Trimark Mechanical Helps Minimize Cost and Disruption
Air Handling Units (AHUs) keep people comfortable by moving conditioned air through a large facility. Often bigger than a freight car, they present a challenge to replace. Months of downtime and the disruption of a construction project mean that replacement isn’t ideal. Even if components are worn, there’s a better option than replacing the entire unit: refurbishing the AHU to make it work like new. Trimark Mechanical’s extensive experience in air handler refurbishment cuts costs while shaving weeks (even months) off replacements. From custom-built replacement parts to complete refurbishments, our experts are equipped to handle a variety of air handler repairs.
1. Coils The first parts of an air handler that start facing issues are coils. Dirt, dust and debris accumulating on coils can lead to small and large-scale performance issues and even system failure. Is your air not cooling properly? This could likely be a frozen evaporator coil.
2. Shaft and Bearings A noisy and inefficient air handler can be due to shaft and bearing wear. Trimark can clean and refurbish worn out shafts to keep your handler running smoothly.
3. Supply and Exhaust Fans Fans are constantly spinning, so it’s no wonder that this continuous motion necessitates maintenance and occasional replacement. After years of work, fan blades can become distorted, misshapen, and welded together.
4. Floors, Drain Pans, Drain Pipes Water collecting at the base of the air handler and refrigerant leaks and cause rust. Trimark can have the floor finished with epoxy, or have the lining redone.
5. Blower Motor A variety of issues, such as dirt accumulation, rusted bearings, electrical failure, or simply old age can cause blower motor issues. The experts at Trimark promptly diagnose and repair the issue with minimal downtime.
6. Sensors Temperature, humidity, and airflow are regulated by sensors. They require calibration and may need replacement.
Has your air handler been maintained properly? If you don’t know the answer, contact us at 703.891.4600 or hvac@trimarkmechanical.com. You may qualify for a no-cost site inspection by one of our expert technicians.
Will Startling Refrigerant Costs Burn a Five-Figure Hole in Your Budget?
Coolant supplies are dwindling and prices have skyrocketed due to EPA regulations requiring the complete phase out of R-22 refrigerant. Today, an average 20 ton commercial AC unit requires $12,000 of R-22 freon to ll. Making the decision to replace your systems isn’t only smart, it’s inevitable.
Take a look:
Environmental Regulations Will Raise Costs
If your HVAC unit was installed more than 8 years ago, it is likely that your air conditioner utilizes R-22 refrigerant. Because of growing concerns about the environment, production of systems using R-22 refrigerant has been phased out. New systems call for R-410A refrigerant, a chlorine-free, ozone-friendly alternative that is safer for the environment.
Limited Supplies = Skyrocketing Prices
As it is being phased out, R-22 costs have escalated by ten times over the last five years. Even clients asking to simply have their refrigerant “topped off” are incurring costs in the thousands. In the case you have to refill older systems because of coolant leaks, you may face startling, significant stress on your budget.
Will Replacement Mean Less Hassle?
Refilling old units with a different refrigerant may not be the answer, and the vast majority of older units will suffer from performance issues when using the new R-410A coolant. Our clients who manage multi-family units have been pleasantly surprised to learn that replacement offers immediate cost savings. Instead of hassling with obsolete equipment and outrageous costs, replacing ultimately saves money, time, and keeps their residents happy.
Eventually, replacement will be the only option. We’ve worked with multi-family properties in the District, Virginia, and Maryland community for years, and can give you honest recommendations on how to achieve cost savings on bulk replacements. We understand your concerns and have a big-picture mindset that helps you focus on strategically planning for unexpected regulatory changes.
Is it time to replace your AC systems? If you don’t know, complete this self-assessment to understand the impact of rising costs of R-22 refrigerant on your budget.
If you want to speak to a member of our team to learn how the R-22 phase-out will affect your budgets, give us a call at 703.891.4600.
You may qualify for a no-cost site inspection by one of our expert technicians. Call us at 703.891.4600.
Budgeting can be a bore if you haven’t considered how to use it to plan for growth. Budgeting for HVAC maintenance and repair? Let’s just say, we understand that there are more exciting ways to spend your money. Still, a good mechanical services company will fix what’s broken, and a great one will become your trusted partner in budgeting for next year and beyond. Here are a few things to consider when laying out your budget for the next fiscal year:
Track, Report, and Analyze Expenses
Before you begin budgeting for next year take a step back and take a look at the last year. Here are a few useful questions to ask yourself:
Did we do a good job tracking and categorizing expenses? If this is an issue, you may want to start budgeting by cleaning up your record-keeping process.
