Prepare Your Work Environment for Winter:
Tips from BAULNE for a cold or not too cold season
Quebecers are renowned for being resilient and keeping their spirits high during the winter. Part of the reason for this is that we adapt to the winter season by preparing ourselves in the fall. The BAULNE team would like to share some tips with you so that you can face the cold season with peace of mind and comfort.
The work environment must be comfortable and welcoming for your employees. Every employer is eager to see his or her employees back in the office, to encourage interaction, build a corporate culture and be more efficient. However, any activity, event, or team lunch you have planned for them can quickly be cancelled or postponed if your heating system fails to cooperate on the day of your event.
Each type of heating equipment has its own particularities and needs. We have provided for you here a short list of equipment for which you may need to perform preventive maintenance before the first snowfall. This equipment is commonly found in commercial and industrial settings. In the event of a major breakdown or unplanned shutdown, they are difficult to repair during a snowstorm or intense cold. Keeping them in good working condition also means better control of your energy bill.
It is also important to ensure that your rooftop units are easy to access. A quick visit after a storm to clear away snow or ice allows your technician to do his job safely and efficiently.
Steam Boilers
A boiler has many critical components. Their proper operation has a direct impact on your energy consumption and the safety of your installations. The burner must be examined and adjusted by a specialist to ensure optimum combustion. Any leakage of combustion gases must be quickly detected and corrected to eliminate the risk of explosion. The combustion control system must be checked to ensure that the air/fuel ratio is optimal for your equipment. Too much air dilutes the combustion gases and reduces equipment performance. Conversely, too little air increases the risk of incomplete combustion, and therefore more carbon monoxide. Finally, checking the tightness of the joints once again ensures optimum air supply to the system. Learn more about commercial boilers here. Learn more about commercial boilers here.
Heat Exchangers
Heat exchangers use the heat available to heat a room or a fluid flowing in the opposite direction. Proper operation of these systems can result in substantial energy savings. It is also important to check the condition of the piping insulation. Damaged or missing insulation leads to losses and therefore higher energy consumption. Learn more about heat exchangers here.
Rooftop Units
Rooftop units are important components of your HVAC system. Ignoring their needs would be like neglecting to ensure that your car’s tires are in good condition at the start of winter. We make sure to change the filters, to prevent debris and dust from getting into your ducts. When they are clogged, the motor works unnecessarily to ensure efficiency and so your energy consumption is increased. We clean the inside of the unit and make sure it is airtight. This is to ensure that snow, ice, or black ice doesn’t damage the interior components. Belts are inspected and bearing components lubricated.
Air Ducts
Air ducts distribute warm air to keep rooms comfortable. The onset of winter is the ideal time to check all ducts to repair leaks and reduce losses.
Thermostats and Baseboard Heaters
It’s important to check that thermostats and baseboard heaters are working properly, to detect any faults. Simply increase the set points on thermostats and see if they send the appropriate command to the equipment covered. Testing baseboard heaters helps identify faulty units and eliminate fire hazards at the source.
From Operation to Optimization
Making sure your equipment works is important, but to make gains in energy efficiency, you need to analyze systems and optimize control parameters. Simple strategies can help you better control costs and consumption. One example is the use of room temperature control. This approach considers free heat sources (cooking appliances, lighting, sunlight, etc.), so you don’t have to run heating appliances unnecessarily.
Centralized control can also be used. This approach considers all the building’s needs, using a room thermostat and an outdoor temperature sensor. In this way, the system adapts to external conditions rather than waiting for occupants to act.
For more information on our energy optimization services, please visit:https://www.baulne.ca/en/energy-optimization-services/