Effective Coil Cleaning Saves Energy and Improves IAQ

Tampa, FL -- One of the most overlooked steps in the final stages of construction, a renovation project or HVAC system change out is a thorough, professional cleaning of air handling unit’s evaporator coils along with the air conditioning, heating, and ventilation (HVAC) systems.

Because dirty coils are oftentimes inaccessible, difficult to clean, expensive to operate, unhealthy and can lead to humidity control deficiencies, it makes sense to minimize the amount of dust that can enter the airflow and to clean them before dirt accumulation becomes visible. Pure Air Control Services, an industry leader in environmental and mechanical cleaning technologies recommends not to defer coil cleaning to the point that dust accumulation is visible. Minimally, heat exchangers should be cleaned once a year using the superheated steam process.

A article in the ASHRAE Journal authored by Ross Montgomery, PE entitled Study Verifies Coil Cleaning Saves Energy revealed a $40,000 a year savings from just one air handling system as a result of the restoration of the air handler/coil system at the 1500 Broadway a 34 story skyscraper building in Times Square, New York City home to ABC Studios and Good Morning America.  In addition, the study indicated that they were able to decrease coil pressure drop 14% resulting in a corresponding increase in air flow and increasing the thermal efficiency of the cooling coil 25% while improving IAQ conditions.

The synopsis of the ASHRAE Study on the Benefits of coil cleaning concluded:

• Restoration of the one air handler resulted in improvements that will lead to energy savings of up to $40,000 this year, in accordance with the results and assumptions of this study. (The coil is 30 years old, and its last cleaning was one year ago, so the coil was in a dirty state.)
• Restoring the air handler resulted in a decrease in the pressure drop across the coil, of approximately 14%. This has resulted in a corresponding increase in airflow. The result is that the fan is producing that much more work in the form of cooling.
• Restoring the air handler resulted in an increase of 19 tons to 22 tons.
• Restoring the air handler increased the thermal efficiency of the cooling coil 25% with respect to its ability to transfer its energy to its sensible loads.
• Restoring the air handler increased the thermal efficiency of the cooling coil 10% with respect to its ability to transfer its energy to its latent loads. (This is especially significant as it helps to cure the only IAQ-related complaint from building occupants, which was elevated humidity levels in certain interior locations.)
• Restoring the air handler will continue to save energy by decreasing the load on the chiller plant, and making the heat transfer of its loading more efficient.
• A significant increase in latent heat transfer ability of the coil in the range of 10%. This indicates the ability of this coil "after cleaning" to being able to provide for better building dehumidification capacity control by delivering sub-dew-point air temperatures across the cooling coil.
• Other “soft” positive results come out of cleaning and normal maintenance operations and its resultant energy savings and airflow increases.
• The HVAC systems are cleaner, and do not provide an environment for fungal, bacterial and microbial growth in their coils, duct and pipes. IAQ and the awareness of good IAQ are increased in the building, and the overall comfort and work effectiveness can be greatly enhanced. Overall tenant satisfaction with the building environment has been improved as evidenced by the property manager’s communications and positive feedback.

Source: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineering, Inc. (ASHRAE), Ross D. Montgomery, P.E. and Robert Baker. Study Verifies Coil Cleaning Saves Energy. ASHRAE Journal (November 2006)

Doug Randall, Remediation Manager for Building Remediation Sciences (division of Pure Air Control Services) states that “many of our valued clients are requesting that we assist them in professionally cleaning the HVAC system and provide a QA/QC program to achieve their LEED Gold rating.  They are getting points toward their LEED Gold label by this effort and it’s a great way to achieve a high energy status, an energy savings as much as 15% and improve IAQ helping create a significant economic stimulus.”

Using superheated steam to clean their heat exchangers (heating and cooling coils) utilizing the Pure-Steam process made it possible to effectively remove dust and associated biofilm lodged deep in the fins. This process known as “PURE-Steam Sterilization Cleaning Process” saves labor and materials, is chemical free, cleans deeper and better, kills and removes bacterial and fungal growth and sterilizes the coils in the process. The final product affords increased heat transfer efficiency and reduces the energy needed to move the air across the coils.

When Charlotte County School District went searching for additional ways for the school district to save energy/money all the while helping to improve indoor air quality was when Don Terry, Manager Maintenance, Charlotte County School District sought the professional IAQ services of Pure Air Control Services and the PURE-Steam coil cleaning (No Chemicals) process. Mr. Terry stated that “The Pure-Steam Coil Cleaning (PSCC) process is absolutely remarkable.  We have been cleaning our coils the conventional way for many years with chemicals and water and we never were able to get the coils as clean as we would like to have oftentimes still leaving an odor.  The Pure-Steam Coil Cleaning process is all natural (no chemicals), actually sterilizes our coils using 300 degree steam getting our coils sparking clean like never before, our static pressure is now back to manufacturer spec, we are getting better air flow and increase of cooling capacity.”

Additionally, it is a good idea to inspect the air handler and air ducts before you start remodeling, reconstruction or installing a new air handling system.  Chances are that the air duct systems have not been cleaned since they were built or if they were they most likely were not done professionally.  Oftentimes original construction debris, sanded sheetrock, molding or ceiling and wall texture overspray, is still in the duct 20 to 30 years later. Environmental constituents such as mold, bacteria, mycotoxins and endotoxins exist in the air ducts a result of neglect often spewing spores into the occupied spaces.  The amount of debris removed from HVAC system can be astonishing, oftentimes 10’s of pounds of debris removed most of which is allergy causing to building occupants.

HVAC systems have a significant effect on the health, comfort, and productivity of occupants.  Issues like user discomfort, improper ventilation, and poor indoor air quality are linked to HVAC system design and operation and can be improved by professional environmental cleaning.  .

Contact Cy Garner or Doug Randall at 1-800-422-7873 ext 804 to discuss your next IAQ HVAC cleaning project and find our how much you can save and improve your IAQ creating economic stimulus.

About Pure Air Control Services:

Alan Wozniak founded Pure Air Control Services, Inc. in 1984 as a small mechanical contracting firm. Today, the firm sets the industry standard for indoor environmental quality diagnosis and remediation.

Pure Air Control Services  is a national provider of the following IAQ services: Building Sciences Evaluation; Building Health Check (USP 797 monitoring compliance); Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab) an AIHA accredited micro laboratory (USP 797 Lab analysis); DIY IAQ Green Check test kits, Environmental Project Management; HVAC System Cleaning and Mold Remediation Services among other indoor environmental services.

The company’s expanding valued client roster includes the General Services Administration (GSA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Allstate Insurance; Carrier Air Conditioning; Naval Air Warfare Center, Orlando; and Naval Air Station - King's Bay, Georgia, and many other Fortune 500 companies, school boards, and city, state, and county governments, making Pure Air Control Services the reliable industry leader in IAQ.

For more information on Pure Air Control Services, Inc. please contact Cy Garner at (800) 422-7873 x 804, or visit www.pureaircontrols.com/.

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For:  Pure Air Control Services, Inc.

Contacts:

• Cy Garner, Account Manager ext 802
• Alan Wozniak, President/CEO ext 802