Are you an existing customer or follower of Melink? I’m guessing the answer is “yes” if you’re reading this, so what all falls under the “Melink Umbrella”? In the Cincinnati, OH region, we’re best known for our super-green energy efficient HQ building. Those things help to show who we are as a company; however it isn’t always clear in what we do as a business to support this mission of changing the world one building at time.
To help illustrate the offerings at Melink, pretend you own a hotel, restaurant or operate an entity involving a commercial kitchen facility. Prior to leaving for work, you utilize your smartphone to check your building’s health for your employees and customers by swiping open your PositiV app. You check the latest building health makers for indoor CO2, temperature, humidity and building pressure. The building pressure has been trending negatively for a week and notify your Melink Test, Adjust, & Balance account manager. Next, you request an investigative visit to determine the root cause and next steps for corrective measures. Upon arrival, a field-technician identifies the outside air damper on your RTU has been locked shut. An insufficient amount of fresh outside air is being supplied to your building.
This negative air pressure situation would have been substantially worse; however you have Intelli-Hood. A demand control kitchen ventilation system that adjusts exhaust fan speeds to cooking demands. Your Intelli-Hood control system automatically turns on in case the prep crew starts cooking without the fans. It also preemptively warns your team if there’s an issue with the exhaust fan to mitigate risk from fire.
Knowing your building is back to optimal conditions you head to the back office. You start to review your utility bill statements and prepare payments. You’re shocked at the 40% electrical bill decline. Then you remember the newly installed and commissioned HVAC rooftop unit.
Welcome to the Melink Umbrella. Not all customers can benefit from the full suite of offerings, but these services make us a stronger partner for our customers. They invest in business growth in a responsible, sustainable manner, help us change the world, one building at a time.
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment is similar to your car; it can last 7-20 years! The life expectancy largely depends on the quality of the equipment, and how the equipment is maintained. Without a maintenance log of all your systems, how do you estimate the remaining ‘miles’ your equipment has left? The answer – have an independent HVAC site survey.
Benefits of Site Surveys
Performing an independent HVAC site survey before purchasing new HVAC equipment, helps to ensure you are making the right decisions. During an HVAC site survey, or HVAC audit, independent partners help you determine the current state of your equipment. To do so, your independent partner should tailor a unique scope of work to help you with your specific needs. HVAC site surveys can be complex with much focus on the fine details, or it can be a more general inspection of all equipment. Explain to your independent HVAC partner your situation and goals, then let them help you create a plan or program that suites your needs.
Self-Performing
“Why are you underlining independent?”, you might ask; because it is vital to ensure the gathered information is unbiased. Your partner should be a true owners advocate, working while looking through the eyes of the end owner. This task may be complicated for your equipment providers, preventative maintenance providers, and internal employees, there may be a conflict of interest in reporting one outcome verses another. One other important question to ask your independent provider is – “Are you self-performing?”.
You might be thinking – “Here we go again with these underlines.”, but self-performing is just as important as independent. Performing an HVAC site survey is a quality control related process. To fully achieve a high-quality result in your HVAC site survey, you should consider using a self-performing company. A self-performing company will use 100% of their own employees to survey your equipment. Therefore, the end product, or HVAC site survey report, is created from the findings of trusted partners or direct employees.
Once the time is right to replace or repair HVAC equipment, be sure to consider having an independent partner help you along the way. We’d appreciate if you’d consider Melink Corporation. We have a national network of self-performing technicians, and have been working with national and regional partners for over 30 years! Let us know how we can help!
A proper air balance within a building is an important factor for providing a healthy and comfortable indoor environment for occupants. Like many other critical building systems, the air balance must be maintained over time, and isn’t something that you can simply “set and forget”. So then, when should a building be balanced? Here are some common events that would trigger the need to perform an air balance.
New Construction:
Every building that has some form of HVAC system (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) should be balanced when it is first constructed. By this, I mean that the HVAC systems should be inspected, tested, and adjusted to ensure that they are operating correctly, efficiently, and as intended by the design engineer and as expected by the building owner. A balanced building will provide a comfortable and healthy indoor environment for the occupants, delivered in an energy efficient manner, and will have a proper positive pressure. Select a TAB professional to perform the air balance who is objective, meaning that they are hired directly by the building owner and are independent of the installing contractors and equipment manufacturers, who is experienced in your particular type of building and HVAC systems, and who is certified by an industry-recognized accrediting agency, like NEBB or AABC.
