Air Handlers Need To Be Cleaned
Robert Rizen
Vice President | Operations | Technical Trainer | Project Manager | Consulting | Business Coach
Have a look at the pictures, does this large supply air fan assembly need to be cleaned? Do you think the dirt has an impact on fan performance? Does the dirt have an impact on the cooling coils performance? Does the dirt affect the buildings indoor air quality?
The answers are absolutely YES! I have facilities people ask me all the time about this, i simply ask does this look clean to you? Would you want to breathe this? Their reply: this is how it always looks.......this it NOT acceptable!
The fan pictured is after the filter rack and before the cooling coils. The coils where heavily impacted with dirt/debris also. This is costing the facility in lost cubic feet per minute (CFM) as well as temperature control, chiller utilization and occupant comfort/complaints.
By having the entire air handler cleaned - supply air fan, return air fan, heating and cooling coils, filter compartment, fresh air box etc there is real verifiable energy savings to you. We have proven it time and time again by having a 3rd party test these systems before and after cleaning.
Impacted coils are a real problem that is ongoing. Before you get to the time where you need deep restorative cleaning of the coil, simply cleaning it on a schedule could alleviate this. Same goes for the entire air handling unit. Dirty fans and drive assemblies add to the problems.
Inspect your air handlers yearly at the very least ( in some settings more than that) and take action to clean them before there is a 1/4" buildup on everything!
We clean and refurbish air handlers- feel free to contact me.
Vice President | Operations | Technical Trainer | Project Manager | Consulting | Business Coach
7 年Robert McClary on this project we did not do before and after measurements.
Commercial Real Estate Asset Management
7 年If you have verified the efficiency improvements, what are they and why didn't you state them?
Straight Forward, Simple & Affordable Timber Buildings and Timber Construction Services.
7 年Annually is better than not at all but is nowhere frequent enough, especially if the return air in drawing from an industry envirnment with possible dust or residue in the air. Take the Food Industry, With just the very nature of food ingredients or residue in the air leads to air handling unit soiling. That is not to mention the bacteria, mould, and other issues. The other thing would be if there is that condition/level of un-cleanliness in the air handling unit, there is highly likely to be the same in the ducting. and is pointed out in another comment, the airtightness, and working condition should be checked and any remdial action instigated Air handling and ducting hygiene should be covered in all installations on a cleaning regime. These tasks should be mandatory.
Critical Operations Evangelist: Director of Training JLL Data Centers This is the Way, So it shall be done…
7 年Anuually is really not enough. Quarterly inspections should be the norm. Efficiency issues aside....don't show this pic to my spouse. She would refuse to enter that facility knowing she is breathing air that has so much dirt and debris in it. Lol
Engineering Supervisor New York Region at Cushman & Wakefield
7 年Air filters should be changed and gaps aerosealed to minimize this!