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Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment is a crucial component of any building's infrastructure, responsible for providing comfortable indoor conditions for occupants. However, like any mechanical system, HVAC equipment requires regular maintenance to function at its best.
One of the most significant ways poorly maintained HVAC equipment can increase building energy use is through decreased efficiency. As such, this means that the system needs to work harder and longer to achieve the same level of comfort for occupants, leading to higher energy consumption and costs for the building owner. Of course, the reality of calculating these losses will vary building to building, depending on the system type, climate conditions and usage pattern.
To achieve a good indoor climate with low operating costs, your ventilation system must be designed and installed properly to minimise energy losses and preserve air quality. The entire duct system including the ventilation unit must be both well insulated and air tight, alongside being formed to allow for proper cleaning, as poorly maintained HVAC equipment can lead to increased energy use through system compensation.
Does this mean it’s time to clean your condenser coils?
We can use clogged condenser coils as an example of a system's decreased ability to remove heat from a building, leading to increased energy use to maintain indoor temperatures. Last summer, as the UK saw record high temperatures, Swegon saw a higher influx than usual of customer support requests regarding their equipment. Due to the higher seasonal external and ambient temperatures, the systems in place were facing challenges when it came to performing at optimum levels.
Loss of air flow and heat rejection across the cooling components is one of the most common factors that can negatively affect the operation of a system. A build-up of dust and debris settling on the cooling coils can contribute to reduced performance. In some cases, this can cause downtime of the system due to it not being able maintain the required operating temperatures. With regular maintenance and cleaning, these types of issues can often be prevented. To avoid significant energy waste and growing running costs for building owners in this instance, we would encourage a deep chemical clean of all of a system’s cooling coils.
With negligence or poor maintenance causing ventilation or climate equipment to malfunction and require repairs, the building owner may need to pay for emergency services or replacement parts, which can be costly and disruptive to building operation.
A malfunctioning HVAC system can also cause indoor temperatures to fluctuate widely, meaning the building owner may need to use supplemental heating or cooling equipment to maintain comfortable conditions for occupants, once again resulting in increased operation costs.
We spend about 90% of our lives indoors. By the time we are 80, we have spent about 72 years inside. Knowing that, it is incredibly important to take into account the indoor climate of the places we spend a significant amount of time. We also know that we are 16% more productive in a comfortable work environment and that our ability to think strategically relies on good air quality. Improving indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in all premises where building occupants are expected to perform well is vital. As a result, it’s imperative that we are able to offer solutions that enable the sustainable and energy-efficient operation of a building without compromising IEQ.
When were your systems air filters last changed?
Research suggests that poorly maintained HVAC equipment can have negative impacts on occupant health and comfort. For example, if the system's air filters are not regularly cleaned or replaced, they can become clogged with dust, pollen, and other allergens, leading to poor indoor air quality and potential health issues for occupants, as well as restricting airflow, causing the system to work harder and longer to circulate air through the building.
The filters in HVAC equipment are designed to purify both indoor and outdoor air, allowing building occupants to breathe clean air by filtering allergens and other potentially harmful pollutants, substances and particles.
More than 20% of the European population suffer from respiratory allergies, meaning they are hypersensitive to some natural substances that are found in the air. Inhaling these allergens can trigger a reaction of the immune system, which can lead to asthma and rhinitis. Simple maintenance such as replacing the filters in your ventilation systems at least once a year can improve indoor comfort and help alleviate the symptoms of those with respiratory allergies.
Filters retain a large number of particles that can cause clogs, meaning it’s necessary to change them regularly. A dirty filter can end up partially blocking the circulation of outside air inside the building, which can significantly increase the power consumption of your units. When a filter becomes completely saturated, it can even have consequences for the motor of your ventilation system. Taking this all into consideration, the importance of a clean filter is clear when it comes to good indoor quality.
Can digital tools help us achieve an optimal indoor climate?
Our knowledge and expertise must evolve alongside our equipment so we can ensure that customers are fully supported whilst keeping their economic goals and time frames in mind, especially during complex and technical projects.
If we take a moment to focus on the running costs of a building, we must consider all options on how best to prolong the lifetime of a HVAC product. It is important for adjustments to be made in order to continuously optimise operations based on a building’s indoor climate requirements. With that in mind, it makes sense to opt for HVAC solutions that allow for the exchanges of parts and components, and even digital upgrades. This in term, massively increases the longevity of equipment and reduces upfront costs.
By using digital tools, we can look to gather building health check information, enabling us to plan for maintenance and foresee any operational issues, so we are able to reach the root of a problem before the indoor climate is affected. As a result, we will see an improvement in energy efficiency, with data constantly updating based on current trends, whilst being able to forecast future patterns.
In addition to scheduled maintenance, building owners could look to AI powered insights like Swegon INSIDE for predictive maintenance and equipment monitoring, energy efficiency upgrades and refurbishments, or product replacements where it’s no longer a sound decision to refurbish equipment.
End users being able to understand and proactively analyse their indoor climate solutions helps ensure the operation of their environments is both energy-efficient and reliable. With digital tools, people can visualise the invisible, and adjust their indoor climate comfort levels, allowing them to be at their best today and tomorrow.
By utilising specialist know how, customers will reduce the risk of time consuming mistakes that can often add extra expenses to a projects and systems. Correct thinking is imperative from the offset, as well as receiving support throughout installation, commissioning and operation to ensure the optimal function and operating economy for your indoor climate system, year in and year out.
In summary, poorly maintained HVAC equipment can have significant impacts on building energy use, operation costs, and occupant comfort and health. Regular maintenance and cleaning of HVAC systems can help prevent these issues, and building owners should prioritise these tasks to ensure optimal system performance and efficiency.