Remodel:
The building should be rebalanced during any major remodel event, such as expanding the building or changing the functional use of a space within the building. This is important because the HVAC system was originally designed and balanced for specific use conditions, and when those conditions change, the system will need to be readjusted. Be sure to consult with your mechanical design engineer prior to the remodel to verify that the existing HVAC system can handle the new demands. The building should also be rebalanced anytime elements of the HVAC system are modified or replaced, such as when ductwork is rerouted or when aged equipment is upgraded. This is important for verifying that the new equipment is installed correctly, operates properly, and is adjusted for the design conditions. For a building that has cooking operations, it is important to also rebalance whenever the cooking appliances are relocated or replaced with equipment of different use or heat load, such as replacing an oven with a fryer. This is significant because a kitchen ventilation system is designed for a specific bank of appliances. When the appliances and cooking operations change, the ventilation system will need to be adjusted to ensure it correctly captures and contains the heat and effluent produced.
Periodic Tune-up:
Even if a building has been balanced during the original construction, and it is not undergoing any remodels or equipment replacements, it should still be rebalanced periodically. This is because the performance of the HVAC system can change over time due to normal use and wear and also due to adjustments made by operations and maintenance personnel. Examples of this are when an operator switches the fan mode of the thermostats from ON to AUTO or when a service technician closes the outside air dampers in a rooftop unit in an attempt to fix a comfort complaint. For the complete building HVAC system, I would recommend a proactive rebalance frequency of every two to three years. This will ensure that the systems operate effectively and efficiently throughout their lifecycle and will help prevent the very costly issues created by having a building out of balance for a prolonged period of time.
Want to understand more about air balances? Read about air balance basics for existing facilities, watch our video on how an air balance works, or contact us to learn more!
While many are excited to emerge from a long and cold winter
and enjoy the rising temperatures that come with spring, not everyone loves the
shift in seasons. Facility managers around the country dread the season change
as it always brings lingering HVAC problems to the forefront. Every year during
the spring and fall as temperatures are changing, buildings around the country
work hard to adjust to the change in seasons as well. The HVAC systems go from cold
temps outside and constant heating of the building to cooling instead, or vice
versa. This dramatic change takes a toll on the building envelope and interior
and can make underlying HVAC problems that went unnoticed during one season,
suddenly very noticeable. Employees and paying customers alike are feeling the
discomfort of hot and cold spots, condensation dripping, A/C not kicking on
correctly, doors blowing open, and other annoyances.
These types of issues not only
affect the comfort for your customers in the facility, they can also lead to
long term maintenance and higher energy costs should they not be fixed quickly.
This is where having an independent 3rd party onsite to inspect the
equipment can assist. Hiring an independent company can help in identifying the
underlying cause of such problems and repair minor issues that may have gone
undetected for years. By having the facility inspected by a truly independent
company, facility managers can know that the information they are receiving
provides a truly accurate snapshot of their facility and is not biased or
swayed based on loyalties. You will get real results with accurate and
actionable information.
If you are experiencing any of these issues with the upcoming season change, it is recommended to have these issues investigated immediately. Prices begin to rise just as the temperature does in the summer, as construction demand is at its peak during this time. Seeing some of these issues in your building? Contact us here to talk with our team about ways to get in front of problems before they get worse!
I’ve
been in my role, with Melink Corporation, as a Sales Engineer just over 1.5
years. I want to ensure it’s understood
that I am certainly no expert in the “Construction World” but I do have
tangible experience. This article’s
content is based on my first-hand experiences, real-world applications I’ve
dealt with and conversations I’ve had.
Thus, these opinions are largely subject to my own with some additional
input from outside articles and research.
My first week into this role was a mix of emotion, to say the last. It was during this week that my manager (whom I see as an industry expert and mentor) expressed to me [something along the lines of], “Eric, you’re dealing with one of the toughest verticals Melink works within [New Construction]. I’ll be honest with you – you’re going to learn so much but you’re really going to have to learn to love frustration.” Yes, you [reader] likely share my same sentiment – skepticism, surprise and curiosity; though, it didn’t take long to understand what he meant. I was “christened” nearly the very first project I dealt with. Long story short, despite our product being hard specified by the hired designing Mechanical Engineer, our product was ultimately “value engineered*” for a cheaper alternative. Echoing my feelings earlier, I was surprised, curious and frustrated. I became aware of the “Achilles heel” of the New Construction world – the bidding process (which is influenced by cost). Cost is, and always has been, the deciding factor in mostly all aspects of a new build project. It makes sense, until you dig deeper.