Are we utilizing a system that makes reporting easy? Excel sheets or worse yet, a paper ledger, don’t make for the smartest budgeting tools.
Can we gather insight from last year? If you’re doing things right, your previous year will help guide decisions for the upcoming year.
Having your budgeting system honed is the best way to help with the next fiscal year’s budget. The good news? When it comes to tracking your HVAC expenses, Trimark Mechanical keeps a detailed history of all activity from installation and one-time repairs to ongoing maintenance costs.
Make Sure You’re Budgeting for One Time and Ongoing Costs
Ongoing costs such as maintenance and cleaning are relatively easy to budget for as long as you take into account any business changes. For example, growth or a change in workforce can make an impact on ongoing costs. If you’re growing, more than likely you’re using more space or using your space differently than before. You may need to increase budget for ongoing HVAC system repairs.
On the other hand, one-time expenses like repairs or replacement costs for obsolete equipment, can be a little trickier to estimate.
Here’s how Trimark Mechanical can help plan for 2018:
Budget maintenance expenses.
Avoid surprise equipment replacement.
Find the smartest way to use this year’s remaining budget.
Don’t hesitate to call in an expert to assess one-time expenses. Firms looking to develop a long-term relationship will help you price out repairs and replacements at little to no cost to you.
Don’t Let Emergencies Catch You Off-Guard
Inevitably, emergencies happen. If you don’t have a contingency fund for unanticipated expenses it’s time to start one.
Make Friends with Technology
The right technology can streamline the budgeting process. There are a variety of budgeting tools that can help you track, report, and analyze expenses, in turn helping you make smarter decisions for your facility.
Technology That Brings You to the Site
Trimark Mechanical uses technology to bring you to the site. We show you what needs to be done, what was done, and what should be done to keep systems running well. This means that you can:
Easily verify repairs are complete. Through before, during, and after images, we keep you fully informed, right from your inbox.
Safeguard your valuable time. Unexpected repairs can take your attention away from other pressing matters. Our predictive maintenance and account history tools work to reduce the risk of costly surprises and prolonged equipment downtime.
Have it your way. Notifications aren’t one-size fits all. Do you prefer receiving emails, phone calls, or both? We work with your preferences and not the other way around.
Our goal is to create a comfortable environment in your building through a seamless, thoughtful, technology-driven process.
Plan for Growth and Competitive Advantages
The savviest of asset managers combine goals for growth with the budgeting process. Here are a few things to consider if your business is in a growth phase or you’re investing in competitive advantages:
Taxes Obviously, as your business grows, so will your tax liability.
Insurance It’s likely that your liability will increase as your business expands.
Capital Expenditures Growth is often accompanied by more capital investments.
Additionally, businesses looking to create a competitive advantage should budget for it. Those advantages don’t just crop up out of thin air!
How High-Performance HVAC Affects Your Competitive Edge
Comfort and Control Over Environment
Cost Savings From Increased Energy Efficiency
Less Downtime During Repairs
Reduced Risk System Failure
Are you ready to start budgeting for the next fiscal year? It’s easy to let fall go by without thinking about the upcoming year. Have a qualified mechanical services firm assess your maintenance costs and estimate the life of your existing equipment. Give us a call at 703.891.4600. You may qualify for a no-cost site inspection.
Good news! Your boiler made it through the season’s first frost. Bad news? This may not mean you’re safe from a boiler breakdown this winter. Our expert team put together five handy questions to help you assess the health of your heating system. Just 5 minutes could be the difference between a smooth winter and the inconvenience of a system failure.
Take a look:
How old is your boiler? Once your system hits about 20 years old it’s time to make sure you won’t be facing unexpected downtime.
Have heating bills been abnormally high? If your boiler hasn’t been maintained, or at least inspected, the lack of efficiency will lead to astronomical heating bills.
Do you hear rumbling or banging noises? After years of sediment build-up, loud noises mean your boiler is operating inefficiently, or worse – nearing the end of its life.
Have you noticed any leaks or moisture? Moisture near your boiler is a sign that there’s a small leak or fracture, and that it’s definitely in need of repair.
Can you remember the last time an expert looked at your system? It might be time to give Trimark a call and find out if you qualify for a no-cost site inspection.
The most expensive option, with the longest potential downtime, is waiting until you face an HVAC emergency to take action. Trimark’s technology-driven predictive maintenance allows you to budget for repairs and keep your space comfortable year-round. Give us a call at 703.891.4600.
