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Why office air conditioning is important for your business
Our workplaces are getting more sophisticated, as are the technologies that keep them cool and comfortable. The number of employees working in offices and companies has increased by nearly 50% over the past two decades.
Every business owner, manager or employee knows that without a proper cooling system installed an office can become very hot very quickly.
How office air conditioning affects productivity in the UK
Here in the UK, we are known for our less than favourable weather, but from June to September we are more and more frequently having heatwaves, with temperatures not dropping by much at nighttime. A lot of our buildings are built to retain heat which means during those warmer nights the heat is not able to properly escape and cool the building for the next day.
With the optimum comfort zone for office workers being between 18–24ºC and humidity being between 40%-60%, it is important to make sure that your building accommodates those temperatures. The Facilities Management Journal (FMJ) has shown that the wrong office temperature could be costing UK businesses approximately £13 billion annually due to lost productivity.
The benefits of having air conditioning installed can potentially far outweigh its running and maintenance costs. A good working environment and ventilation can help boost or keep productivity levels high during the summer months.
How often do office air conditioners need to be serviced?
In most cases, an air conditioning system needs to be serviced every 6 months to two years depending on the type and size of the system. This is especially true of systems that are installed in the early to mid-1970s, because of their age and lack of proper maintenance.
On average, air conditioning systems lose about 5% of their overall efficiency each year. This can add up to unwanted extra costs in your energy bills as a result. Office air quality is especially important in cities, call centres and other populated communal areas.
A good air conditioning installation company will be able to provide maintenance and testing regularly, as well as provide 24/7 cover for emergencies. They will also be able to use and recommend energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions.
At TSS Facilities we also offer maintenance on equipment that has been installed by other air conditioning contractors.
How do I know when my air conditioner needs to be serviced?
There are a few tell-tale signs that are you’ll spot in your office air conditioning systems, as well as some hidden technical issues that will only be found from an engineer inspection:
- Any type of noises - rattling and humming
- Leaks and drips coming from any of the pipes or condensers
- Temperature not cooling as fast as it should be
- Temperature not cooling to the correct setting
- Average use -whether it is used seasonally or everyday should be considered
- The building environment itself -dust, dirt or other atmospheric conditions
- Size of the office and commercial area being increased
- Does it feel like fresh air is being circulated
What's included in an air conditioning service?
In order to limit the frequency of equipment breakdown and help avoid emergency call outs, we can offer tailor-made air conditioning regular maintenance packages. Naturally, if the equipment is regularly checked and adjusted for optimum efficiency, the possibility of failure owing to neglect is avoided. Plus it is more cost-effective for the client.
On a routine air conditioning maintenance schedule, our CFC and REFCOM approved engineers typically check the following:
- Isolate electrics and switch back on to see the operation of the plant is ok
- Heating and cooling temperatures
- Pipework runs for vibration or chaffing and clipping
- Electrical connections
- Freon gas charge and sight glass
- Oil levels of compressors
- Drains clear
- Condensate pumps operation
- Condensers clear and clean with nitrogen
- Filters clean and changed as required
- Temperatures being achieved at condenser and outlet ends
- V belts and changed as required
- Loading upon compressors
- Air flows
- Lagging and report if requires renewal
- Leaks on pipework and connections
- Fan motors and blades
- Crankcase heater, operation of actuators and damper motors
- Outdoor units
- Multi split air
Our experienced team of air conditioning engineers hold the appropriate qualifications and we hold partner accreditations with Daikin, Samsung and Mitsubishi.
Your complete HVAC solution
We offer a full range of services for all your facilities including water treatment, industrial heating, electrical services, air conditioning and ventilation installations, service and maintenance in Brighton, Sussex and surrounding areas. We provide a professional and highly rated service and we offer a free consultation for all new heating, air conditioning, electrical and refrigeration installations.
Contact us today for a free quote or general advice on the next steps for your business:
01273 719 111 or leave a message on our form.
