Improving Comfort (temperature) and Process (functionality) for your Business during the Summer Heat

Summer officially started on Saturday, June 20, 2020. But as most Kentuckians know, Summer temperatures usually arrive in May and usually extend to late September, sometimes longer. That means commercial and industrial cooling systems are extended as well as their Chillers and Cooling Towers are running continually for months for those using their systems for the comfort for their staff, customers, students and patients; and cooling systems used for process (whether for manufacturing or industrial plants) are in use all year round.

So if you have not already, now is the time for a full inspection of your Cooling Towers, Chillers, Roof-Top Unites, Packaged Heating & Air Units, Commercial HVAC/R systems, Make Up Air Units, and Chilled Water Coils. Why? If your Chiller or Cooling Tower needs to be replaced, it can take 8-10 weeks to order, ship and install replacement equipment from the manufacturer. That would be an extremely uncomfortable two or three months if you do not have a backup system. Call our staff to schedule your Preventative Maintenance (PM) on your cooling systems to prevent unwanted, uncomfortable and unproductive downtimes for your business.

What if your system fails during the heat of summer? If time is of the essence, there are stock chillers and roof-top cooling units that can be ordered and delivered in half the time, but they may not have all the bells and whistles, accessories, output, and capacity your business need, but can act as a temporary solution.

If we cannot find OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) matched parts or equipment replacements; for example, the part or system is no longer in production, than Comfort and Process Solution has connections with local resources that can special order custom-made parts or systems that fit their particular needs, space and usage. Our team will go in and measure the original equipment or parts that need to be replaced and special order the required items if we cannot find an OEM replacement. Granted, this can increase lead time anywhere from seven days to four weeks to receive and install the required part.

Oftentimes, system failures or inefficiencies require parts replacement, rather than a full-system replacement. Our team is well equipped to inspect, repair and replace Chilled Water Coils for your cooling systems, and can special order a custom-made coil if an OEM Coil is not available. Depending on the manufacturer, the part, the size and the complexity of the needed part or system, CPS Team will do everything we can to expedite your order and prioritize it’s installation when received.

So the point is, if you want a cool, comfortable and productive Summer for you, your staff, and your business, schedule your PM now of your entire cooling system so we can fully clean, inspect and discover any vulnerabilities to your system that can be addressed now to prevent downtime later.

CASE STUDY: Cooling Tower Installation in Floyd County

Comfort and Process Solutions replaced a commercial cooling tower that was nearly rusted out in Floyd County, Kentucky:

FAQs: Essential Components to your Cooling System & PM Checklist

Here’s a quick glossary of terms we use on a daily basis and may take for granted that our customers fully understand.

I. What is a cooling tower? A cooling tower is a specialized heat exchanger in which air and water are brought into direct contact with each other in order to reduce the water’s temperature. As this occurs, a small volume of water is evaporated, reducing the temperature of the water being circulated through the tower.

II. What is a chiller? A chiller is a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit component that’s responsible for keeping equipment cool. It’s able to accomplish this through the use of chilled water or fluid. The goal of the chiller is to remove heat from one area and release it in another area. The two types of chillers are Air-cooled and Water-cooled.

III. What is a chilled water coil? Chilled water coils also known as hydronic cooling coils are typically used to cool or remove moisture from air streams. The air to be cooled moves through the fins, and either water or an ethylene or propylene glycol solution move through the tubes. This is a type of heat exchanger mostly used in commercial and industrial air handler units.

IV. How can you improve efficiency and lengthen the lifespan of Chillers and Cooling towers? Simply stated, regularly scheduled Preventative Maintenance (occurring yearly or every six-months depending on usage) can increase optimal performance by:

• Inspect and clean the cooling coils, remove buildup and debris that have accumulated on the coils to prevent clogs and inefficient cool down of the refrigerant. Check for distortion in fins and signs of corrosion.
• Condenser coils should be inspected for leaks, corrosion, and areas of kinking or blockage.
• Condenser fans, with their belts and couplings, should be inspected for signs of wear or poor lubrication.
• Check condenser water for contaminants.
• Return and/or Fresh Air Dampers should be inspected for calibration, bearings, and lubrication.
• Now’s the Time for PM and Inspection of your Commercial Boiler

Now is the Time to schedule a PM of your Commercial Boiler

Since boilers used for comfort are not in use during the Summer, this is the perfect time to schedule a full inspection of your Commercial Boiler. During our Boiler PM, we clean, inspect and ensure optimal efficiency, performance and address any issues before they become a larger, more expensive repair or replacement cost and prevent costly downtime. Here are some items we accomplish during your Boiler Preventative Maintenance:

• Inspect, clean and repair the Tube and Vessel work
• Inspect and test fireside surfaces, refractory material, gaskets and valves.
• Inspect and test all safety valves.
• Recalibrate all operating controls.
• Overhaul and clean feed water pumps, condensate receives, electrical terminals.
• Check fuel oil levels and chimneys.

Comfort and Process Solutions are experienced, trained, and certified to inspect and repair your boiler’s tube and vessel work. We provide service and maintenance for all HVAC equipment. From VRF systems, rooftop units, boilers, chillers and fans, piping, refrigeration service to design & build, we are here to help. Give us a call for a job site evaluation of existing equipment, new install and/or replacement of equipment. [Contact us.]

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WE ARE OPEN and Ready to Serve Kentucky Businesses

Comfort and Process Solutions, as an essential business, have remained open through the current pandemic and we stay abreast of and continue to follow federal, state and local guidelines with a focus on keeping our customers and our technicians safe. With regular training, PPE usage, and encouragingsocial distancing, we have been able to stay open and serve our client’s commerical HVAC needs twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. We wish all a safe and healthy Summer!