4 Ways to Make the Smart Building Case to the C-Suite Enhance Building Performance: Aesthetics with the Right Shades 5 Reasons to Consider License Plate Cameras How To Stay Safe During An Electrical Fire Get featured on Buildings Buzz! Contact Keith Evanson for more information. In 2012, only about 63% of commercial buildings attempted to heat 100% of their floorspace while about 91% of commercial buildings attempted to cool 100% of their floorspace, according to the EIA. In order to effectively do this, your HVAC unit has to be just the right size – not too big and not too small. When shopping for a new HVAC unit, the common misconception is that “bigger is better.” It should be common knowledge that an air conditioner or furnace that is too small won't keep your employees, guests, and/or tenants comfortable, but many people find it hard to believe that a unit that is too big will have adverse effects as well. Air-conditioners work to cool the air;

It may come as a surprise though that they also have a second job description: to remove moisture from the room. When the A/C takes in warm, moist air it passes over an evaporator coil that condenses the moisture. This moisture then collects on the coil before it is evacuated from the system (and ultimately your building) via a drain. If an HVAC system is too big, it will cycle too quickly, thus not allowing enough time for the air to process and evaporate, leaving you with cool but uncomfortably humid rooms.portable ac units made in usa Increased Wear and Tearac unit for grow room Because an HVAC system that is too big won't adequately remove moisture from the rooms, the obvious remedy is to go with a unit on the smaller side. ge small ac unitUnfortunately, an air conditioner or heater that is too small for your building will have longer cycle times which means all the components that are used to handle the air and deliver it through each floor will be working more frequently.

Just like an automobile that generally lasts longer the less you drive it, those HVAC components under the stress of a heavy workload will start to fail earlier. This, unfortunately, has a ripple down effect as other parts start to overcompensate for those that are going bad. In the end, you're lucky to see half of the expected 15-20 year lifespan and will quickly realize this system is more expensive than any other building maintenance cost simply because of a poor installation. Along the same lines of increased wear and tear from frequent cycling, an HVAC system that runs longer is using more energy. This results in higher utility bills or increased fuel consumption which puts another huge dent in your wallet. Generally an HVAC system that’s too small only offers two options: either pay more to be comfortable, or dress accordingly and have meetings off-site. Finding the Right Size Unit There will always be some guesswork involved in finding the perfect sized unit, but it's not rocket science.

Generally, a 1 ton HVAC unit can heat or cool anywhere between 500-800 square feet. By doing the math, you can measure your square footage and find the associated sized unit that you need. Commercial HVAC systems have such a wide range of sizes available. Accurately estimating the size of the unit has to take into account dozens of factors, such as: How many buildings do you have? How large are the rooms? How insulated is your building? What materials were used? What kind of floors do you use? Are your windows/doors open a lot? These are just a few of the factors. An HVAC company almost always has someone who specifically does load calculations. In order to receive the most accurate size, you’ll want to talk with them and provide all of the information they need. The more accurate the sizing, the more efficient (both for cost and comfort) your unit will be. You can also use this method to find out if your unit is too small or too big now. If it is, it could explain other unexplained symptoms, like high energy bills, that you’ve been experiencing since installation.

How You Can Help Yourself Even if you find what you think is the properly sized HVAC unit, there are still some important pieces of the puzzle to put together for perfect energy utilization. For example, it's imperative that all window and door gaps are properly sealed and that outside walls have adequate insulation. Upgrades such as adding or upgrading building insulation to the latest codes and standards represent costs at first, but pay themselves off in lower utility bills and less wear and tear on the A/C and furnace, ultimately saving you money. Carl Taylor is an associate of Comfort Pro.Furnace not performing up to snuff this winter? Before you call in a furnace repair company, go through these 9 troubleshooting tasks to see if you can uncover the problem yourself. “This sounds obvious, but it’s true: A lot of people don’t have their thermostat set right,” says Bobby DiFulgentiz, director of product management for Lennox International. Double-check that the thermostat is set correctly.

The switch can easily get moved—say, during dusting. DiFulgentiz also advises to make sure the set point is at a temperature that will actually turn on the furnace. Check your filter for obvious dirt. Don’t try to skimp by cleaning and reusing cheap hardware-store filters, says Mike Bonner, at Gray Furnace Man. They have been sprayed with an oil that catches dirt, and once saturated they are no longer effective. “I recommend that homeowners replace their filters once a month,” says Bonner. “A monthly routine will be much easier to remember than every two months—and it’s that important.” Some thermostats are wired to the home’s electrical system, while others use batteries. How is yours powered? Sometimes those that use batteries will flash a low-battery symbol when they need a replacement, but the signal often goes unnoticed, says Bonner. Do You Have Juice? You need to know if the furnace is getting electricity, so check. Most thermostats have a switch for the fan that says either “On” or “Auto” (which means that the fan turns on when the equipment comes on).

Throw the switch to “On.” “If the fan comes on, then you know you’ve got power to the furnace. If it doesn’t, you know you’ve got other problems,” Bonner says. Look at the Circuit Breaker Still haven’t found the problem? Go to your breaker panel and look for the circuit that controls the furnace. “You’re looking for the one switch that seems in a different position from all the others,” says Bonner. “To fix it, throw it all the way off, then back on.” Furnaces have another switch that often looks like a regular light switch. It can be located either on the unit or on a wall nearby. Often this switch is unlabeled. If installed correctly, the switch in the up position is “On.” Unfortunately, this switch can sometimes be mistaken for a light switch and be accidentally turned off. Throw this switch and give it a few minutes, as some furnaces have a few minutes’ delay. Furnaces built after 1990 have a tiny window where a light shows through.

That light can flash a code to help you know what’s going on. If you’ve flipped the furnace switch off, then back on, note the sequence of the flashing light. Then open the furnace’s access panels. Inside one will be a key that tells you what the code means. That meaning will be useful information to tell a technician if the furnace still won’t start after you replace the panels. “If your furnace has a pilot light—anything less than 20 years old won’t—there are instructions in your owner’s manual for how to relight the pilot,” says Bonner. A modestly capable homeowner should be able to do it. You’re dealing with fire, however, so don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with. Check the Gas Valve If all else fails, check the furnace’s gas valve to make sure that it hasn’t somehow been turned to the “Off ” position. Any gas furnace has a gas cock, or valve, that has to be located within six feet of the furnace, Bonner says. This is usually never touched, but you could check it.

Another way to double-check: If you have more than one gas appliance, find out if it’s working. If it is, you know that the gas line into the home is OK. So when should you give up troubleshooting your furnace yourself and call in the cavalry? That point varies for every homeowner. “When you get uncomfortable, call somebody,” Bonner says. For more about appliances, check out: Trending Now: Pellet Stoves Bob Vila PER Week The latest in news, tips, & inspiration delivered right to your inbox. 13 Home Improvements That Are Illegal to DIY 20 Insanely Easy 60-Minute Home Improvements10 Natural Ways to Make Your Home Critter-Free 22 Tiny Houses We Love WHAT DO YOU NEED HELP WITH? 14 Mistakes Homeowners Make Every Fall 7 Super Simple Ways to Make Your House Smell Fresh 10 Ways to Buy Better Curb Appeal for Under $50 17 Parts of Your Home You Never Knew Had Names Organize Your Life with 12 Dollar-Store Buys 15 Ideas to Steal from Real People's Kitchens