News | United CoolAir

May 24, 2019 by Matt Hanson

Sick Building Syndrome and what to do about it

Sick building syndrome, sometimes referred to as tight building syndrome is a term that was developed from the ill effects building occupants incur because of poor indoor air quality. Although there is not one specific disease that is solely attributed to (SBS). Ill health and loss of employee productivity is a major concern of poor indoor air quality.

Sick Building Syndrome

An extensive list of symptoms related to (SBS) include:

headache
cough
dizziness
nausea
eye, nose or throat irritation
dry cough, dry or itching skin
difficulty in concentration
fatigue
sensitivity to odors
hoarseness of voice
allergies
cold, flu-like symptoms
increased incidence of asthma

shortness of breath on mild exertion
edema
palpitations
nosebleeds
cancers
pregnancy problems and miscarriages
Legionnaire’s disease
humidifier fever
pneumonia and occupational asthma
chest pain

[Read more…]

April 9, 2019 by Matt Hanson

Business Owners Guide to Commercial HVAC

When business owners are in need of a new or replacement HVAC system, there may be many questions that arise. First and probably most importantly is the cost. However, cost not only pertains to the price of the equipment, but to the installation cost as well. Equipment cost will vary from one brand to another and between companies performing the install. Since most buyers are usually not HVAC experts, they often defer to the expertise of the engineer or contractor and may not search or understand that there are alternatives.

When it comes to Commercial HVAC systems many can be quite large. Furthermore, in many cases they were installed when the building was under construction. Typically, an HVAC system consists of condenser section placed on the rooftop or outside the perimeter on the ground. While outdoors these units are susceptible to weather damage and vandalism. Next, the installation of an evaporator section takes place, usually inside a mechanical room where it cannot be easily relocated.

How Replacements can be Made Easier

Generally, HVAC units need to be replacement after just a few decades. However, replacing an existing unit can be a very involved process. Installers routinely tell building owners that replacing the unit would be a daunting task. To complete the retrofit installation, it is often recommended to remove some of the walls or part of the roof. The reason is although the old unit can be chopped up and removed, it is very difficult to get a replacement unit in the space. Additionally, a crane is often needed to hoist the replacement unit into place, especially if the height of the building is several stories.

The total cost of an installation is broken down into separate categories; labor materials, and tasks. Installation companies will compute hourly wage times how many laborers it will take to complete the change out. Other expenditures could include permits, insurance, supervision, warehouse, crane rental, and delivery.

The selection of the proper HVAC system is yet another consideration. Owners, architects, engineers, and contractors have the choice of chilled water, refrigerant direct expansion, packaged, air-cooled, water-cooled, and VRF systems. Will the system be a central or floor-by-floor method? Each of these will have pro and cons and can be one of the more difficult decisions to be made. Sometimes decisions are based on building codes. Historic districts usually have restrictions on placing units outdoors or on the rooftop.

There is a better way!

For retrofit installations, the design of United CoolAir (UCA) products helps avoid all of the unnecessary costs that can occur. This is due to United CoolAir’s design that involves a complete indoor installation. This factor alone saves the unit from weather damage and potential vandalism. Additionally, UCA units are built as modular units that fit through doorways, meaning there is never a need for expensive rigging or demolition of the building. UCA units can also fit into historic buildings, thus avoiding the aggravation of code restrictions. Additional permits or non-allowance for outdoor equipment. United CoolAir HVAC units not only save in installation cost but their units last longer over the competition.

February 27, 2019 by Matt Hanson

Choosing a Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS)

In order to comply with current strict ventilation standards in the HVAC industry, manufacturers’ are introducing innovative new equipment to improve indoor air quality. Dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS) are one such methods used to help regulate temperature and humidity. Schools, hospitals, offices, and other commercial spaces can all benefit from a DOAS unit. As these systems become more popular throughout the USA and Canada, technicians and end users need to understand the operation and importance of these units.

Although DOAS units are not the primary source of cooling, they help the main HVAC unit work more efficiently. These units function by bringing in fresh air independently of other cooling and heating equipment. This pretreated air will ultimately save fan energy on the main HVAC unit and improve the overall indoor air quality. These units can be air-cooled, water-cooled and chilled water and may include variable capacity compressors.

How to Get Started

Specifying a DOAS unit usually begins with selection software. This takes the basic parameters of the installation and focuses on the specific needs and requirements for fresh air. The software will calculate the performance expectations and recommend additional modifications to the basic package. A variety of fresh air units handle a range of CFM and tonnage and include options such as water-source heat pumps and modulating hot gas reheat.

Other fresh air units could include direct expansion with an energy recovery enthalpy wheel. The unit should be able to handle the large latent ventilation load and deliver “neutral” air of 72°F to 75°F @ 50% RH. By separating the sensible load from the latent load, the unit will remove moisture from the primary source of fresh outside air. What this does is reduce the load on the primary AC unit that will be used in cooling the space. Ultimately, this leads to greater efficiency and better indoor air quality with a lower overall cost.

Why Install Equipment Indoor?

Many HVAC manufacturers provide outdoor rooftop equipment as DOAS units, but occasionally a customer might require an all indoor packaged unit. This is the case when the building topography does not allow for outside mounting. Furthermore, codes that affect historic buildings often don’t allow for HVAC equipment to be installed outdoors. This is the case even if there were ample room on the roof or outside. The indoor packaged solution typically realizes a smaller footprint. This aides in new installations as well as for retrofitting as part of a VRF or conventional DX air conditioning project.

