Winterizing your commercial building

12/5/2018 (Permalink)

Here are some tips for getting your commercial building ready for the winter months:

Inspect Heating Systems

Maintaining your heating system should be a top priority as the weather cools, obviously. Inspect the system regularly, and create a written plan to outline what maintenance tasks should be addressed daily, weekly, monthly and annually. This way, you have a schedule in place to keep  

Furnaces and rooftop units also should be examined. Repair cracks in heat exchangers to avoid the risk of leaking poisonous carbon dioxide into your building. Consider replacing furnaces older than 10 years, as the efficiency ratings for newer equipment can exceed that of older equipment by 40 percent or more.

Calibrate Thermostats / Reduce Set Points

Your building’s thermostats present opportunities for energy savings. Don't let them intimidate you! First, calibrate thermostats, which will structure your heating systems to operate more efficiently. Additionally, consider lowering the heating set point in your building a few degrees. Studies show utility costs drop by an average of one percent for every degree lowered. Just don't make it so cool that employees bring in a truckload of space heaters, which can inflate energy costs. 

Change Air Filters

Change air filters in your system. Dirty air filters slow down air flow, making your system work harder, which leads to increased energy use and shortened equipment life cycles. More seriously, dirty filters also can have a negative impact on your building’s indoor air quality and, in turn, its occupants. Replace filters based upon the procedure and frequency guidelines of the filter and HVAC manufacturer.