Building Management Hawaii August/September - (Page 7)

Why Regular HVAC Inspections Matter As temperatures soar, is your building's HVAC system ready to revolt? By Brett Alexander-Estes W ith summer's heat and humidity already bearing down on the Islands, one Hawaii mechanical engineer recommends that building managers conduct thorough inspections of their HVAC systems-and the sooner, the better. Signs that your HVAC system may be deteriorating can range from higher energy costs, poor filtration and microbial growth to reduced air circulation and poor air quality. Zachary Twogood, principal building scientist and professional engineer at Chelsea Group Ltd., warns that "deferring inspection and maintenance of your HVAC system and other energy-producing equipment is like sweeping the dirt under the rug. By avoiding the problems, you're simply making it www.buildingmanagementhawaii.com worse, until it becomes so large that it is now a burden to deal with." This burden is also often increased by the age of an HVAC system. According to a leading Island HVAC executive, many of Hawaii's HVAC systems represent a mature market. He notes that adding the greater heat and humidity of summer weather to deferred maintenance in an older HVAC system will create more serious deterioration and greater energy costs-problems that can apprear three to six months after a scheduled maintenance treatment has been skipped. Since 2007, those problems have been seen more frequently as tough economic times have accelerated management turnover and upended maintenance schedules. A Shutdown Story Rickey Cunningham, executive director at Cunningham's Air Systems Cleaning Specialists, remembers what happened when one property's established HVAC maintenance schedule was ignored by a new management team. "The coils became impacted with dirt," Cunningham says. "Because air flow was restricted, the coils froze over, causing a leak in the system and releasing R22 refrigerant into the air. The system had to be shut down and emergency repairs scheduled. The emergency technician had to shut off power to the unit and recover the remaining refrigerant from the system to stop the release into the atmosphere." The HVAC system's coils had to be replaced, he adds. BMH August-September 2014 7 http://www.buildingmanagementhawaii.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building Management Hawaii August/September

Roofing Warranties: Read Them
Heeding Pacific Cyclone Warnings
Eco-friendly Metal Roofing
Cool Roofing Technology
When Good Pipes Go Bad
Why Cast Iron Pipes Fail
Is Your Sewer Squeaky Clean?
Water Heaters Versus Boilers
Preventing Backflow
Safeguarding Your Building’s Water
Safeguarding Your Building’s Water
Why Regular HVAC Inspections Matter
Why Regular HVAC Inspections Matter
Industry News
Industry News
On Site: A Well-Run Association
On Site: A Well-Run Association

Building Management Hawaii August/September