If your HVAC system has been installed by a reputable company, the amount of issues you need to worry about are significantly reduced. However, there are a number of things everyone has to think about from time-to-time – and those are leaks in the HVAC piping.
If such leaks are not fixed promptly, the effect will show up on your next energy bill and result in reduced indoor air comfort. Additionally, raising the thermostat operation level tends to increase your carbon footprint, which isn’t good for the environment.
Commercial Air Conditioning: Identifying the Problems
There are some best practices that are geared towards protecting your HVAC system. These basic maintenance tips work just as well for the homeowner as they do for commercial air conditioning needs.
First of all, make sure the room containing the air conditioner is adequately sealed off from both the outside world and other rooms inside the residence. Not only does this ensure that the intended room receives most of the conditioned air, it reduces how hard your climate control system has to work and saves you money.
As for DIY maintenance, you can find leaks by the obvious method: run your hand along the points where the most airflow is present. Even if it’s a small rip or hole, the amount of treated air being expelled will be quite how in this region and you should have no problem feeling it.
The first order of business should be sealing the tears to reduce your energy output and prolong the lifetime of the air conditioner. This requires the right type of sealant; although duct tape might seem like a good idea – it’s NOT. Your air conditioning unit will reach temperatures that compromise the structural integrity of duct tape, so opt for aluminum sealant. This material holds up well to the temperature extremes, and could last a century under the strain. Basically, aluminum sealant outlasts the commercial air conditioning unit, itself, many times over. Permagum or silicone also works well.
If it seems like a daunting job, commercial HVAC contractors are readily available and whatever sealing job they undertake will pay for itself within the year by saving your system from operating under so much strain for so little return.
Preventing Leaks in Commercial Air Conditioning
This is the first part of DIY maintenance: minimizing the occurrence of leaks in the first place. This is accomplished by staying true to a regular maintenance schedule. Not only can the experts anticipate problems right when they start to appear during one of these visits, but it will be much less costly to stop the issues from blooming fully. Whether you’re a homeowner or business owner, these tips will help you manage your heating and cooling costs during the times of the year when you need them the most.
