The commercial HVAC system in your workplace keeps your staff cool in summer and cozy in winter. However, HVAC units also make a lot of unwelcome noise. At times, this can be borderline intolerable for facility members who need to concentrate. We’ll explore some ways to keep HVAC noise pollution to a minimum.

Upgrade the System

Modern air conditioning and furnace systems are quieter and more energy efficient. If your facility still relies on a system from the 1990s, then perhaps you need to upgrade. The humming is especially loud if the unit is too large for the space.

Rearrange the Room

The noise pollution is greatest at the vents and in the ductwork. If possible, position seats, cubicles, and work areas in the away from the vents. In some instances, a technician may be able to reposition the ducts and airways. Continue Reading →

With summer comes higher AC use. This puts stress on the HVAC system, especially if it isn’t an energy-efficient model. This also leaves the system prone to air conditioner short cycling. We’ll explain what this is and how it can damage the AC unit.

AC Short Cycling at a Glance

You may notice that the AC automatically turns on and off. This is normal and allows the system to adjust and maintain the optimal temperature. However, short cycling occurs when the on and off cycles occur far more often than normal. This puts wear and tear on the system, and it decreases energy efficiency. You’ll eventually have to turn the setting higher just to have the same cooling effect.

What Causes Air Conditioner Short Cycling?

Numerous factors can lead to short cycling. One common cause is an ill-fitting air conditioning system. If the AC unit is too large for your home, the interior will cool too quickly. This causes the system to constantly readjust and create temperature swings. Continue Reading →

The office shouldn’t be a 24/7 workplace. Every year, managers and CEOs should throw a company summer barbecue right outside the office. This is a great way to allow the dedicated staff to loosen their ties. Treating your work-family to good food on the company’s dime is a major morale booster.

The Food

Go for the good stuff. We’re talking about juicy baby-back ribs, lamb, salmon, T-bone steak, etc. Be sure to have vegetarian and vegan options, too. Don’t relegate the non-meat eaters to only the snacks and side grub.

We recommend buying the food and preparing them at the event rather than opting for catering. The very act of cooking and waiting on the food makes for a good social setting. We also advise investing in an outdoor barbecue grill for the company’s property. This way, you have a permanent gathering space for leisure company events.

Buy the food ahead of time and store it in your facility’s refrigeration unit to keep perishables within safe temperatures. Continue Reading →

Are your employees dropping like flies? Have sick calls increased dramatically? The cold season has come and gone, so what’s going on? One possible cause is sick building syndrome that’s affecting your indoor facility.

What Is Sick Building Syndrome?

Sick building syndrome occures when people within a building, or part of a building, fall ill in large groups. Occupants may experience common symptoms associated with the common cold or flu, such as:

• Headaches
• Nasal congestion or runny nose
• Itchy eyes
• Itchy and reddish skin
• Sore throat
• Chest tightness

Continue Reading →

With spring come spring showers. A little drizzle is not an issue, but a complete downpour is a whole other problem. While manufacturers design residential AC units to withstand water exposure, heavy rain combined with wind can cause damage. We’ll explain how you can protect your AC unit from the rain and the natural elements.

How Rain Affects Air Conditioners

AC units have sealed electrical components that shield the circuitry from rain. However, when the rain is accompanied by strong gusts, airborne projectiles and debris can lodge in the system. For AC systems installed on ground level, heavy rains can also cause floods that inundate the unit. Flood water can also damage air ducts and air quality systems if they’re located within the same vicinity.

How to Safeguard the AC System

Mukilteo can be rainy city during peak spring. We advise home and business owners to protect their installed AC and HVAC units. The solution is quite simple: invest in a rain guard. This is a simple add-on that protects any part of the system that partially or completely protrudes outdoors. Continue Reading →

With spring around the corner, you can expect the weather to heat up. This should also mean an uptick in humidity. Too much moisture in the air makes for uncomfortable weather. Unbeknownst to most homeowners, though, high humidity also affects HVAC performance. Spring is the time to start monitoring the air quality of your HVAC system.

How Humidity Impacts HVACs

Part of an air conditioner’s function is to remove moisture from the surrounding air. The higher the humidity the harder the output of the air conditioner to achieve the desired results. Older HVAC systems may not be able to deal with the excess moisture, resulting in subpar air cooling. The same goes for modern systems that operate continually without a filter change or other maintenance work. The same problem also arises if the installer did not properly size the system for the size and type of your home.

The end result? Premature HVAC wear, higher utility bills, and poor air quality. Continue Reading →

People tend to think of a barbecue as a summer event or occasion, reserved for Sunday afternoons during baseball season. Well, here’s a bold idea: how about a Valentine’s Day barbecue? This is a intimate way to have dinner with a significant other without worrying about securing a restaurant reservation.

Why a Home Barbecue for Valentine’s Day?

Why not? This is quite a creative idea, don’t you think? Use this occasion for breaking out the grill and smoker and having a private dinner at home. A dinner at a restaurant is so conventional. Plus, if you haven’t made a reservation already, then you’re probably out of luck. The same goes for a date at the movie theaters or booking a hotel suite.

Valentine’s Day Barbecue Ideas

1. Load Up on the Oysters

Oysters are the perfect romantic food. Casanova was believed to eat 50 oysters for breakfast every day. Oysters are also a rich source of zinc, which increases libido. You and your partner can feed each other oysters while enjoying an ice-cold glass of tequila or a margarita. Continue Reading →

We hope you had a nice Christmas. With 2018 here, kickstart the year by enforcing workplace safety practices. This reduces chances of injury, which can result in lost productivity and increased medical insurance costs. If you work in the food industry, we recommend these walk-in freezer safety tips for your employees.

Walk-In Freezer Safety Tips

A walk-in Freezer is a shed-size room of blistering cold. Negligence can result in an accidental lockin or a slip and fall. Be adamant that your staff follows these safety practices:

1. Regularly Inspect the Safety Releases

Modern freezer and refrigeration units have safety releases for preventing accidental entrapment. Employees who become locked in are at risk of severe hypothermia. Check the safety release regularly to be sure it’s functioning properly. Employees should also use the buddy system when entering refrigeration units. Continue Reading →

Winter is right around the corner. This is also the time of year when people tend to catch the bug. Why is this? Why does the common cold increase during winter? What can you do about it to prevent the sniffles as the temperatures gradually drop?

An Explanation for the Common Cold Increase in Winter

Contrary to popular belief, the cold weather itself is not what makes you sick. Researchers conducted an experiment where they placed a virus on the nose of test subjects. The participants then entered either a warm and dry chamber or a cold and wet one. Both groups became ill at equal rates.

Scientists aren’t sure of the exact cause, though they have theories. One explanation is that people spend more time indoors during winter. The confined space allows viruses to more easily spread from person to person. Continue Reading →

We love Christmas trees. They bring out the festive spirit in any home interior. However, fir trees are also notorious for inducing allergies. We’ll explain how to keep a tree in the home while reducing indoor Christmas tree allergens.

How Fir Trees Affect Allergies

The branches and pine needles may contain dust, mold, and pollen. The mold is especially a problem. Once you place the tree in an indoor environment, the enclosed space allows the mold to grow.

The sap from the tree may also cause allergies. The terpenes, a compound that produces the fir tree’s signature scent, may also cause coughing fits and irritation in the eyes and skin. Continue Reading →