Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.
If you have any further questions regarding heating, cooling & ventilation, please contact head office on 03 8786 3088.
Thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Vaccination is vital,” says AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH. “But for reopening to succeed, we must support it with other measures. Now that there is consensus that SARS-Cov-2 is airborne, why aren’t we doing more to address ventilation? This is particularly important in buildings such as schools, nursing homes, offices, shopping centres, cafés and restaurants.”
“There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread through HVAC systems, however having your HVAC system set to allow more air circulation in common areas and limiting or not using recirculated air and increasing outside air intake, if possible, may help minimise the risk of COVID-19 spreading in your workplace.”
Safe Work Australia
Before workers return to work and the HVAC system has been temporarily shut down, you must abide by the health and safety regulations to ensure your HVAC system is inspected, serviced and maintained.
A qualified HVAC technician should provide you with a letter of inspection to ensure ongoing building compliance is met.
CFM Air Conditioning can provide you with a letter of inspection if we attend your premises and inspect, and or service your heating, ventilation and cooling system.
REF: Safe Work Australia
HVAC systems that have been shut down temporarily should be correctly maintained and inspected by CFM Air Conditioning technicians in-line with the building HVAC regulations and standards.
Cooling towers and condenser water systems can build up corrosion, water can become stagnant, bacteria can grow and indoor air quality compromised.
It is important offices and building managers ensure HVAC systems are serviced prior to restarting.
REF: Safe Work Australia
All mechanical equipment are designed to operate within certain limits. Having your HVAC system undergo preventive maintenance or service on a regular basis is very important because it will help the equipment to function properly and that extensive and costly repairs can be prevented. A regular inspection of the equipment where in proper operation of the equipment are checked and verified is the key thing for preventive maintenance program. It is a building code requirement and is also required by law. It is covered by Australian Standard.
Preventative Maintenance is also required for insurance purposes.
No. When an air conditioner is first turned on it is at its least efficient point. A system with too much capacity will run in numerous short cycles, turning on and off repeatedly, therefore causing it to be less efficient therefore, larger heating system with more capacity will deliver less comfort but still costs more to operate. Also, an air conditioner only removes humidity when it’s running, so a system with shorter run cycles doesn’t remove humidity from the air very well.
Before purchasing a replacement Air Conditioning system you should always make sure your system is sized properly to match both your needs and your budget. Your CFM Engineering Team will thoroughly assess your workplace to determine the proper size and make the appropriate recommendation.
Generally speaking, a unit that is either on or off is less expensive than one that keeps cycling on and off repeatedly. Every time your system starts up, it will use a lot of electricity. A smaller system is often more economical to operate: even though it runs nonstop and may deliver less comfort, it will usually consume less power than a larger system that cycles on and off.
Programmable thermostats are electric and therefore more accurate and efficient than thermostats that contain mercury. Programmable thermostats allow you to automatically control the temperature in at different times of day without ever touching the thermostat.
There are many factors that can cause system freezing. First, if it is running in the cooling mode check your filters, once cleaned there may be restrictions in air flow and this can lead to freezing. The next step is to thaw the system out by turning off the cooling and running the fan. Also, try turning the system to the heat mode until the ice has melted.
A crack in the heat exchanger can allow carbon monoxide to escape into your workplace you may experience dizziness, light-headedness, flu-like symptoms, or even death by asphyxiation. Carbon monoxide limits the body’s ability to take in oxygen. This is an extremely dangerous situation to have in your workplace, because the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning may be gradual and undetected.
Yes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas produced during the combustion of fuels. It’s colourless, odourless, tasteless and can be lethal. Even trace amounts can impair your brain function and impact your health. Cracks, leaks, obstructions and other malfunctions in your heating system can cause carbon monoxide to develop and accumulate.
Short-term exposure to carbon monoxide usually results in flu-like symptoms: nausea, headaches, dizziness, fatigue. Long-term exposure can eventually lead to unconsciousness or death. If you are concerned contact CFM Air Conditioning and we can test the unit for you.
