HVAC, Building Performance: Preventing Coil Corrosion
Hurricane conditions may cause more corrosive damage to HVAC systems than other factors that typically cause corrosion. The problem is that corrosion problems may not be apparent immediately, according to an article in ACHRNEWS.
However, as we gear up for the cooling season, these problems may become more evident to people living in areas impacted by the previous season’s hurricanes like Hurricane Sandy. Sandy impacted the east coast as it became the most destructive tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
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Goodway Sponsors Post Sandy IAQ Roundtable
We’re glad to be a part of this important round table discussion regarding mold and mildew remediation and IAQ in the wake of hurricane Sandy. There will be some great speakers involved from BBJ Consulting Service, ASHRAE, Durst Organization, the NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene MTA and more.
This event, in conjunction with the Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute, Baruch College and ASHRAE will ask ‘real” questions regarding remediation efforts and hear from experts and professionals who do the remediation alike. Learn how specific actions can help mitigate the risk of future IAQ issues – and the pitfalls of doing it the wrong way.
The round table will be moderated by BBJ Consulting Service Managing Director Robert “Bob” Baker, former president of the IAQA and fellow of ASHRAE.
The event will discuss the hidden dangers of quick and careless remediation, and some of the action plans to plan for proper remediation. This really is a great opportunity to see the challenges that commercial real estate professionals have overcome in New York City. If you are in the facility management business, HVAC or commercial real estate, this is a must see….and the price is right. It’s free.
When:
April 11, 2013
Where:
The William and Anita Newman
Vertical Campus Conference Center
151 East 25th Street, Room 750
New York, NY 10010
Registration is required. Complete information is available from the Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute website.
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HVAC, Building Performance: Probiotics for Sick Buildings
In recent years there have been many television commercials and other advertisements touting the health benefits of probiotics, the “good” bacteria.
The California Dairy Research Foundation defines probiotics as “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amount, confer a health benefit on the host.”
Some of the health benefits to consuming probiotics include enhanced immunity, a reduced risk of infectious diseases and improved digestive function, according to the foundation.
So could these microorganisms play a role in improving building health?
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Building Energy Efficiency: Understanding Energy Rebates for Facilities
Energy rebate programs have been around since the 1970s, according to Facilitiesnet. These programs offer incentives to customers who use energy-efficient equipment and systems, thereby reducing the demands on the utilities. And that means the utilities don’t have to invest in expanding their generation and distributions systems. It’s a win-win for everyone, really.
Rebate programs have never gone out of style, notes Facilitiesnet. Still in force today, facility managers can use them to retrofit their facilities for better energy efficiency.
Utilities offer rebates to facilities for several reasons including if managers install certain energy-efficient products; save a certain amount of energy; and agree to take part in various operational strategies like retro-commissioning.
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Mold Control for HVAC and Facilities: A Follow-Up
In early November we began our Post-Hurricane Sandy Series discussing mold control for HVAC and facilities.
Mold control is not an issue to be taken lightly, as we’ve told you previously. There are adverse health effects to mold exposure. And some people are more sensitive than others, particularly if they already have allergies, asthma or chronic lung diseases.
There’s also a financial component to mold since its growth can ruin business assets in your building. Mold can grow on floors, walls and other surfaces, as well as within an HVAC system.
Drips pans, pipes and anywhere else the system provides a reservoir for moisture is susceptible to mold growth. If mold exists within the system, the spores can be dispersed when the system is turned on.
But mold is an ongoing issue and prevention is the key. While we may need to address it immediately after a business has been flooded, or otherwise exposed to massive amounts of water, mold is always found within our buildings.
In fact, OSHA says mold is “part of the natural environment.” It’s found anywhere, both inside and outside. There are 1,000 species of mold in the United States and more then 100,000 species worldwide.
Mold can grow on just about any substance as long as moisture/water, oxygen and an organic source exist. Mold spores are always floating through the air. They usually don’t cause any problems until they land on a moist spot and begin growing.
Mold growth will occur if you don’t take care of the moisture. It’s impossible to completely eliminate all mold and mold spores, but controlling moisture does inhibit mold growth.
OSHA recommends preventing excessive moisture in your building. Potential sources of moisture include roof leaks, landscaping/gutters, which direct water into or under the building, unvented combustion appliances and inadequate building maintenance, including on the HVAC system.
OSHA offers the following mold prevention tips:
- Repair plumbing leaks and leaks within the building structure immediately
- Look for condensation and wet areas and repair sources of moisture problems immediately
- Keep HVAC drip pans clean and unobstructed so any water or moisture flows properly
- Perform regular building/HVAC maintenance, including filter changes
- Keep the indoor relative humidity below 70% (25% – 60% is ideal)
- Vent moisture-generating appliances outside
- Vent kitchens and bathrooms appropriately, following local code requirements
- Clean and dry wet/damp spots immediately, and no longer than 48 hours after you discover the moisture
- Identify the cause of leaks and take action to ensure the leak doesn’t happen again
Fortunately, Goodway has products to clean both surfaces and HVAC systems affected by mold, as well as products that inhibit mold growth.
For HVAC use, our MoldTek Mold & Mildew Cleaner & Disinfectant is a ready-to-use cleaner effective at killing mold on non-porous surfaces such as HVAC coils and ducts.
CoilShine-BC Mold and Mildew Inhibitor is a commercial grade, EPA-registered, ready-to-use treatment that inhibits mold growth. It can be applied to coils, ducts, drain pains and other components, and it’s formulated for use in sprayers.
FreshDuct Odor Eliminator controls the odor left behind by mold and mildew. It’s non-toxic and biodegradable, destroys odor molecules on contact, and leaves your ducts smelling fresh.