Ideally, the performance of your DOAS unit should meet or surpass the ASHRAE 90.1 standards of ISMRE 11.1 and ISCOP 8.0 and adhere to a sound rating of less than NC-40. Dedicated Outdoor Units also include options such as the installation of MERV 8 or 13 filters. Units can also include special coil coatings to prevent rust and corrosion when installed in harsh conditions. Some examples would include Marine or paper mill applications. Lastly, units may also include a manual on/off override switch and meet the power requirements of 208/230 single or three phase or 460/3 phase power.

When calculating the need for a DOAS unit it is important to understand all the benefits.

By removing outdoor contaminants before they enter the building the indoor air quality will be greatly improved. Additionally, this will allow the main cooling unit to run more efficiently.
The dehumidification process removes moisture from the entering air which helps prevent the formation of mold. These elements can negatively affect the health of the building occupants.
Energy savings are also achieved by separating the ventilation requirement from the main cooling or heating unit.

Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems have become an integral component to an overall approach to HVAC installation. As concerns about climate change drive governments to enact more stringent energy requirements in the manufacturing process; DOAS units will continue to grow in importance. Ongoing developments will ensure that these types of units will become even more efficient and used well into the future.

February 7, 2019 by Matt Hanson

HVAC Replacement Made Better

What if there was a way to replace existing indoor HVAC equipment that has reached its lifespan without expensive demolition and alterations to the building structure?
Many contractors, engineers and property managers are challenged with this question every day. It would seem to be a question that is easily answered. Outdated equipment could simply be chopped up and the debris hauled away to make way for a replacement unit. The problem is most replacement units are not small enough to be brought into the space without major disruption and structure modifications.

There is a better way of HVAC Replacement

United CoolAir equipment is a better solution for replacement HVAC units. Our units are modular in construction with quick connects and re-sealable fittings that allow replacing equipment without demolition. Most UCA units can fit through a standard doorway or elevator, around tight corners of hallways and into the space. The process of installing United CoolAir units can save time and money leading to greater satisfaction in the retrofit process.

Countless numbers of HVAC units were installed while the building was under construction thus confining the unit in its chosen location. The current protocol is to chop up a brand new unit and bring it into the space and then reassemble the equipment, or the alternative of knocking down a wall or removing part of the roof in order to accomplish the replacement task. The problem with both of these solutions is the damage that can result in new equipment and the expense of building demolition and reconstruction. These building alterations can add tens of thousands of dollars to the total replacement cost.

Do all commercial HVAC units have to be installed outdoors?

No, companies such as United CoolAir produce HVAC units that are installed completely indoors.

December 18, 2018 by Matt Hanson

VariCool Renovator

Developed as a Direct Replacement
for Trane^® SWUD Units

During the 1980’s and 90’s, Trane^® SWUD units were installed in thousands of buildings throughout the USA. In most cases these Variable Air Volume and Constant Volume Systems units were installed while the building was being erected and the walls were built around the units enclosing them inside mechanical rooms or other hard to access spaces. Now years have gone by and the Trane^® SWUD units are reaching the end of their lifespan. This presents a problem as well as an opportunity. While the old AC units can be disassembled and removed, it is quite another thing to bring in a suitable replacement unit. Building managers are routinely told they need to demolish an outside wall or roof and hire a crane to accomplish the replacement task. The expense and logistics to replace the Trane^® SWUD units can be enormous leading to much frustration to the end user.

The United CoolAir Renovator was developed as a solution for the numerous Trane^® SWUD units that are in need of replacement. The Renovator is designed to be a direct replacement for Trane^® SWUD units 42 through 80 tons. These self-contained water-cooled units are shipped in multiple sections and fit through a standard 36″ door or smaller, all while maintaining their original factory charge. The Renovator maintains the original Trane^® SWUD footprint while simultaneously eliminating the cost of rigging, permits and tenant disruptions, resulting in cost and time savings for clients.

October 5, 2018 by Matt Hanson

Grow Room Units

As cannabis growth facilities begin to expand in popularity, they present a challenge for HVAC units and how best to control the environment in temperature and humidity. Unlike most crops that are grown outdoors, cannabis is grown indoors and therefore needs an environment that can be controlled with the utmost precision. The indoor conditions to promote plant growth must be well ventilated with some way of circulating the indoor air. To begin with, grow lights are used in these types of facilities in the daytime to simulate sunlight and these lights produce a great amount of heat. Cannabis grows best in a moderate temperature that does not fall below 60°(F), or rise above 80°(F), with a humidity level that needs to remain around 50 to 60 percent. If these conditions are not maintained at a consistent level it can lead to mold growth that can damage the crop leading to thousands of dollars in crop damage. United CoolAir has developed special grow room units that solve the problem of how to maintain the best environment for plant growth. The grow units are built with special controls that allow for the AC unit to perform differently during the day and night. These special units are built to mimic the natural flow of cooling during the day and reduce cooling at night all while keeping humidity at optimum levels for healthy plants. United CoolAir all indoor units continue to provide cooling and heating needs for many unique applications.