Bob and Tim were on their way to a no cooling call at a commercial building. When they arrived, they talked to the building manager and checked the thermostat. It was set at 72°F but the thermometer was reading 78°. Tim said, “The fan is running, so there is control voltage and the thermostat seems to be calling for cooling.”
A newly published guideline from ASHRAE grants facility managers and building operating staff a foundation on which to improve performance of all buildings.
Bob and Tim were just finishing a service contract call when they were contacted by the dispatcher about a no cooling call at a new installation at a small retail store. The weather was unusually warm for this time of the year.
Tour & Andersson (TA) has announced the 2012 schedule for its TA Hydronic College seminars “The Three Hydronic Conditions” and “Investment and Energy Savings in Variable Flow Systems.” The company said the 2012 schedule brings the seminars into a number of new cities.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has announced a newly published guideline, ASHRAE Guideline 32-2012, Sustainable, High Performance Operation and Maintenance, that the organization says provides guidance on optimizing the operation and maintenance of buildings.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has announced the extension of its HVAC Business Partners Program, which provides training and support to HVAC contractors to use advanced diagnostic tools as part of national standards for quality maintenance of rooftop units.
Some people say that the compressor is the key component, or heart, of an air conditioning system. And like the human heart, the compressor must be kept in tip-top condition to run the system efficiently.
Some of the most common problems and solutions for smooth compressor operation can be found in training materials and on-the-job experience. There is also another method for educating HVAC contractors and service technicians — getting answers straight from the manufacturers.
Although overall standards of refrigeration maintenance remain high, at many facilities there is still room for improvement. Upgrading your company’s rotating-equipment maintenance procedures and eliminating unsound practices will help reduce the risk of failures that can lead to process shutdowns or spoilage of refrigerated product.