Everyone
is guilty. Even the product
manufacturers should hold themselves accountable in this regard; they/we are
just trying to play the ‘game’ and stay in business. In his article, “People Are Cost-Driven with
Kitchen Equipment but There’s an Adage of Buy Cheap, Buy Twice”, Andrew Seymour
interviewed a chef by the name of Hayden Groves. Mr. Groves is quoted as saying some buyers
are too “Excel spreadsheet-driven” and end up trying to shave off costs when it
might not be the right move for the business.
First hand, I’ve seen this happen, as explained earlier. Our controls can often be eliminated for a cheaper
alternative that cannot do the same thing, thus cannot produce the same results
as our technology. This decision is
often made without any discussion or pragmatic decision process. Who makes this decision? Ultimately, it should be the owner or
whomever holds the checkbook and it often is; in this case, I understand. The owner can do what he/she wants to
do. Unfortunately, often it’s a ‘bidder’
who is trying to win the project by competing solely on cost. Again, I want to reiterate that this doesn’t
happen every time, but it does happen way more than it should. Yes, I am saying that if a trusted designer
hypothetically specifies a Rolls-Royces then you’ll likely see most bidders
price out a Toyota Camry (Toyota’s are great vehicles – I own one!). Yes, they both have engines and four wheels,
but they are uniquely different and have glaringly different features,
components and thus, different values.
Without going down this rabbit hole, I’ll just say it’s the principle of
the matter…that matters. Attending an
industry conference this past week, I had the chance to sit down with
consultants and manufacturers. This
exact discussion was brought to the table as a point of frustration for the
consultants. They share my frustration! This is a broken process and research support
this argument. Consulting-Specifying
Engineers recent publication (www.csemag.com), provided the top
10 HVAC systems and BAS challenges. The
top challenge, comprising 79% of respondents, is the inadequate budget for a
good design. Conversely, this same research shows that 96% of specifying
engineers can agree that product quality is paramount when comparing products,
above all else; these are the engineers that are hired for their expertise to
ultimately design and specify products to accompany the design, to meet an
owner’s and/or architects’ goals. Yet,
here we are. A battle between the desire
to specify based on quality but ultimately being sold on what is cheapest.
So,
how does a whole industry change?
Perhaps by “eating the elephant, one bite at a time” as they say. One often overlooked and unquestioned factor
is that of aftermarket and post install support. It’s imperative that we all make sure to
mention our product’s warranties and service/support on the front end of the
process, as the lack of either could potentially be a major headache on the
backend. If I never mentioned Melink’s
warranties/service in my discussions, they would never get asked about; this is
shocking. A 2016 McKinsey study proves
that service and support reign most important in terms of purchasing factors
2016 McKinsey Study – “How to Unlock Growth in the Largest Account.”
Hayden
Groves, also harps on warranties/support.
He said, “You should look for manufacturers’ warranty too. If a
manufacturer gives you a minimum standard of a year but somebody else gives you
five years, that’s a huge belief in that piece of equipment”, says
Hayden. Speaking of Rolls Royce…
“The quality is remembered long
after the price is forgotten.” – Sir Henry Royce of Rolls Royce
*Value
Engineering = “Cost Cutting”
CITATIONS
Pelliccione, Amanda. “2019 HVAC &
Building Automation Systems Study.” Www.csemag.com, Equal Opportunity Publications, Inc,
16 Jan. 2019, bt.e-ditionsbyfry.com/publication/?i=559857.
This week my team and I had the unique pleasure of attending the Restaurant Facility Management Association’s annual conference, RFMA, in Austin, Texas. Having a chance to reconnect with our customers and focusing on helping them solve problems is always an incredibly rewarding and satisfying experience.
In talking with so many of the customers with whom we work on a regular basis, we noticed some consistencies regarding their challenges. First, many of these Facility Managers are managing an incredibly large portfolio of stores; most folks citing somewhere between 50 and 100 under their management, offering precious little time on a per site basis. Additionally, operating budgets are incredibly thin, leaving marginal room to proactively manage facilities, and often only being able to respond to urgent matters re-actively.
As the industry leader in HVAC Testing, Balancing, and Commissioning, Melink is uniquely positioned to help Facility Managers ensure comfortable, healthy and efficient buildings. And for years we’ve been taking note of the challenges this industry faces. So, we are incredibly excited to be launching our new product, PositiV!
