Upgrading your Air handling system and how to avoid disaster

No matter how fastidiously your air handling system has been maintained, its lifespan is ultimately finite. Replacement becomes inevitable when equipment and components are failing all too often, energy, maintenance, and repair costs are mounting, and occupant complaints increase to an unsustainable level. But air handler replacement can be quite challenging, so meticulous planning with the assistance of a quality HVAC contractor like Griffin Mechanical Services LLC is particularly important to the project’s outcome and level of success.

Air handler upgrades offer numerous options and challenges that demand system expertise and thorough consideration. These AHU systems are typically large and often situated in confined spaces with various components, making their removal and replacement logistically complex. Effective planning is crucial to avoid preventable issues, unnecessary costs, and prolonged disruptions.

Determining the right air handling system capacity is specifically tailored to your building’s space usage and unique needs. Beyond standard factors, it's essential to anticipate future changes in space utilization. Building codes may affect air distribution requirements and must be factored in. Griffmech collaborates closely with clients to ensure every aspect is addressed when determining system capacity.

Once capacity is established, it's crucial to evaluate system components such as blowers, coils, filter racks, controls, dampers, ductwork, etc., to decide if replacement is necessary. Make informed decisions; while reusing components might save money initially, neglecting to replace outdated or unreliable parts can be costlier in the long run. Additionally, reused components may not meet future space requirements. Griffmech thoroughly assesses component age and reliability in every air-handling system upgrade project, helping you weigh the pros and cons of reuse vs. replacement.

Replacing an air-handling system requires time, so GMS’s planning process includes strategies to minimize disruption to building activities. Temporary cooling solutions, such as rental air conditioning units or spot coolers, might be necessary if operations cannot be relocated during the upgrade.

Sometimes, decisions are made to replace only parts of an air handler nearing the end of their useful life due to age. For instance, a client may opt to replace coils or drives while allowing other original parts to continue until they also require replacement. Air handlers can be completely rebuilt when replacing the unit is not economically feasible due to original installation equipment room configurations.

GMS possesses the expertise and extensive experience to guide you through this seemingly daunting process, ensuring the project progresses smoothly and achieves its ultimate goal: a high-performance, energy-efficient air-handling system that operates reliably and economically for years to come. For more information on upgrading your air-handling system, please contact Griffin Mechanical Services at (609) 388-1978. Service@griffmech.com