We have all heard the term HVAC but do we really know what it stands for? HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. A HVAC technician is someone who is proficient in the maintenance and installation of heating and air conditioning systems. Demand for technicians with these skills is on the rise. We utilize HVAC systems in our everyday lives, both at home and at work. These units help regulate the temperatures at home and at work, so that we feel comfortable all the time. It’s hard to imagine what life was like before HVAC systems were created. HVAC units come in many shapes and forms. For heating, HVAC systems can include gas, electric, and oil furnaces, oil and gas boilers, radiant systems, and heat pumps.
As with any system, ensuring that you have the proper ductwork is very important. Without proper ventilation and duct work the system will not function properly. Another part of HVAC systems is the AC units or units used for refrigeration systems. Proper flow of air helps keep refrigeration units cold. The better the air flow, the better the system.
So what happens when your system goes down or is not adequate enough to handle your needs? Sometimes a temporary HVAC unit is what you need. Temporary HVAC units can fill in the gaps until permanent solutions for you HVAC needs are found. Many of the larger companies keep a temporary HVAC system on hand in case of emergencies.
When your HVAC system goes down it can be a miserable existence for everyone. Happy employees are productive employees. In that same note, proper heating and cooling of your establishment is also beneficial in keeping your customers happy. No one wants to sit in a building that is hot as an oven or as cold as ice. So by not utilizing a temporary HVAC unit you are doing more harm to your employees and your customers. There’s also the factor of good old Mother Nature. In times of an emergency or disaster, having a temporary HVAC system on hand is a part of any “disaster management plan”.
Temporary HVACs are very important in any hospital. The last thing you need here is any kind of fluctuations in the temperature. Using a temporary HVAC system when power outages occur or a disaster strikes can mean the difference between life and death. In order to keep a permanent system functioning the way it should scheduled maintenance is a requirement. This will require power outages at scheduled times. During these times the HVAC systems will be shut down for preventative maintenance. A temporary HVAC system will fill in this gap during maintenance periods.
Temporary HVAC systems are very useful in educational institutions also. Schools, colleges, and universities are major places where both employees and students rely on proper heating and cooling systems to keep them comfortable. You cannot concentrate on academics when you’re sweating or freezing. To prevent this from happening, the facilities maintenance department will utilize temporary HVAC units so that the learning environment is not disrupted by scheduled maintenance or breakdowns.
Not having a temporary HVAC system on hand or not having access to a temporary HVAC system will cause a lot of undue stress to not only you but for all those involved. If you are not using a temporary HVAC system then this will cause your permanent unit to have to work twice as hard to heat or cool your building. A properly working unit helps circulate the air properly. This saves a lot of buildup from dust and particles. If there isn’t adequate circulation of the air then this can cause dangerous levels of dust and particles to form. This can end up causing serious health problems for those involved; especially those with serious allergy problems. The uses of temporary HVAC systems have proven very beneficial in areas where wildfires have been a common thing. For buildings where the main systems are down, a temporary unit set to recirculation mode can greatly reduce the risk of potential pollutants. By limiting the intake of air from the outside, the user greatly lowers the risk of bad or polluted air inside the premises.
If your HVAC unit goes down you’ll want to replace it immediately or use a temporary HVAC unit until a permanent solution can be obtained. Be sure to thoroughly check out the company you use. All HVAC dealers should have permanent and temporary HVAC units available in their stock. If you open your phonebook you’re going to see numerous listings for HVAC dealers in your area. So choosing the one for you can be a daunting task. A permanent and a temporary HVAC unit is a substantial investment so choosing a reputable dealer is important. Look for a dealer who is:
· Well established
· Has a good reputation
· Has a history of quality work
· Has the right experience and training in residential and commercial HVAC units
· Is possibly a member of your local Better Business Bureau
· Willing to offer you a free estimate for repair or replacement
Finding a reputable dealer will be important to ensuring that you get quality service. Not having a highly qualified dealer, service your system could end up costing you more in the long run. So, not having a temporary HVAC system can be detrimental in the long run. Use the example below to see why it is so important:
Sarah owned her own business. She had worked hard for over 10 years to get the money required to start her own cake company. Working with cakes required the use of many ingredients that needed to be housed at cooler temperatures in order to maintain freshness. So keeping her building properly heated and cooled was vital to the success of her business. During what the weather man considered to be one of the hottest summers on record, Sarah’s HVAC suddenly broke down. When she opened her business place the next day, she realized the system was down. She immediately called the repairman who told her that her system was no good anymore. She needed a total replacement of the system. This could take a few days so he recommended the use of a temporary HVAC system until the permanent until was installed. Although this was going to cost her she knew that it would cost her even more if her inventory went bad. She had already noticed that a few of the ingredients were beginning to soften and melt. She agreed to using the temporary system to get her through until the permanent until could be brought in. Sarah knew that not using the temporary unit would end up costing her 5 times as much if she didn’t use it. Not to mention her employees and her customers would be miserable and that was not good for business.
Now take a look at Kate who owned her own candy company. She had been in business for over 15 years. She was very successful. During her 15 years of business, Kate had always maintained her HVAC system. She knew that proper care of the system could help maintain the system for years to come. However, on a Friday afternoon, her system went down. Due to the backlog of the maintenance company, it was going to be a couple of days before they could even get to her. She thought she could hold out until the repairs could be done. A friend of hers recommended using a temporary HVAC system but Kate decided to save some money and wait for the repair company. She placed fans throughout her store to keep the air circulating and to cool down the store as much as possible. Her employees worked but were complaining about the heat. Productivity slowed down because the employees were constantly taking breaks to go and cool down outside. Not to mention that her stock was slowly beginning to melt due to the heat. Still Kate wanted to save money. It ended up being a total of 4 days before the repair company could finally make their way to her store. In the end she lost over $16,000 in inventory and she lost two major clients because their ordered was damaged due to the heat. So was it worth it? In the end Kate said “no it wasn’t” and she wished that she had used the temporary HVAC unit.
So using a temporary unit can be quite advantageous and not using one can be quite costly. You have to weigh the pros and cons of using a temporary system and not using one. Most often in the end, it is going to be more beneficial to use a temporary measure than not. Our summers are getting hotter and our winters seems colder with each passing year, so save yourself time and money by using preventative maintenance to keep your permanent system going and keep the option of using a temporary unit in the back of your mind. It may save you in the long run.
