Is Your Business Wasting Energy With These Common HVAC Mistakes?

Businesses don’t always recognize how much heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) energy they waste annually. This is typically due to common mistakes easily remedied and result in an improved bottom line. Even though some of the mistakes may seem insignificant, a quick correction can prove a large energy-and-money savings at the end of the year. Quality Heating & Cooling technicians witness common mistakes at businesses regularly and help owners adjust, ultimately putting money back where it belongs––in the owners’ pockets. Let them help you do the same!

Common Commercial HVAC Mistakes

Here’s a list of some of the most common mistakes our HVAC technicians see in Boise, ID, at both small and large businesses alike. Take an inventory at your business to see if any of these look familiar:

Overheating or overcooling your building.

You may have your heat or air conditioning turned up too high, resulting in wasted energy. Signs this is happening may be employees using fans or space heaters to control personal-area temperatures or propping windows or exterior doors open to compensate. Think about setting temperatures a couple degrees either lower or higher than you think is what’s needed and that number is usually more than adequate and will save you money.

Failing to install and utilize programmable or WiFi thermostats.

By programming your actual heating and cooling needs, instead of leaving one temperature on the thermostat 24/7, you can turn your heating and cooling down when employees leave for the night and the weekend. This saves both HVAC and electrical energy. Also, consider installing locking devices to maintain your desired temperature settings.

Skipping changing your system’s filters.

The furnace and air-conditioning system’s filters need to be checked and changed on a regular basis for best efficiency and preventing damage to your system. The time frame for filter changes should be addressed by a professional HVAC technician to ascertain what timing is best, based on your business. A regular maintenance program will help with this as well.

Thinking a preventive maintenance program is a waste of money.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions that our technicians see and couldn’t be farther from the truth. A regular maintenance program allows technicians to keep your system in good working order and detect issues while they’re still small. This prevents your business from having bigger problems or needing to replace your system unnecessarily early because something was neglected or unnoticed by you. This applies to an energy audit as well. Your business should have one to ensure your business is using energy efficiently.

Ignoring needed HVAC repairs when they first occur.

This mistake leads to nothing but more money spent at the end of the road. Ignoring a repair only leads to a bigger repair and/or damage to your HVAC system. If an employee notices a strange smell, an unusual noise, a new draft, or a leak somewhere, get it checked immediately by a professional technician. The problem more often than not will not disappear and will simply develop into a costly, bigger problem for your business.

Putting off upgrading to energy-efficient or sorely needed new equipment.

Of course investing in new equipment costs money. However, upgrading when your system is on its last leg or your equipment isn’t energy efficient is really saving you money in the long run. All the wasted energy your present equipment is spending is costing you more than if you simply invested in the needed equipment. Over the years you’ll see a nice return on your investment.

Not controlling direct sunlight with blinds or solar screen shades.

Use the sun to its full advantage to help with your heating and cooling costs. During the warmer months, block the sun’s direct heat coming through the windows. Then in the cooler months, unobstructed windows can help with solar heat given from sunlight. The sun can be your business’s energy friend.

According to experts, commercial buildings account for almost 40 percent of U.S. energy consumption¹. With this much expended energy, it’s definitely worthwhile to evaluate if all of it’s being used efficiently and not being wasted. Wasted energy means wasted money. That’s something businesses cannot afford to do. Call Quality Heating & Cooling at 208-377-3555 today to schedule an appointment for one of our highly qualified technicians to visit your business and help you save money!