The school year is just around the corner. Is your school’s HVAC system ready for the challenge?
Before your building fills with students, teachers, and staff, give your HVAC system the attention it needs to perform at its best.
A school’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is central to creating a comfortable and healthy learning environment. One study even found a correlation between thermal comfort and positive educational outcomes, including increased focus and test scores.
At the same time, HVAC is expensive. Schools collectively spend tens of billions annually on facilities, and old or inefficient systems can silently drain your budget and lead to inconsistent performance.
Right now is the right time to make sure your HVAC system is ready for the new school year.
Here are three tips for getting your HVAC system ready for the school year.
#1 Conduct a Major Inspection and Schedule a Preventative Maintenance Visit
The school year at Houston ISD in Southeast Texas is off to a hot start. After multiple schools experienced air conditioning issues on the first days of school, rising indoor air temperatures forced the district to cancel classes and send students home.
Hot summers can lead to wear and tear on overburdened HVAC units, putting them at risk of failure when hundreds or thousands of students start school.
Before the academic year begins, it is ideal to perform a full system inspection of all major components, including air handlers, chillers, boilers, thermostats, filters, belts, and coils.
It’s a small investment to make sure your system is running efficiently and is ready to perform throughout the school year.
Proactive maintenance at this time is more effective than trying to fix issues once students and staff are in the building. Proactive maintenance will help prevent expensive emergency repairs and ensure that your school is ready for the new year.
#2 Prioritize Indoor Air Quality (IAQ):
In a post-COVID world, schools can be breeding grounds for viruses and bacteria. This reality is amplified because of the age and condition of many school buildings.
Your HVAC system can improve IAQ by filtering out pollutants, controlling humidity, and increasing ventilation.
At Thermal Concepts, we provide IAQ solutions designed to remove pollutants, control humidity, and improve overall air circulation in your school building.
Improving IAQ also elevates HVAC system performance as clean air helps your system run more effectively and last longer.
#3 Consider Smart HVAC Integration
Many schools rely on outdated, inefficient HVAC systems. According to one analysis, as many as 41 percent of public school districts need to replace or update their HVAC systems in at least half of their schools.
Smart technology can modernize your existing HVAC infrastructure without the need for a full replacement.
Building automation systems, which integrate and activate smart HVAC technologies, can analyze usage patterns, occupancy levels, and weather forecasts to fine-tune performance automatically.
These systems can also detect issues like failing sensors or compressors early on, which helps prevent unexpected breakdowns and can increase the lifespan of your equipment by reducing unnecessary wear and tear.
Get Ready Before The School Year Starts
These steps are a great way to set up your school for a successful and healthy year.
They will ensure your HVAC system is in peak condition, extend equipment life (and lower costs), improve energy efficiency, and provide peace of mind.
Don’t wait for a breakdown to disrupt the school year. Contact Thermal Concepts today to schedule a preventative maintenance consultation and ensure a smooth, healthy, and reliable start to the academic year.
