Read on for some summer HVAC tips that can help prepare you for when the hot weather hits the Greater Seattle Region.

Change the Air Filters

Air filters should be changed regularly. The air filters on your HVAC system are what keep the dirt and debris from entering the air from your system. Over time, they can become clogged, making it harder for the system to adequately filter the air. This can lead to other major problems. To be on the safe side, you should check your air filter every month to make sure it is still clean. And, you should change the air filter out every three months, at a minimum.

Clean Your HVAC System, Inside and Out

Clean the outdoor portion of your system by removing debris that surrounds it. You can do this by cutting tree limbs or bushes that are too close, or you can cover the system. Remove dust, dirt, and other debris as well. As for the indoor unit, you should have it cleaned by a professional HVAC technician. The ductwork will also need to be cleaned. This is the portion of the unit that moves the air throughout the system and into your building. Ductwork is especially significant in a commercial building, as it is extensive and can run through the entire building and affects air distribution.

Update Your Technology

On a simple end, this means having a programmable or smart thermostat. You could also consider direct digital control technology (DDC). This not only helps maintain the systems throughout your building but can help save money. How? It is more energy-efficient. You can easily change the climate controls throughout the facility. With DDC systems from Daikin, the HVAC unit is also installed with sensors to alerts you to any issues. Technology doesn’t just apply to the HVAC system controls itself either. As a facility manager, you can also reduce heating from updated all lighting to LED. In addition, roof-top solar power is something to consider. Retrofitting a PV system onto a commercial building not only has paybacks but can reduce the demand on your HVAC system overall.

Regular Maintenance

In the end, regular maintenance is the best way to keep your HVAC system running properly. This helps to ensure you have a functioning system. Throughout Skagit, Whatcom, Snohomish counties, summer can have weeks in the high ’80s. It is not the time you want your A/C unit to have problems. A skilled technician can inspect and catch those problems that could get in the way of cooling your building in the future. Overall, scheduled maintenance is the best way to manage your system’s efficiency.  At Nordic Temperature Control, we schedule our commercial HVAC clients on either a monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual maintenance program based on your building’s exact needs.

Consider having your HVAC system reviewed by a trained technician before the summer heat rolls in throughout the Pacific Northwest. If you want Nordic Temperature Control to take a look at your office’s HVAC system, contact us today to schedule a maintenance visit.

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Adjust Thermostat for Daylight Saving Time

Before doing anything else, make sure your thermostat settings are consistent with the change brought about by DST, which takes place at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 8th, 2020. Adjust them forward by an hour so your furnace and air conditioner will be in sync with the new time we must observe until November 1st.

Dust Floor Registers and Air Vents

Vacuum the nooks and crannies of these air passages. These areas are notorious for all kinds of buildup that can pollute the indoor air. To rid them of contaminants, including dust and pet dander, wash their surfaces with soapy water.

Normally, using a sponge would suffice to render them squeaky-clean. But if you encounter stubborn grime, you may need a tougher tool. A butter knife covered with a rag is useful in removing filth and accessing debris trapped in tight spaces. Old toothbrushes work well, also.

Change the Air Filter

Install a new filter to avoid performance problems with your air conditioner in preparation for the cooling season. As a general rule, you should change a one-inch filter once every one to three months, though pet owners may want to clean or replace theirs more often. Some thicker filters may not require replacement for one year.

Schedule Air Duct Cleaning

To be absolutely certain that your indoor air quality remains good throughout the spring, arrange an air duct cleaning session with a qualified Nordic technician. During our professional duct cleaning service, all contaminants and microorganisms are removed from your forced-air system.

Air Purification Solutions

If you haven’t yet, incorporate whole-home air purification into your heating and cooling units. We can install hospital-grade air purifiers that remove viruses, bacteria, and mold while minimizing the number of allergens circulating through your house via the ductwork. Reme Halo literally zaps the contaminants out of the air and helps keep your air conditioning coil clean as a bonus.

Your Trusted HVAC Contractors

Rest assured that Nordic Temperature Control’s maintenance and tune-ups are designed to help you prevent heating and cooling problems this Spring season. During annual maintenance and tune-up service, all of the components of your unit are inspected and serviced so they operate at peak efficiency. Any elements requiring repair or replacement will be brought to your attention.

As a client of Nordic Temperature Control, rest assure that our key partnerships with HVAC industry leaders allow us to continually design and deliver high performing, cutting-edge heating and cooling systems.  Schedule your service today!

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What is an HVAC System?

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning is the technology of indoor and vehicular environmental comfort. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality.

HVAC is an important part of residential structures such as single family homes, apartment buildings, hotels and senior living facilities, medium to large industrial and office buildings such as skyscrapers and hospitals, vehicles such as cars, trains, airplanes, ships and submarines, and in marine environments, where safe and healthy building conditions are regulated with respect to temperature and humidity, using fresh air from outdoors.

How Can Temperature Increase Productivity in Your Office?

Let’s face it — a lot of the time your employees spend at work may not be very productive. Here are some unproductive things your employees may be spending their time on in the office:

• Replying, sending, and sorting emails
• Sharing funny emails/GIFs
• Daydreaming in meetings
• Talking with co-workers
• Taking unnecessary or longer breaks than they are allowed

Several studies have also found that productivity is affected by the surrounding temperature of the office — something you want to get right with all the other distractions you may not be able to control!

