Restaurant Air Balance: Avoiding Costly HVAC Issues
Regarding restaurant air balance, negative building pressure costs restaurant facility managers thousands of dollars every year. Uncomfortable kitchen staff — as well-intentioned as they may be — often unknowingly contribute to a facility’s air circulation becoming unbalanced. Hot and bothered, they may adjust thermostats or HVAC components in an attempt to make their workspace more comfortable. The issue is that most kitchen staff aren’t aware of how sensitive a balanced HVAC system can be. Even minor adjustments can throw the system into inefficient operation, driving up energy costs and making the entire operation much more expensive.
During your next site visit or conversation with on-site managers, restaurant facility managers should take a moment to explain the basics of air balance to kitchen staff.
Here are some key points to cover:
1. HVAC equipment works as one system.
What happens in the kitchen directly affects the dining areas, and vice versa. Any changes made in one area impact the comfort, efficiency, and air circulation throughout the entire building.
2. Understand basic building pressure.
- Building pressure plays a major role in customer comfort, kitchen hood smoke capture, condensation, energy savings, door function, insect control, and more.
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Kitchen airflow is the largest contributing factor to overall building pressure.
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High-velocity airflow near kitchen hoods (such as from portable fans) can interfere with the hoods’ ability to capture and exhaust smoke and heat effectively.
3. Keep grease filters clean and well-maintained.
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Grease filters must be cleaned regularly to protect the exhaust ductwork, fans, and rooftop discharge areas.
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Clogged filters reduce exhaust performance, create poor air quality, and lead to costly repairs.
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Damaged filters should be replaced immediately.
Hiring an experienced and professional TAB firm to perform a test and balance on your HVAC system periodically can provide confidence that your air balance systems are operating properly. This ensures that your kitchen staff works in a comfortable environment and your customers have an enjoyable dining experience.
