Modern Building Services

FEATURE HEATING 12 MODERN BUILDING SERVICES NOVEMBER 2022 B usinesses across the UK have worked tirelessly to survive and recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, only to be faced with another financial difficulty this year in the form of soaring energy costs. Consequently, many businesses are currently having to reassess how they operate this winter, with some businesses considering reduced opening hours or choosing to close completely, knowing the alternative is impossible. However, while not a total solution, there are ways to fight back against rising energy costs, by ensuring your business is running efficient energy systems. An unhealthy system can be costly for businesses in many different ways; not only will it result in higher running costs, but an unhealthy system can also require more downtime and maintenance, as well as expensive repairs to damaged parts of the system. Despite the significant impact of an unhealthy system, in many buildings water quality is an element often forgotten or not realised, as it is often regarded as “out of sight, out of mind”. However, there are a few key signs that facility managers can look for, that will indicate that water treatment is required. Common symptoms to look for: • If not expelled, trapped air in the system will create oxidation, causing corrosion and leading to unwelcome dirt and magnetite, and scaling. As well as being destructive, it can cause issues to many other parts of the system. • Leaking AAVs - A build-up of dirt in the Automatic Air Vent will cause it to leak as the internal armature becomes clogged and is unable to function correctly, adversely affecting the float. Ensuring the system water is properly conditioned, and regular maintenance of the AAV, will alleviate this issue. • Reduced heat transfer - An accumulation of air and dirt in radiators will reduce the radius of the heated surface, with cold spots in the affected areas. This can lead to users turning up the thermostat in order to try and heat the building to the level desired, which consequently leads to higher energy use. • Pump inefficiency - A build-up of black sludge and magnetite can cause the pump to become too hot and operate inefficiently, which will ultimately shorten its working lifetime as a result. When the pump isn’t working effectively, this can also lead to the boiler ‘kettling’. • Poor circulation - Air accumulation around the pump axle causes a lowered pump head. Air around the pump circle also causes bad cooling which seriously limits the lifetime of the pump. All of these points ultimately lead to extra costs by making the boiler work harder to deliver the expected results and lead to increased maintenance requirements, as well as shortening the lifespan of the system. Sourcing a solution When a heating or cooling system is found to be running inefficiently, all too often the temptation is to treat the problem with chemicals. But these inhibitors only really tackle the symptoms and are not a ‘cure’. Their effectiveness wanes and it becomes only too easy to slip into a cycle of regular redosing and maintenance, without actually getting to the root of the problem. Experience shows that a deeper delve can help truly understand the With energy costs set to rise this winter, many businesses across the country are looking at how they can improve the efficiency of their HVAC systems and make gains wherever possible. Here, Steve Simmonds , Special Projects Engineer at Spirotech, looks at the benefits of water treatment and why it’s important that facility managers are clued up on this topic. Tackle rising energy costs by optimising heating and cooling systems