PositiV is a standalone, self-powered, system that monitor’s building pressure and remotely tracks building health. Think of it like a fitness tracker for commercial buildings. We believe this proprietary technology will revolutionize the commercial building industry; it’s unlike anything else you’ll find in the market.
So what makes this tech so revolutionary? First and foremost it was designed with Facility Managers in mind, empowering them to monitor the health of their portfolio with meaningful information… not just more data and alerts. It’s entirely stand-alone; meaning there are no wires or difficult connections with your local network. Our technology is powered by solar energy (yes, even the indoor unit!) and connected to the cloud wireless via 4G. And installation can be done in less than 15 minutes. One unit is installed on the roof and another unit is installed inside. From here, PositiV tracks four key building health indicators: building pressure, relative humidity, temperature, and CO2. But we want do more than just empower Facility Managers with information – we want to help them work smarter! For example, this technology enables our users to proactively manage problems by customizing intelligent alerts and trending this information over time, which provides valuable context, as opposed to a limited snapshot in time.
This week we heard countless real-world problems cause by sick buildings. Here are a few examples, and where we believe PositiV can help.
High Humidity. A negative building pressure draws in unwanted moisture from the outside causing costly damage and potentially even organic growth (i.e., mold). Two Facility Managers I spoke with talked about having to replace tens of thousands of dollars of woodwork as a result of high humidity warping and destroying it. Having the ability to remotely monitor building pressure will enable the industry to eliminate costly issues such as this. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Pest Control. One facility manager spoke of a facility whose operations were being threatened by an insect infestation brought on by negative air pressure. Again, having meaningful data enabling operators to respond in real-time will eradicate issues such as this. Restaurant operators have far more important things to worry about.
Increased Store Comfort, Customer and Employee Satisfaction. Keeping buildings healthy will prevent air from feeling stuffy & stale, eliminate offensive odors from grease & sewage, prevent hot & cold spots in the dining room, keep smoke out of the kitchen and dining room through ensuring adequate hood capture, and will prevent the cook line from getting too hot. Any one of these issues could become a big problem. A sick building will often yield many, if not all, of these symptoms. Make operations thepriority through preventing the building from getting sick.
Increasing Safety and Reducing Risk. Nobody wants to deal with the liability from a harmful “slip & fall” brought on by moisture pooling on a floor from dripping condensation. Again, the meaningful and real-time information PositiV provides will help make facilities safer and reduce these very costly risks.
Reduced Energy Costs. A sick building often has unnecessarily high energy costs due to equipment running inefficient. Frequently, this may have a chain effect causing other equipment to work harder or improperly as a result. Keeping a building healthy will keep the overall cost of energy low, thus improving store profitability.
These issues can be mitigated with the use of PositiV. By consolidating multiple buildings’ health in a single, easy-to-use dashboard, users can triage problem sites and get ahead of issues caused by negative pressure. Ultimately, PositiV will give Facility Managers peace of mind in knowing their buildings are healthy and performing effectively.
If you’re interested in getting a unit for your facilities, let us know. We’re currently finalizing our Beta testing and will be going into full production in Q2. At Melink, It’s our mission to change the world, one building at a time. I hope we can do so, together.
by Craig Davis, President and Alex Falck, Product Engineer
R-22 is an HCFC (Hydrochlorofluorocarbon) refrigerant found in older commercial and residential HVAC equipment, such as RTUs (roof top units), split systems and other equipment. R-22 and other HCFC refrigerants are known to deplete the Earth’s protective ozone layer and contribute to harmful climate change.
The US has slowly been phasing
out the use of R-22 per the following phase-out schedule:
1/1/2010:
The US government banned the use of R-22 in new HVAC equipment.
1/1/2015:
The US government bans the production and import of all R-22
1/1/2020:
The US government will ban the use of all R-22 (with a few exceptions). This will be the end of the road for R-22 use in the US.
NREL (National Renewable Energy
Laboratory) estimates 40 million commercial RTUs (roof top units) were
installed in the US, in the decade prior to 2010. The US Department of Energy also estimates
that are at least 1.6 million old, low-efficiency RTUs in operation in the
US. This means there is a huge tidal wave of R-22 equipment in
operation that will need to be replaced in the very near future.
How does the 2020 ban affect me?
R-22 costs have skyrocketed and are already more than 4X the cost/lb. of
R410A. Older R-22 units have much lower EER ratings and are as much as 50% less
efficient than current-day high-efficiency units. In most cases, older R-22 RTUs cannot be
converted to R410A refrigerant, and the older units will need to be replaced with a new, more energy efficient, more
environmentally friendly RTUs. It is
already cost prohibitive to repair older R22 units, and the “fix-on-fail”,
emergency replacement philosophy will be MUCH more expensive than a pro-active
roof-sweep or planned equipment replacement program.
