We are all guilty of relying on our heating and ventilation systems, especially when the cold mornings have taken over. But once there is a glitch, we certainly know about it, ultimately having an impact on our productivity levels, safety and energy bills. So what should you look out for?
· Strange, unfamiliar sounds
· Uneven heating and cooling throughout your building
· Loss of system efficiency
· Unexpected rise in heating and cooling costs
· Strange smell or poor indoor air quality
If any of these do occur in your place of work, it’s advised you give 361 Degrees a call. We will send a certified engineer to look at the problem. Many of these symptoms could be the result of:
1. Lack of maintenance
It is advised that all heating and ventilation systems be serviced annually as a minimum to ensure efficient running and to avoid costly damage and repairs. Not having a regular schedule in place could result in a minor issue becoming a major one. Regular check-ups will decrease the number of repairs as they are picked up by the engineer early on before any serious damage is caused to the system.
2. Dirty or clogged filters
Dirty and worn out filters can force your air conditioning system to work harder. This increases energy costs and damages your systems life expectancy. With regular checks and quarterly replacements of your filters you will optimise the performance of your heating and ventilation system. This will also improve your indoor air quality.
3. Leaking refrigerant
Refrigerant is what is needed to make an air conditioning system work. The refrigerant is contained within the coils of the air conditioning system and in turn cools and dehumidifies the air. If the air conditioning system does not have enough refrigerant, it will not cool the air and the condenser will be working overtime. This leads to additional energy costs and damage to the air conditioning system which will need to be repaired.
4. Thermostat malfunctions
It is easy to assume that the heating and ventilation system is at fault when it stops working normally, but the problem could be caused by the controls. The controls are supposed to regulate the conditions at set times, if this is not working correctly, it will cause an imbalance of temperatures in the office.
5. Improper air balance
The warm and cool air supplied to an office will pass through a number of dampers and ducts before use. Dampers are the valves which regulate the flow of air inside an air duct. Rooms which heat or cool at different rates can be controlled by the adjustment of the dampers. Through regular check up’s, our engineers are able to test the dampers and ducts to eliminate any imbalances before they become more serious.
The key to a healthy heating and ventilation system is a well-kept service and maintenance schedule. To organise yours today, contact 361 Degrees, we will even keep your diary for you, reminding you of when your next check-up is needed.
