Yes, any HVAC system can and should be balanced to ensure proper operation, performance and energy efficiency.
Archives: FAQs
What are signs that my building is out of balance?
The most common indicators are:
– sweating diffusers
– exterior doors that are hard to open
– uncomfortable temperatures
– drafts
For those facilities with commercial kitchens, smoke-capture problems are a sign.
How does an air balance help my HVAC system be more efficient?
To correct a system that is over-ventilating, fan speeds are reduced and dampers are set to optimally regulate airflow for design performance with as little static pressure as possible. This reduces load on the motors and the energy required to operate them. An air balance also ensures that systems are not under-ventilating, which can lead to performance, comfort and air-quality issues.
Why is HVAC testing and balancing necessary?
If you’ve ever been bothered by uncomfortable drafts of air or experienced room temperatures that are inconsistent with what the thermostat reads, then you’ll quickly understand why a test and balance is necessary. In short, unbalanced air prevents you from feeling comfortable. TAB ensures that your HVAC system is performing correctly and you have a comfortable and energy-efficient building. It can mean the difference between comfortable and uncomfortable customers and employees, and between wasting and saving money on equipment operation. It also contributes to healthy air quality by ensuring the proper amount of fresh air in the building. Lastly, you want a TAB service performed to be sure the HVAC equipment in the design specifications matches what was actually installed. You wouldn’t believe how often we see this mistake.
What is HVAC testing and balancing?
HVAC testing and balancing (TAB or air balance) is the process of ensuring that your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is operating properly and delivering the correct air quantities at the air devices inside your building. This involves cycling the equipment on to verify functionality, measuring preliminary airflows, checking fan rotations, adjusting fan speeds, adjusting dampers and measuring final airflows to ensure conformance to design.
What are the standard maintenance items for Intelli-Hood?
The Intelli‐Hood optic sensors should be cleaned periodically. In applications with high amounts of grease, they will need more frequent cleaning. To clean, wipe the lens of the optic circuit board with a soft, moist cloth to remove grease.
Temperature sensors rarely need to be cleaned and can be maintenance-free in some applications. To clean, wipe the temperature probe with a moist cloth to remove grease.
Watch this how-to video for an overview of Intelli-Hood maintenance and cleaning.
What happens after Intelli-Hood is installed?
After Intelli-Hood is installed, we will train your staff on its operation and ongoing maintenance. In reality, there will be virtually no impact to your operations considering the intelligence of the system. For a detailed guide to operation and maintenance, please see our O&M manual on our resources page or view our how-to videos.
If you’re interested in validating your energy savings, we have three tiers of services for monitoring:
1) Remote Connectivity – We can program your Intelli-Hood system to “phone home” to our online Intelli-Hood portal, where you will be given a login to view and download performance reports on an as-needed basis. The system can be connected wirelessly or by a hard-wired Ethernet cord. You will also be notified of any system alerts by an automated email.
2) Premium Monitoring Service – Let us monitor and report on your energy savings for you. We can be the proactive watchdog of your systems’ performance.
3) Preventative Maintenance Agreements – We’ll perform a health check, retrain kitchen staff and perform ongoing maintenance on the system to keep your energy savings at peak performance.
How do you keep the optic sensors clean? What keeps the optic sensors within the hood from getting dirty?
Each optic sensor has a dedicated Air Purge Unit that supplies positive air pressure from the optic enclosure to help reduce any grease or dirt accumulation on the optic lens. The system also performs a daily calibration to adjust the optic sensitivity based on the level of cleanliness. If the optic lens gets too dirty, the system will visually alert the user to clean the optic lens. This video provides an overview about the system’s optic sensors, as well as troubleshooting tips.
How will Intelli-Hood affect my kitchen operations?
Intelli-Hood will reduce your overall kitchen operational costs. It will also make the environment quieter through reducing the constant hum of the exhaust fans. Beyond that, the kitchen staff shouldn’t experience any other impact.
Do you manufacture the hoods?
No, we’re a controls company. Our focus is on the electrical controls, to make your kitchen hood part of an intelligent and demand-responsive ventilation system. Think of Intelli-Hood as an energy savings appliance. While everything else in your kitchen is adding to the electrical load, this system is actively saving you money in your kitchen operations.
We do partner with many hood original equipment manufacturer companies around the globe to offer direct installation packages for both new and retrofit applications.