For floors and other surfaces, we also recommend MoldTek Mold & Mildew Cleaner & Disinfectant. In addition to HVAC components, it’s formulated for use on floors, walls, and other surfaces.
MoldTek-MT Mold Growth Control & Inhibitor, our EPA-registered mildewstat and fungistat, is specially formulated to inhibit mold and mildew growth on floors, walls and other hard surfaces. And because it’s labeled for use in occupied spaces, no evacuation is necessary during the clean-up process.
Next Steps:
- Read: HVAC Maintenance and Floods: Help With Disaster Recovery
- Read: Mold: A Common HVAC Complaint That Is Easy To Deal With
- Subscribe to our blog to receive the full blog series via email and stay informed about the latest HVAC news and insight.
- Stay up to date on facility maintenance tools such as chiller tube cleaners, boiler tube cleaners, hose/pipe cleaners, descaler systems, industrial vacuums, commercial pressure washers, and drain cleaners.
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Post-Hurricane Sandy Series: FEMA Assistance For Businesses
This post ends our series on Post-Hurricane Sandy. This week we talk about FEMA assistance for businesses.
A Staten Island Hurricane Sandy recovery meeting got heated in late November, as residents begged FEMA for help, and expressed frustration over their perceived inability to receive adequate assistance, according to a report from WABC.
As a business owner, you might also experience some of the same frustrations, and you might even be confused about how to seek assistance. We, at Goodway, would like to offer you some information that could make it easier to restore your facility after a disaster.
Most flood-damaged HVAC equipment must be replaced not repaired. FEMA or other government aid might be available to help you finance the replacement of damaged equipment.
Consult with your insurance company first. But know that you should still apply for FEMA assistance even if you have insurance; disaster assistance may cover damages your insurance won’t.
File your insurance claim with the insurance company immediately as failure to file a claim can affect your eligibility for disaster assistance. FEMA allows 12 months from the date you register with the agency to submit insurance information for review. Signing up with another agency doesn’t mean you’re registered with FEMA; you must apply directly to FEMA to register for disaster assistance.
Here are some situations where FEMA could provide additional assistance to supplement the assistance you receive from your insurance company, according to NorthJersey.com:
1. The insurance settlement decision is delayed longer than 30 days from when you filed the claim. If this happens, you must mail or fax a letter to FEMA at FEMA IHP, National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, Md. 20782-8055, FAX 800-827-8112. You will need to include documentation to prove you filed the claim.
If the claim was filed via phone, you should provide the claim number and the date you applied. If you receive FEMA assistance and find out your insurance will cover whatever FEMA did, you must return the FEMA money to the agency.
2. The maximum insurance settlement you receive does not sufficiently meet your disaster-related needs. In this case, mail or fax a letter to the address or fax number mentioned above, explaining the unmet need. You should also provide documentation from your insurance company explaining what they covered.
You can find out how to apply for FEMA assistance on the agency’s website.
If you’re eligible for disaster aid, you might also be able to apply for a low-interest disaster loan through the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA). You can apply for a SBA disaster loan online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s website.
Lots of rumors and misconceptions are floating around concerning the Hurricane Sandy response and recovery efforts. Visit FEMA’s Rumor Control page to learn what’s fact or fiction.
Also to receive more updates, follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.
Next Steps:
- Subscribe to our blog to receive the full blog series via email and stay informed about the latest HVAC news and insight.
- Stay up to date on facility maintenance tools such as chiller tube cleaners, boiler tube cleaners, hose/pipe cleaners, descaler systems, industrial vacuums, commercial pressure washers, and drain cleaner
Your Next HVAC Purchase?
Click to activate a 10% coupon or insert the coupon code 10PERCENT upon checkout.
Post-Hurricane Sandy Series: Mold and Mildew Management
This week we continue our Post-Hurricane Sandy Series with what you need to know about mold and mildew management after the flood waters recede.
Our next posts in the series address cooling towers and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) assistance.
As we’ve discussed in our post Post-Hurricane Sandy Series: Mold Control for HVAC and Facilities, controlling mold growth must be placed at the top of a clean-up list after a flood. Growth can occur on any number of hard surfaces, such as flooring and drywall, and also within the confines of your HVAC.
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Post-Hurricane Sandy Series: Mold Control for HVAC and Facilities
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Goodway is a resource for those of you affected by flooding, offering you some of the best advice and products to get your facility back in operation.
This blog starts our series on post-Hurricane Sandy information. We’ll address mold and mildew management after flood waters recede, clearing flood water, surface cleaning and mold management, cooling towers and FEMA assistance.
In this first post, we’ll start by telling you some things you should know about mold control for HVAC and facilities.
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The Role of Social Media in Facility Management
Social media is no longer just for communication between friends and family members. Today, businesses and other organizations are using social media to communicate with customers and employees, according to an article in Today’s Facility Manager.
Sometimes facility managers are responsible for communicating with thousands of people, as well as with their fragmented workforces (e.g., employees on the road, working from home or in multiple offices), so effective and immediate communication becomes even more difficult.
That’s why more and more facility managers are turning to social media as a platform for communications, according to Today’s Facility Manager. Managers can tweet about facility updates, or even create Facebook pages to keep employees and customers updated.
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3 Top HVAC and Facility Maintenance Technology Trends For 2012
The new year is right around the corner, so it seems like a good time to stare into the crystal ball and see what’s going to be hot for 2012. Technology as always will play a big part in keeping your building up and running.
1) HVAC high tech instruments – Facility management staff can detect HVAC equipment problems sooner using automated tools. According to an article in Today’s Facility Manager, more and more facilities are using high tech instruments such as laser alignment systems, automatic lubricators, ultrasonic leak detectors, thermal cameras, and video scopes. These devices all help make HVAC preventative maintenance procedures easier and more reliable so check out this the article if you are considering any as a viable option.
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