. Polyester, for example, is being used to make fabric ductwork. Fabric ductwork is lighter than traditional metal. It requires less roof or tether support and uses linear dispersion to eliminate hot and cold spots. These advances make more efficient HVAC systems that are also simpler to install and create less solid waste.

Cleaner Air

A major component of green ductwork is its ability to remove contaminants from the air. One of the biggest pushes for more eco-friendly building materials is public health. Consumers are more aware of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in various products. Most HVAC systems are lined with insulation for noise reduction. Consequently insulation in building ductwork puts contaminants and other particles into the airways and makes people sick.

Increased Efficiency

Increasing HVAC efficiency is another major part of ‘green ductwork’. Leakage in ductwork forces the system to use more energy. Consequently you end up with higher energy expenses and decreased efficiency. HVAC contractors are currently looking for the most cost-effective way to improve ductwork efficiency. Some apply gasket fittings while others go back in and seal the system with a commercial-grade sealant. Sealants effectively limit energy use and minimize emissions. Consequently you spend less and do more for the environment.

Industry standards are cracking down on faulty HVAC equipment. Consumers continue to look for more eco-friendly products to use in their commercial space. Don’t be left behind. Contact the professionals at Corporate Mechanical today. We are up-to-speed on all the current industry trends. Our representatives are ready to answer your questions and offer you real solutions. Call us today to schedule a consultation and go green with ‘green ductwork’.

This article is based on a news article appearing on archrnews.com. You can read the full article here.

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