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These 3 Common Commercial HVAC Problems Are Likely Wasting Your Money

Many commercial building owners are amazed to realize how much money they’re wasting every month due to relatively simple HVAC issues that go unresolved. Running a commercial building is just like running any other part of a business: if you’re spending more than you’re taking in, you’re going to fail.

If you’re looking for ways to control operating expenses, here are three commercial HVAC issues you can partner with your service provider to fix:

Neglecting planned HVAC maintenance

Whether it’s a car, a computer, or a new blender, every valuable piece of equipment we own comes with routine maintenance instructions we need to follow if we want to keep it operating at its best and make it last. Not surprisingly, your commercial HVAC system also requires routine maintenance performed regularly to optimize performance and maximize the system’s lifespan. If proper maintenance is neglected, or handled by inexperienced technicians, it can affect how well the system runs and how energy efficient it is, both of which affect the bottom line.

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That’s because an HVAC system that is not energy efficient wastes power, leading to higher utility bills. And, like a car that’s needed an oil change for months, you can’t expect poorly maintained system components to last without higher repair costs and more frequent replacements.

The simplest and best fix is to work with your commercial HVAC service partner to set up a planned maintenance program to ensure your system is always running at its best and being protected.  

Learn more about planned maintenance services for your Puget Sound building.

Following poor advice regarding HVAC equipment

Our technicians often run into a recurring scenario when doing an initial inspection of a new client’s Seattle facility: the existing HVAC system is a poor choice for the size, layout, or use of the building. Sometimes budgeting can be blamed, or it’s possible the building underwent a lot of changes since the system was first installed.

In some cases, the reason we run into this is because the owner relied on a service provider that either didn’t know or didn’t value what was best for the facility.

Whether it’s too large or too small for the building and use, the system is going to end up wasting money and likely winding up suffering damage and early replacement.

If you’re having a new commercial HVAC system installed, you need to rely on the expertise of HVAC professionals you trust. As long as you’re still using the existing system, you’ll also want trusted professionals to evaluate it and offer options for retrofitting or replacement.  

Inefficient and limited control systems

If the terms “smart sensors” and “building automation” don’t mean much to you, you may be spending more than you should on utility bills.

Most new commercial buildings are designed with “smart” sensors and digitally-based controls that connect the facility to powerful monitoring, automation, and analytics systems. The more automated your commercial HVAC system is, the more energy efficient it can be, and the more money you can save.

It doesn’t make financial sense to install this level of technology in every building. But the controls you do have still need to be accurately calibrated and functioning properly or you’ll be facing both inefficiencies and constant tenant complaints.

Again, having a trusted Puget Sound HVAC service provider inspect and test the existing control system can go a long way toward resolving this issue. They can help you decide on appropriate adjustments or upgrades to improve your ability to monitor, analyze, and automate the system.

That was just three simple, costly issues you could be facing with your HVAC system. We encourage commercial facility managers and building owners in the Puget Sound area who need to control operating costs to request a full operational assessment so we can help you figure out where energy is being wasted and what it will take to fix the situation. Then, you can start making strategic improvements and seeing results.

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