How commercial air conditioning units are maintained at the world's top hotels

 Air conditioning systems remain the largest consumers of energy in commercial buildings, especially in the world’s top hotels where they have become a necessity. Proper HVAC systems are functional in hotels throughout the year to help regulate temperatures of the rooms lodgers feel comfortable with. The maintenance staff can play a fundamental role in the upkeep and efficient running of the AC systems in a hotel, which in turn also reduces power consumption and energy costs. If you do not know how AC systems are maintained in commercial properties, here is a list of things carried out.

Air Conditioner Filters

Air filters are arguably one of the most important components of an air conditioning system and you need them to be in a good condition for the air to flow efficiently through your system. Most of the world’s top hotels are installed with a central air conditioning system and their filters are generally located somewhere along the return duct's length.  Dust, dirt, and other small particles are the common reasons for blocked and dirty filters. Clogged filters not only reduce the amount of airflow, significantly lowering the air conditioning system’s efficiency but also deposit dirt directly into the evaporator coil, impairing the coil’s capacity to absorb heat. 

The filters are routinely checked and cleaned by the hotel’s room maintenance staff. If the hotel operates in dusty or “dirty” conditions or areas, such as production or construction sites, the need to clean the filters becomes more crucial. Replacing a clogged filter lowers the air conditioner’s energy consumption by around 10%.

Checking & Cleaning Drainage Lines

Both air conditioners and furnaces create water throughout the operation and this water needs to be funneled out of the building efficiently to avoid structural damage to the property. This condensation, typically, is deposited into a collection tray through drainage lines from where it evaporates into the air naturally. Over time this tray can attract a host of microbes such as mold, algae, and bacteria, producing by-products that can lead to system blockage. Additionally, if not emptied frequently, there are chances that the tray overflows, damaging the property. Therefore, it is important to carry out commercial air conditioning maintenance in Brisbane hotels to make sure that everything is working as required. 

Hotels pass a wire through the drain channels as clogged drainage lines prevent the air conditioner from reducing humidity in the rooms; the resulting excess moisture can discolor carpets and walls. Commercial hotel buildings also clear the drainage lines regularly to ensure that the condensate is evaporating as required and the collection pan is not overflowing.

Evaporating and Condenser coils

Condenser and evaporator coils of an air conditioning system are exposed to the air that circulates through them during operation. These coils collect dirt over their months and years of service as the air is not clean, meaning that fungi, mold, and dirt deposit on them gradually. This can have a significant toll on their working and efficiency. To avoid this problem, hotels check the evaporator coil every year and keep it clean as necessary. The dirt and debris sources near the condenser units are minimized because falling leaves, lawnmowers, dryer vents, and pollen plants are all sources of dirt. Meanwhile, the cleaning of the air conditioner coils can be done using a range of commercial products such as coil cleaners and pressurized air. Unlike the other tasks mentioned, hotel management prefers to leave this task for their annual commercial air conditioning maintenance in Brisbane.

Visual inspection of the system

Carrying out a visual inspection may seem obvious and common but it is far less common. Hotel managers and maintenance staff often notice small issues and fixes by scanning the basic components of the air conditioning system and thwart any potentially risky system failure. 

To carry out a visual inspection, hotel staff simply check for all major and minor components of the HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) system and look for any possible sign that something may be wrong which includes things like disconnected pipes, rust, leaks, and dirty refrigerant lines. Similarly, checking the vents is also easy to do: make sure that they are clear and free from anything that may cause a blockage such as sticks, leaves, and mold. Also, it is made sure that the heating and cooling appliances have a clearance of at least three feet. Any outside vegetation is also harmful to the air conditioning system so outside vegetation, especially pollen plants, are removed or trimmed as they are notorious for clogging up condensing units.

Professional Regular Maintenance

Commercial hotels recalibrate their HVAC (heating ventilating and Air conditioning) systems almost bi-annually, especially before winters and again before summers, in anticipation of a temperature change. Regular tune-ups serve to be a fantastic way to improve the health of commercial air conditioning systems. The professionals inspect every portion of the AC system to make sure that everything is functioning properly. The inspection pinpoints any potential repairs before they become costly and lubricate the delicate components of the furnace. During the maintenance, the coils are flushed, draining systems and draining pans are checked, blower compartments are vacuumed, voltage and refrigerant levels in the conditioning unit are checked and the heating equipment is serviced. Scheduling commercial air conditioning maintenance in Brisbane hotels allows the AC systems to provide the temperature needed without any necessary wear and tear.

Takeaway

In essence, the maintenance of an air conditioning system is most part taking care of the core components such as coils, filters, and drainage lines. Commercial buildings and hotels go a step further and hire professionals for more frequent checkups because their business in parts depends on the quality of their AC systems. What’s worse is if simple signs of repairs are ignored, they can turn up to be costly maneuvers in the long run. However, as long as ductwork and ventilation are controlled, hotel owners can expect lower energy bills-- who doesn’t love a little extra cash at the end of the month.

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