Air handlers are not overly complicated pieces of equipment.
Air handlers are not overly complicated pieces of equipment. However, many building owners and property managers in charge of making decisions related to their maintenance might not be able to understand what the problem is whenever something goes wrong. That’s why it’s essential for executives and other top-level businesspeople to learn as much as possible about these machines.
Mixing Air
Indoor air quality determines how breathable the air is inside the building. Stale, musty air is as unpleasant as it sounds. Despite the potential for evacuation problems in the event of a fire, some buildings feature windows that cannot open. This design flaw presents a problem when it comes to injecting fresh air into the building. Air handlers can bring in air from outside and treat it to help improve the IAQ of the building; it does this through a component known as the mixing chamber.
Blowing Air
Once the fresh air cools down, it must be distributed throughout the floors and hallways to reach everyone who can benefit from it. The blower motor is an indispensable piece of the puzzle that needs as much inspection and maintenance as the ducts and thermostats do. The blowers in air handlers might only run at a single, fixed speed – or it could run at many different rates as programmed by the end user. Variable frequency drives are becoming increasingly widespread and can help ease the strain on the rooftop HVAC unless there are multiple air handlers assigned to the structure. Fans can help return air, but can quickly fall out of alignment, which means that there will be a higher degree of instability and noise as a result. Plus, the air won’t flow as well, which calls for even more maintenance than initially expected.
Handling Controls
Air handlers rely on many different control systems to remain operational. Temperature sensors, humidity detectors, actuators, motivators, switches, and control interfaces are all examples of handling controls. Without controls, the building’s occupants can’t make changes to the system and adjust comfort levels as needed during the increasingly hotter days of spring and summer, which will occasionally see days that are cold, windy, and rainy – all of which put a strain on the commercial HVAC unit.
Crockett Facilities Can Help!
Crockett Facilities Services, Inc. (CFSI) is committed to helping building owners, property managers, engineers, and facility professionals lower their operating expenses through HVAC preventive maintenance. We can develop a cost-effective, customized preventive maintenance plan for your commercial building that will provide you with peace of mind, improved comfort, and energy savings.
To learn more about the importance of HVAC Preventive Maintenance, please contact us at 202.600.2787 or mford@crockett-facilities.com. Our PM contract customers receive priority service with 24/7 emergency service in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!