How can I best prepare for the phase-out, and where should I start? I recommend companies start with an HVAC inventory of their older equipment, in addition to a detailed survey of all their facilities to verify the age and condition of all HVAC equipment, including newer and older HVAC equipment. I also recommend involving a national or regional HVAC installation partner, and an independent, national testing, balancing and commissioning partner such as Melink Corporation to provide the unit data and a complete assessment of the entire mechanical system. The survey should include duct-work inspections, inspection of the RTUs and exhaust fans. Additionally, air-flow measurements should be recorded to verify proper building airflows and identify existing air-balance issues. If the entire HVAC system is not inspected, the building will often continue to have comfort problems and building balance issues, even after the new equipment is installed. The positive effects of the new, energy efficient HVAC equipment will not be fully realized, resulting in a lower-than-expected ROI.
For
further information on HVAC surveys and other custom scopes of work, please
e-mail [email protected]
or call us at 513.965.7300.
Do you want to optimize your
employees performance by 299%? Increase
cognitive ability in strategy development by 288%?
Yes! Of course, we all would love to
fully optimize ourselves and those around us to maximize our potential and
impact on the world. What if the answer
was all around us, literally allowing us to live, and also invisible. According to new research focused on indoor
air quality in the work place, there is a tremendous opportunity to move beyond
“green” buildings and ensure we work in “healthy”
buildings.
The COGfx Study, while limited to 24
participants, demonstrated that improved indoor environmental quality doubled
cognitive testing results in buildings with enhanced ventilation versus
conventional buildings. The study
distinguished between three building types; Conventional, Green, and Enhanced
Green. Within these building types the
focus benchmarks were Carbon Dioxide levels in parts per million (ppm), ventilation
rates expressed in cubic feet per minute (CFM) per person, and Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOC) in micrograms per cubic meter. It’s also worth noting that
building used was already a LEED Platinum certified facility, thus there’s
likely more room for increased scores when comparing older existing buildings.
Source: Natural Leader: The Cogfx Study
The study explores the decrease in
energy efficiency, which could be viewed as a negative, however relative to the
increase in employee productivity and lost time due to sickness the savings can
be dwarfed. The noted increased cost per
occupant in energy consumption is $400/year, however the study suggest a 6 x
return in sick leave reductions alone relative to the increased energy
cost. Factor in the potential for increased
productivity for one of the biggest operational cost for any company, the
people, and the energy penalty is worth the investment.
While Melink is focused on energy
efficiency, we’re also not blind to the impacts of IAQ and built our corporate
HQ as a LEED Gold facility, later upgraded to Platinum. In addition to the LEED standards, we also
monitor in door CO2 levels via sensors and increase ventilation
rates via a HVAC purge sequence once the room exceeds 800 ppm in CO2. On average, the general office area CO2
levels hover around 600 ppm and are aided by the addition of live plants which
produced an average drop of 100 ppm in CO2.
This focus on IAQ has led us to the development of a new product, Melink PositiV, to help ensure proper positive building pressure and CO2 levels in commercial buildings. The aim is to provide a simple solution for one of the biggest problems in all buildings, restaurants and retail locations; negative building pressure. The standalone device will monitor pressure, temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 levels and provide a picture of building health and trends.
This one seems like a no-brainer, but there are always
occurrences when Melink arrives to perform a balance and necessary equipment
either hasn’t been installed or isn’t properly operational. Examples might
include VAV’s or dampers that haven’t been installed, or a RTU that isn’t
operational.
Ensuring that all ductwork has been completed, balancing dampers
are properly installed, any grilles, registers and diffusers are installed, and
the RTUs have clean filters helps make sure that Melink can provide a proper
air balance, as well as mitigate any potential return service costs. Making
sure that all equipment (especially RTUs) has undergone a proper start-up to
confirm power should always be completed ahead of Melink’s arrival.
All
HVAC equipment can be easily accessed.
Another hindrance to any proper test & balance is not being
able to access the necessary equipment. This includes equipment installed inside
the building, as well as equipment on the roof. When working with a customer
located inside a mall or shopping center, security and approved roof access
becomes another added component that must be considered.
