Conserving Energy for Commercial HVAC in the Fall
We’re lucky to have relatively mild fall weather, with warmer days earlier in the season giving way to wonderfully cool temperatures as winter approaches. This should be a time when you can give the HVAC system in your office or commercial facility a break, but don’t totally ignore it or your energy bill. Saving energy in autumn still requires some action, and bad air quality from brushfires may affect what you can do.
Install and Use Ceiling Fans
First, temperatures in fall tend to be in the 70s. Much of the time, you can keep people in your business cool with powerful ceiling fans. These are much more economical than running the air conditioner in an office or store. There may be days when you want the air conditioning on, of course, but as the weeks go by, you’ll find more and more days where the breeze from a fan is enough to keep everyone comfortable.
If you don’t already have ceiling fans installed, now’s a great time to do that. The initial cost isn’t too high, and those fans will help you save both energy and money very quickly.
Keep Cleaning or Changing the Filters
If you can access the filter to your office or business’s HVAC system, keep cleaning or changing the filter on a regular basis. You might not be using the HVAC system as much in the fall, but on the days when you do, pollutants like pollen and dust can still land on the filter. Neglecting the filter leads to clogs and makes the HVAC work harder than it should. Mark days on a calendar if necessary to ensure that you clean or replace the filter.
Be Aware of Brushfire Risks
Brushfires are a risk year-round now, and this region tends to see major risks appear around June and July. But fires can still break out in autumn, and ash and smoke can be a real problem. They can make you feel ill and make your HVAC system work harder.
Filters clog easily, and falling ash can gather on the HVAC system’s exterior components. Windows and doors stay closed, so you need to run your heating and cooling system to keep everyone cool and help filter out pollutants that still manage to enter the building. If you do find yourself battling ashfall or other effects of brushfires, try to limit the amount of time you leave doors open, and clean or change the HVAC filters more frequently. Always change or clean them once more after the fires are out.
You’ll also want to have the HVAC system inspected and maintained properly, and fall is a good time to do that. For commercial HVAC service in Santa Barbara, CA, contact Crocker Refrigeration Heating & Air today.