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that temperature definitely does affect your employees’ creativity. In 2009, 22% of employee respondents to a CareerBuilder survey said when their office was too hot they found it difficult to concentrate. In the same study, 27% of workers said their workplace was too warm, 19% said it was too cold, and 54% said it was just right.

That means that a little over half the offices in the world are the wrong temperature for employees to be the most productive. Is your office one of them?

So, what is the magic temperature for the best employee and office productivity? A study published by the Helsinki University of Technology in Finland and Berkeley Lab’s Energy Technologies Area of California found that workplace performance increases when the office temperature is between 69.8 and 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit, or 21 and 22 degrees Celsius. In addition, the study found that the temperature with the highest productivity was 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 22 degrees Celsius.

Another study conducted by Cornell University found that cold workers make more typing errors and increase labor cost by 10%. When the office temperature increased from 68 degrees to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, typing errors decreased by 44% and typing output increased by 150%! Those are big numbers.

Great workplaces are a product of many factors. They require organized policies, a positive work culture, and hardworking employees. However, we often overlook that the environment plays a huge role in how we operate.

So the next time you adjust the thermostat, think about the office productivity levels first — and keep the temperature hovering around 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Your employees and your business will thank you!

If you want Nordic Temperature Control to take a look at your office’s thermostat, contact us today to a scheduled service visit.

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However, Spring is also the worst time of year for your allergies. Running around in the sunshine is all well and good, but it sure can make you sniffle and sneeze!

You might expect to escape the pollen when you get inside thinking the air in your house will be much better! Well, that’s not always the case. If you’re one of the fifty million North Americans who suffers from allergies, you’ll know that when you get inside, things don’t always improve. To make matters worse, you spend a lot more time indoors than outside (in fact, on average, three-quarters of your time is going to be spent indoors!). Well, Nordic Temperature Control has a few solutions you might like to consider for a happier Springtime and a year of better air quality!

First, we can come out and check your filtration system.  This basic part of your home comfort system filters out the particles that cause you problems. If you have inexpensive disposable filters, we can install better-quality, or even special media air filters for you. If you have a good filtration system, we can check to see if anything needs replacing.

The wrong kind of filter can cause your whole cooling system to underperform, and we can help you figure that out too.  Depending on the circumstances, we might recommend a deep-pleated media air filters or an electronic air cleaner. Each has its best application and each can effectively remove allergens and particulates from the air stream.

Another option is an Ultraviolet Irradiation Systems by Coleman®, which literally zaps the contaminants out of the air and helps keep your air conditioning coil clean as a bonus.

Basically, if you want to keep your allergy problems outdoors, give the experts a call at Nordic Temperature Control. During the full inspection, our trained technicians see where your system could be improved and help you fight the bugs, bacteria, and pollen. We’re here to help you improve your home comfort 24/7!

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Condenser Coil Plays a Key Role in Your HVAC System

To understand why clean condenser coils are important, it helps to understand how the system works. Employing the principle of refrigeration, a standard central air system has an indoor air handler, containing a fan and evaporator coil, and an outside compressor/condenser unit.

As the refrigerant solution changes from a liquid to a gas in the evaporator coil, it extracts heat energy from the indoor air, which results in cool air. The refrigerant then transfers the heat outside where it’s expelled from the condenser coil into the outdoor air, with the help of the compressor and fan.

Both coils must be clean in order to properly complete the heat-exchange process. If the release and removal of heat energy, outside and inside respectively, is restricted by dirty coils, the system must work longer and harder. You’ll lose efficiency, utility bills will go up, and your HVAC system may eventually break down.

Cleaning Evaporator Coils

If you’re good with machinery, you may try cleaning the evaporator coil. A combination of blowing and brushing is the preferred method, however, our technicians utilize a biodegradable foaming cleaner which we find works the best to loosen up the debris.

Compressed air can be blown across the condenser coil, moving from the cleaner to the dirtier side. If you’re using compressed air, avoid damaging the fins. Consistent airflow across the coil will loosen grime and dust without blowing it farther into the fins. Brush cleaning also may be necessary, though avoid forcing the issue or using a hard-wire brush that might damage fins or coils.

Monthly Cost Savings

We still have customers who don’t believe washing coils is important. Now, whenever we have this issue come up I’ll send these pictures. This unit was drawing 15% more amps before washing, the supply air temperature was 64 instead of 58, and the compressor was overheating. Remember, dirty units = increased energy costs, decreased cooling performance, and more frequent repairs. Even when the coils are not this dramatic the technician can see results from washing coils. A coil can look clean but have dirt deep inside it. The technician can tell based on refrigerant pressures and the amperage of motors. So don’t always count on such dramatic pictures but do trust your technician when they tell you the coils need to be cleaned. They are trying to save you money!

Exceeding HVAC Industry Standards

Energy efficiency in the HVAC industry comfort starts with great system design, using energy star rated products, and installing the system with expert craftsmanship. As a client of Nordic Temperature Control, rest assure that our key partnerships with industry leaders allow us to continually design and deliver high performing, cutting-edge heating and cooling systems.

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