Melink typically requires assured access to all applicable HVAC
system equipment, including RTUs, VAVs, Exhaust Fans, dampers, etc. Access to
fully open dampers, ceiling-height diffusers, and thermostats that may be in an
office is necessary to properly complete the balance. Our Account Coordinators
will also discuss roof access, security measures, and accessibility to ladders
or lifts.
Allotting
adequate time (2-3 weeks) to schedule and complete the balance.
Though some seasons are busier (or slower) than others, our goal
at Melink is to provide every customer the same level of service excellence no
matter the time of year. This includes communication with the customer,
scheduling the site visit with one of our National Network technicians,
performing the balance and working with the customer on any punch-list items,
and finally, providing a certified test & balance report.
Our team of National Account representatives and technicians work with the customer through each step of the process. Scheduling service with Melink approximately 2-3 weeks out from turnover will help to ensure a proper and complete balance, and enough time to work through any punch-list items or lingering comfort issues for the customer.
Have you ever replaced old HVAC equipment just to find that, after spending a lot of money, the comfort issues you were experiencing previously are still there? Or you now have new problems that weren’t there before? Your HVAC operates as a complete system, and the new equipment is only as good as its installation quality and the existing system it is connected with. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your HVAC equipment upgrade program.
First, be proactive. Get ahead of HVAC issues before they get worse or before they occur at all. The more proactive you are, the lesser the negative impacts to your facilities operating budget, revenue, customer relations, and human resources. On the flip side, with a fix-on-fail approach, you deal with costly emergency repairs, you have high energy costs from inefficient equipment, your revenue and customer relations suffer as uncomfortable customers take their business elsewhere, and your human resources incur lost productivity and even turnover of employees due to uncomfortable/unhealthy working conditions. Not to mention the effect on your stress level when you have to deal with HVAC breakdowns!
Start with a site survey. You need an accurate inventory of your existing HVAC equipment, so you can make decisions on what to do with it. Be clear about what information you need to have collected from the field, information that will enable you to make a thorough evaluation and meaningful recommendations. Examples include equipment age, condition, features, operating measures, and so on. Remember that your HVAC is a system, made up of many components all working together. The focus can tend to be limited to the heating/cooling equipment, but there are also other pieces of the system that are very important, such as exhaust fans, ductwork, air grilles, and controls, to name a few. Issues with these other components could limit the effectiveness of any new heating/cooling equipment. The system is only as good as its weakest member.
Assess the data. Review the data returned from the site surveys to assess the overall scale and scope of your upgrade program. Determine your trigger points for repair versus replacement, such as equipment age, condition, and efficiency. This is the methodology that will help you to objectively decide whether you will continue to invest in a piece of equipment or replace it altogether. In grading the equipment, this could be a simple, Green – Yellow – Red system of classification. Green meaning ‘do nothing’, the equipment is good as-is. Yellow meaning ‘repair’, the equipment has some issues that can be corrected at relatively low cost. Red meaning ‘replace’, the equipment has completely failed or is no longer worth investing in.
Prepare a scope of work. Apply the previously prepared methodology to your entire equipment inventory. This then becomes your scope of work for each site. Put the scope in writing and be clear about your expectations. Your equipment suppliers and installation contractors will need this scope in order to provide you with accurate estimates of cost and lead time. This advanced planning, budgeting, and coordination will help to ensure the subsequent execution of the work goes smoothly.
Consider the timing. Equipment suppliers and installation contractors tend to be busiest in the summer and early fall months when construction activity peaks. Avoiding these times helps to ensure you have the support you need, and your costs may be lower. Plus, upgrading before summer helps to prepare your facilities to handle the hot/humid weather ahead. Any temporary outages of heating/cooling that may occur while equipment is being repaired or replaced is less impactful on the facility operations during times of milder weather.
Vet your partners. Working with the right people makes a world of difference. Partner with suppliers and contractors who are trustworthy and reputable. Make sure they have experience with your type of facility and HVAC system, and are qualified for the services to be performed. With the right team, you can accomplish most anything.
Inspect the work. After the equipment is repaired or replaced, it is imperative that it be inspected, tested, balanced, and commissioned in order to receive the full benefit of your capital investment. This is your final assurance that you get the quality and performance expected out of your HVAC system. When issues are uncovered during this process, be sure to have them corrected by the suppliers and contractors while they are still under warranty. If left unaddressed, those issues will become headaches and costs to your facilities and operations teams later.
Managing an HVAC equipment upgrade program can be a daunting job. When it is handled in a proactive and organized fashion, and includes the right partners, the results can be extraordinary.
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