Several manufactures have developed new systems that contain environmentally-friendly refrigerants such as R-410A and similar blends. 410A is a chlorine-free coolant that is safe for the Earth’s ozone-layer and delivers superior cooling than traditional refrigerants. In fact, since 2010, systems that used R-22 are being phased out. R22 has been price indexed and the purchase price will continue to increase until it becomes uneconomical to purchase
This is not an easy question to answer, but here are some factors to consider:
1. The age of the current system. Today, any system that is more than ten years old is probably behind the times in terms of efficiency.
2. Does the existing system provide the level of comfort that you want? There is a growing difference between “builder grade” and consumer choice in what a system can offer in terms of comfort and convenience.
3. How much will the repairs cost, and how many more repairs will you need in the future? Is keeping an older system operational worth the time, the money and the inconvenience?
4. Replacing older equipment with new technology can typically have a payback of less than 5 years.
HVAC systems can stop unhealthy mould growth if it performs efficiently. All you have to do is to keep indoor humidity low to prevent mould growth. They dehumidify, ventilate and filter the air. Their smooth operation is vital to the health of employees and customers. Buildings also need to be well-maintained for the HVAC systems to function well.
Here are problems to watch for, and tips for maintaining indoor air quality:
• Check for wet spots and condensation in your building. Mould grows rapidly in a wet environment, so scrub and dry wet areas within 48 hours.
• Keep indoor humidity low.
• If you notice condensation, reduce moisture levels.
• Repair leaks, increase ventilation if outside air is cold and dry. Dehumidify, if outdoor air is warm and humid.
• Raise the surface temperature through better insulation or by increasing air circulation.
• Clean the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning drip pans.
• Perform routine repairs and cleaning of your HVAC system.
You must check your HVAC system because it may be the reason why the office or building is too humid. Sometimes humidity may result from problems with air quality system.
• Is the HVAC system well-maintained? Clean dirty coils, which reduce cooling and dehumidification. Clogged pans may hold standing water. Leaks in the mechanical system let moisture enter the building.
• Is the indoor air quality system being operated properly? Make sure the cooling fans run at a moderate speed. Sometimes air velocity is set too high, because spaces are not adequately cooled. But the result can be higher humidity levels in a building.
Preventive maintenance is a good investment and it is your assurance that your HVAC system will function properly. On a regular basis, heat pumps and air conditioners should have a tune-up by professionals. Gas-fired equipment function with greater efficiency should be maintained every other year. Inspections on boiler and furnace systems should include ductwork, pipes, dampers, valves, the chimney, registers, radiators, pumps, blowers, fuel lines, the gas meter, oil tank and every part of the actual furnace and boiler.
Meanwhile, heat pump and air conditioning unit inspections should also include inspections of the fan, compressor, indoor coils, outdoor coils and refrigerant lines. It is required to ensure compliance to relevant standards and is an essential services code requirement.
This is usually just a matter of balancing. Meaning adjusting the airflow to each room so they all even out. Or sometimes making the rooms you choose more comfortable, and unused rooms less so. If a room is heating or cooling much faster than other rooms, the airflow can be reduced to that room to even things out and then send more air to other areas.
Contact the service team at CFM and we can professionally balance the Air flow.
Absolutely, at CFM Air Conditioning we have a qualified service technician on call 24/7. Please call 0428 907 786 for after hours.
Today’s modern central air conditioners are significantly more efficient than old models. Part of this is due to the federal push for Australian energy independence and a drive to reduce greenhouse gases. The federal Energy Star program mandates that the models you look at when upgrading an air conditioner have met MEPPS Minimum energy performance criteria, this is easily obtainable, you will conserve natural resources and lower atmosphere-fouling emissions.
This efficiency extends to the new refrigerant, R-410A, which provides impressive cooling power while not chipping away at the ozone layer. Modern equipment built to handle this newer coolant (as opposed to the old, discredited R-22/Freon) will deliver ample cool air with greater energy efficiency than your old system.