Drone on!

Posted Wednesday, 18 October 2017 10:36 by Martin King in Process Chiller Blog

Drones seem to be taking over a lot of industries lately, and the HVAC industry is no different!  Latley, we are seeing more and more drones being used in the facility maintenance field.  Managers can use drones to inspect areas that are difficult for humans to get to. 

Why are these little machines so beneficial, you ask? Well for starters...drones can be deployed to inspect difficult to reach areas such as rooftops for HVAC maintenance. By using a drone to survey rooftop maintenance you can get a good view of what needs to be cleaned or repaired inside the unit, before sending a technician in. Drones also help technicians get a firm idea of what needs to be cleaned, or worked on before heading inside the unit.  This can greatly reduce the time each technician needs to spend inside potentially dangerous areas. The use of drones automatically eliminates ALL physical risks for maintenance technicians.

Impressed? …wait there’s more! A drone with the right camera and software can also limit the need for scaffolding, scissor lifts and extra workers, which will in turn make inspections more affordable for the company. Drone inspections can catch problems such as debris stuck inside a vent, before it becomes a major issue on the energy efficiency of the building

Not sold yet? How about this… In areas where there are frequent high winds, branches and debris can blow onto rooftop HVAC units.  Drones can be used to survey all of the buildings after bad weather or a storm. Smaller drones with strong lights can be used to inspect ducts and other indoor material. This can be very helpful in large plants where duct work can go on for miles.

Drones are an excellent way to gather thermal imaging. HVAC professionals already use thermal imaging to detect leaks and other sources of energy loss in a building. With a drone, you can combine the interior infrared imaging with exterior infrared images for a unbeatable view of what is happening inside your HVAC system

These little guys aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Drones are predicted to appear in many more industries over the next few years, making day-to-day maintenance safer, easier and more cost effective for the HVAC industry and many more!   

5 Tips for HVAC Chiller Maintenance

Posted Wednesday, 11 October 2017 20:15 by Martin King in Process Chiller Blog

Chillers are meant to help our businesses grow while cutting costs, but factors such as fouled tubes, leaky refrigerant and other unexpected problems, can quickly increase costs. Operating chillers at their peak performance may be time consuming, but will cut costs in the end. 

Chiller maintenance has advanced significantly over the years.  The industry has been moving toward demand maintenance programs and away from pre-determined schedule maintenance.

Whichever type of chiller you have or what type of industry you are in, here are 5 maintenance tips to help maintain the efficiency of your chiller.

1. Daily logs:
   A daily log should always be the first step toward maintaining your chiller. Keeping a log allows you have a recorded history of operating conditions such as temperature, pressure, fluid levels, and flow rates. Modern technology allows you to inspect chillers continually rather than every other month or so. Having a daily written maintenance report will allow any issues to be caught quickly.  

2. Clean Tubes:
   The efficiency of heat transfer is a critical aspect of a chillers' performance. Dirt, minerals, and foreign debris can increase thermal resistance and hurt the chillers' overall performance. A higher approach temperature is a prime indicator that the chiller's heat transfer is declining.  Condenser tubes should be brushed at least once a year to keep them clean and conaminant free.  

3. Treat Water:
   All condenser water loops require water treatment of some sort.  This helps to eliminate scale, corrosion and growth of bacteria. Dirty water in the tubes can decrease the chillers' piping effectiveness. Remote monitoring can also be used for water quality and corrosion.

4. Refrigerant Charge:
   The actual amount of cooling a chiller can provide will depend on how much refrigerant is moving through the compressor. It is important to maintain the proper level of refrigerant at all times. Leaks will decrease efficiency and the reliability of the system. A low refrigerant charge can ultimately cause the compressor to work harder, for less cooling effect

5. Water Flow:
   Changing the chilled water flow rate will affect a chiller's performance. Too low a flow rate lowers the chiller efficiency. The minimum flow rate is typically around 3-ft. per second (FPS). Too high of a flow rate can cause vibration, noise, and tube erosion. The maximum recommended flow rate is typically around 12 FPS.

Now matter how busy you are, it is imperative to scheduled time for chiller maintenace.  Skipping maintenance will greatly hurt your business in the long run, so make sure to have daily maintenance scheduled into your calendar. 

American Pride

Posted Wednesday, 04 October 2017 16:50 by Martin King in Process Chiller Blog

Last week we learned that all of Legacy Chiller Systems parts and components are manufactured right here is the United States.  This week, we sat down and chatted with Legacy's CEO, Martin King to find out why being a 'Made in America' company is so important to him.

Legacy Chiller Systems' manufacturing plant is located in Pennsylvania.  Why did you choose to open the plant on the East Coast?

Martin: "I started the company back in 1997 in San Jose, CA.  When the 2000's came around and we hit the dot com frenzy, it suddenly became too expensive to manufacture in CA.  There was a very low labor pool available at the time, and CA had set many new environmental laws which also hindered our production."

When did you make the move to Pennsylvania?

Martin: "We opened up the plant in Pennsylvania during the early 2000's.  I chose Pennsylvania because it is a very manufacturer-friendly state.  Also my business partner Jim resides in there, so he is able to run the plant.  Pennsylvania also has a larger labor pool, and lower manufacturing costs than the state of California."

How has being based in the United States helped increase your client base?

Martin: "Being based out of the US has definitely increased our client base.  US companies are very dedicated to helping each other out.  Also having all of our customer service reps and maintenance technicians speak English helps customers feel more comfortable.

Has being based in Pensylvania affected your product's prices?

Martin: "Our prices have not been affected by staying in-house.  All of our chillers' components are made in the US to begin with, so it just made sense to open our manufacturing plant here as well.  We have been with many of our vendors for a long time, and are proud to produce quality products and services daily." 

For information on Legacy Chiller Systems, Inc visit our website at www.legacychillers.com 

Made in America

Posted Tuesday, 26 September 2017 11:55 by Martin King in Process Chiller Blog

Did you know that all of Legacy Chiller Systems parts and components are made right here in the USA? We are very proud that all of our products are American-made, and manufactured in the city of Telford, Pennsylvania. 

 With HVAC month coming up in just a few days, there has been lots of recent talk in the news about HVAC companies like Carrier beginning to outsource jobs to Mexico. A outsource like this will end up costing the state of Indiana over $100 million in revenue and 2,700 jobs! 

But it is good to know that there are still HVAC companies keeping jobs here in the states and making a difference in the domestic economy. At Legacy Chillers we see 'Made in America' as an opportunity, to not only keep jobs here, but to also propel the nation's efforts to keep our country healthy and a great place to live for its citizens. In our business, we know that reducing energy costs is a priority for healthcare organizations, who spend a lot of money using important life-saving medical equipment such as MRIs. It

At Legacy System Chillers we will continue to stand by our 'Made in America' word, and support our nation's citizens and economy.  We are proud of our products, and the contribution our company makes in our nation!