Spring Preventive Maintenance: Cleaning Condenser Coils

March 20th marked the official first day of Spring! After enduring a tough winter in numerous parts of North America, many of us welcome the change in seasons. However, warmer weather often correlates to higher utility costs to maintain a comfortable temperature in your building. 

There are solutions to bring down these costs and reduce your overall energy consumption. One important component of annual spring preventative maintenance is cleaning the condenser coils on your facility's HVAC units. During warmer months, the condenser coils move a significant amount of air. Over time dust and dirt accumulate on the coils and if the coil is dirty, the fan in the coil can't move as much air as required for good performance and efficiency. This leads to increased electricity costs and may shorten the life of the outdoor condensing unit. 

Cleaning the condenser coils will help the unit cool more efficiently and reduce power consumption while extending the life of the unit. It is important to clean the coils early in the year, before the AC unit is needed for the summer. Contact  Stroh Corporation for more information before the temperatures heat up.  

Five Hidden Sources of Energy Loss

Potential sources of energy loss are often hidden. Did you know leaks from ductwork and steam traps can waste energy? In addition, improperly tuned building controls can increase your heating and cooling costs.

Here are five sources of energy loss:

1. 1. Duct System: Leaky ducts can lead to higher heating and cooling costs. While some leaks are easy to locate, testing systems can help to identify the extent of system leakage by finding hidden leaks.
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3. 2. Building Controls: Controls are designed to save energy. However, it is important to inspect and adjust building controls regularly to account for changes in building occupancy, seasonal changes, and to ensure that sensors and controls are integrated properly. A well-tuned building control system can save up to 30 percent on heating and cooling costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.  
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5. 3. Steam Traps: Industrial plants and many commercial facilities use steam for process and space heating. In steam systems that are not maintained regularly, up to 30 percent of steam traps may have failed, wasting energy by allowing live steam to escape.
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7. 4. Transformers: Distribution transformers reduce high-voltage power line electricity to the lower voltages needed for the electrical equipment in your facility. Transformers lose energy by being energized 24 hours per day, 365 days per year to serve a varying load.
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9. 5. Personal appliances: Discourage the use of personal appliances such as space heaters by maintaining building temperatures at a comfortable range of 68°F to 78°F.
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Reduce your operating costs and improve overall efficiency by uncovering these energy losses. Read the entire article by visiting Duke Energy.

8 Ways to Prepare your facility for Spring

The warm spring and perfect weather may have you daydreaming about golfing, biking, and enjoying the sunshine.
But, this is no time to neglect the needs of your facility. Avoid costly and timely equipment repairs and save money through these eight tips.

1. Inspect your facility's cooling equipment to ensure it's ready for a long (and possibly harsh) summer.
2. A clean condenser coil will maximize your equipment's efficiency during the cooling season.
3. Change your equipment's air filters. Clean air filters improve performance year-round.
4. Adjust outdoor lighting to meet the longer periods of daylight. Don't have automatic timers? We can help you with that!
5. Check window and door weather stripping to avoid cooling the outdoors. This will also help to keep the humidity outside from seeping indoors.
6. Now is also a great time to make certain your ice machines are clean and ready for the increased demand.
7. Have your boilers cleaned and checked for leaks to ensure they are operating at peak efficiency.
8. Consider upgrading your equipment to more efficient models. Air conditioners today use 30%-50% less energy than units made in the 1970's. Even if your equipment is only 10 years old, you may still save 20% on your cooling costs by upgrading to newer models.

Make certain your equipment is ready for the warm weather ahead. With some careful preparation, you will be able to enjoy more of the sunshine and spend less time worrying about equipment failure. Call Stroh Corporation for any of your mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or energy saving needs.