Michigan Winter is Coming – How to Prepare for the Cold Weather to Save Money in 2020

Colder temperatures are rolling in, and it’s time to start re-evaluate your HVAC unit’s condition. Winter is one of the hardest times of the year for heating and cooling systems—don’t sacrifice your workers’ comfort to save pennies before the cold hits. It’s best to be ready so you can keep productivity high throughout the colder months. Improper temperatures and poor indoor air quality have been statistically shown to have an adverse effect on worker productivity. Today’s article tells you what you need to keep in mind before winter hits with full force.

Is your air breathable?

This is your go-to metric for your HVAC system’s output. If the air coming out of the vents isn’t clean-smelling and pleasant to breathe, then that should signal alarm bells. It should have a consistent, comfortable temperature throughout all the areas of your workplace—hot and cold spots are a sign of a system that is either overpowered or overworked. And nobody wants to have to work in the one area of the office that’s consistently at an uncomfortable temperature.

Big bills are a warning sign

If you see that your electricity bills leading into winter are starting to rise as the temperatures fall, then that’s a very bad sign. Your system could have trouble keeping up with heating demands and draw more power as a result.

Your building should be airtight

Any unwanted leaks or holes in your workplace are going to mean your HVAC system is fighting against the outside temperatures twice as hard. Efficiency will plummet, and you’ll end up spending more money on electricity trying to keep up. Drafts or gaps will mean that your money is literally flying out of the cracks.

Building automation is a good bet

While all these steps are well and good, if your woes are down to user error—leaving HVAC systems on overnight when nobody’s in the office, or setting temperatures too high or too low—then all the maintenance in the world can fix those. What can help is a system that adjusts the HVAC settings to your specifications on the fly and can tell you about critical issues before they’re even noticed by the employees. We call that Building Automation Services (BAS) and we think it’s a great option not just for the winter, but for the entire year.

Your issue not covered?

Not every HVAC system is the same. Your unit might have unique problems which are not discussed in this article. Do not take anything for granted. Just a loose screw can cause a serious problem in HVAC, right when you need it the most.  For these kinds of problems, preventative maintenance is your frontline solution. A reputable HVAC company will be able to diagnose all of these issues, sometimes before they even happen. Once the problems arise, they’re also usually your only recourse — so having a good, reliable HVAC company on your go-to list of numbers to call is a smart idea.

A properly set up HVAC system could be your key to a more productive, happier workplace. We at Level One HVAC are experts in both installing and maintaining your HVAC systems. We’re ready to respond to all your commercial HVAC system needs. Give us a call at (248) 486-6500 if you’d like to know more. If you don’t have time to call, you can fill in our online contact form and someone from our staff will be in touch with you shortly.

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