Though winter is a few months away, late summer is the ideal time for commercial property owners and landlords to prepare their buildings for the cold season. Below is a checklist of eight essential steps to ensure your HVAC system is ready and running efficiently throughout the chilly months ahead.
- Schedule Maintenance: Arrange for a professional HVAC technician to inspect and service the HVAC system before winter sets in. Regular, seasonal checks to identify potential issues early are critical to ensure all components are functioning properly. A thorough inspection of the HVAC system, including heating units, boilers, furnaces, and heat pumps, is essential. The service should also include cleaning or replacing filters, checking and adjusting thermostat settings, and lubricating moving parts.
- Energy Audit – Inspect Insulation & Seals: Conduct a thorough inspection of the building to identify areas of energy loss, particularly around doors, windows, and ductwork. Check for leaks and consider adding seals and caulking to prevent air from escaping, which is crucial for maintaining temperature control year-round. This inspection will pinpoint areas for improvement and highlight potential upgrades to enhance energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling costs.
- Test Thermostat and Controls: Verify that the thermostat is functioning correctly and get guidance now on how to set it to an appropriate temperature for winter conditions. Assess all HVAC controls for responsiveness as well as to see that they are programmed correctly for energy efficiency. If needed, consider installing programmable thermostats or upgrade to smart thermostats that better control heating schedules and temperature levels based on occupancy patterns. Lastly, consider having zone control systems to manage different areas of your building to optimize comfort levels and reduce energy consumption by only heating occupied spaces.
- Consider Better Equipment: High-efficient equipment can make all the difference in the world to your heating and energy bills. Upgrading to better quality HVAC equipment such as energy-efficient boilers, furnaces, or heat pumps will reduce energy consumption and heating costs. Look for equipment with
high AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) ratings and ENERGY STAR® certification.
- Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) Systems: Consider installing heat recovery ventilation systems to recover heat from exhaust air and preheat incoming fresh air. This can improve indoor air quality while also reducing heating requirements and energy costs.
- Prepare for Freezing Temperatures: Take measures to prevent freezing pipes by insulating exposed pipes and ensuring they are properly drained if located in areas prone to freezing. If necessary, install a freeze protection system.
- Monitoring & Optimization: Implement a building management system (BMS) or energy management system (EMS) to monitor HVAC performance, track energy usage, and identify opportunities for optimization. Doing so can help to identify issues promptly and ensure the HVAC system operates at peak efficiency.
- Emergency Preparedness: Have a plan in place for emergencies such as power outages or HVAC system failures during winter storms. Consider installing a generator for a backup energy supply. Make sure all building occupants know what to do in case of an emergency and have emergency supplies on
hand.
These steps will help all commercial property owners ensure that their HVAC systems and buildings are
effectively and adequately prepared to handle the challenges of winter weather.
To ensure your heating system will operate at peak responsiveness and efficiency as the cold days
arrive and heating needs increase, contact RSE Energy Group today. Our certified technicians will thoroughly inspect your property and HVAC system to ensure your building keeps tenants, employees, and visitors comfortable throughout the fall and winter seasons
Telephone us at (833) 377-3674 or
email us at info@rseenergygroup.com.