Changing seasons have a habit of bringing system issues to the surface. For many parts of the U.S., HVAC systems have been running constantly to cool structures with very few opportunities to economize. At this time, chillers are loaded, and boilers are not a large focus. Now is the time to preemptively investigate customers’ buildings. This is also the last opportunity to fix or troubleshoot certain building issues concerning cooling efficiency or humidity control as the fall, for many places will bring drier air. Let us take a look at some things to consider as we move into our next season, but, first, make sure the equipment is being trended. There is nothing worse than trying to investigate a new issue only to learn there is no baseline to previously compare to.
System control is only as reliable as its sensors. Now is a great time to test outside air dampers and confirm temp and humidity sensors are reading accurately. If unable to physically be at the units, a simple mixed-air equation can help this process. Mixed-air percentage can be calculated as: