As we quickly approach the summer months there are several questions you should ask yourself about your COMMERCIAL air conditioning equipment.

For your roof top equipment you should check all of the seams to make sure they are properly sealed to keep water out. Check to make sure all panels and screws are in place, replace any that are missing. Rinse down all condenser coils and check for proper tie down of the equipment. Check all drift eliminators on roof top equipment to make sure they don’t need to be replaced due to rust and corrosion. These protect you from water intrusion.

Cooling towers should be cleaned and free of debris. Water flow properly balanced for optimum water flow across the fill to ensure maximum cooling effects. Check chemical treatment and remember to recheck it as the rain season begins because increase rain leads to additional biological growth.

How often are you checking your filters and replacing them? An impacted filter can cause a lot of damage to your system. Be sure to keep them replaced and dated to remind you when they are due to be replaced again.

This time of year we see more insects. We recommend you check all your electrical enclosures to be sure they are sealed tightly to avoid insect infestation and electrical problems.

This is a great time of year to de-scale pipe that is rusty and paint it to prevent further corrosion.

When was the last time you performed an Eddy Current Test on your chiller to identify tube wear due to improper water treatment, abnormal wear, stress corrosion, tube pitting and damage due to tubes freezing? It is generally recommended an Eddy Current test be performed every three years. Why should I perform this test? Because when a tube fails it allows water to enter the refrigerant side of the chiller and this forms an acid which attacks the internal metal surfaces. The results of such can be catastrophic. This test can detect potential failures and repairs can be made.

Link to a sample Eddy Current http://www.taiservices.com/Docs/TAI%20Eddy%20Current%20Report.pdf

Hill York offers all of the above and will put together a check off list for your facility and price as requested for any or all of these preventative maintenance services.

Before selecting a South Florida air conditioning service company, look for a few vital characteristics of a successful company:

•Is a MSCA Green Star and LEED Certified contractor in Florida
•Employs licensed and trained professionals who can offer dynamic solutions to improved air quality and contamination control
•Has on staff qualified disaster recovery solutions consultants experienced in emergency management, hazardous waste operations, severe weather planning and hazard vulnerability relief
•Has a history of Florida-based, commercial air conditioning design, installation and maintenance
•Guarantees 24/7 service repair response
•Offers prompt disaster recovery response before and after events
•Presents a detailed energy saving strategy and ongoing scheduled HVAC maintenance plan

If you were not already aware Hill York continues to grow as an industry leader off the basis of three fundamental conducts… our Mission our Vision and as illustrated below in the letter of appreciation of one Hill Yorker’s honesty and human kindness, our Values. Learn more about our Vision, Mission and Values.
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What are Hill York’s values?

• Clients – Professional, friendly delivery of timely solutions at a fair price
• Communication – Continuous, open, honest, respectful…Listen to all viewpoints… Follow through with answers and solutions
• Accountability – Trustworthy, honest, ethical… Responsible for our promises, commitments and behavior… Good stewardship of our resources… Give back to our community
• Innovation & Adaptability – Think outside the box… Work through change… Drive continuous improvement
• Hill Yorkers – We are family and take care of each other… We share our blessings and help each other learn and grow

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A very gracious Josiah Hill, Tillman Military Scholar of USF College of Medicine, White House Veterans Advisory Committee writes “I am writing to inform you of an incredibly noble action by one of your employees. On Wednesday, March 14, 2012, I was traveling from Tampa to Winter Haven, FL. While en route and unbeknownst to me, my wallet fell from the top of my car onto the side of the road on Polk Parkway. Later that evening, I realized that I did not have my wallet, and after frantically searching for it, I came to the conclusion that it was permanently lost. However, I received a voicemail from James of Auburn, FL, a Hill York employee and whose surname I did not obtain, that he found my wallet and that he could meet the next day to return it.

True to his word, I met James after his work day on March 15, 2012. When I asked how found my wallet, he told me that he noticed it when he was driving home from work. Due to the logistical challenge of merging off the parkway with a large utility truck, James went home and used his personal vehicle to travel a considerable distance back _to the wallet’s location. Upon finding my business card, he called and informed me that my wallet was in his possession.

In these challenging economic times, it would have been easy for James to take advantage of a misplaced wallet for his personal gain. Instead, he chose to return the wallet, which is a testament to his high standard of morals and convictions. I spent five years as an active duty officer in the military, and while it is easy to merely talk about integrity and service to others, by using his personal vehicle to retrieve the wallet, James far exceeded any expectations of a fellow citizen. James refused any monetary compensation for returning my wallet, and as a result of his admirable actions, I instantly became a dedicated customer to Hill York for any future air conditioning needs. By employing individuals with such outstanding character, it speaks largely to the service that Hill York provides its customers.”

South Florida business owners and facility managers of all industries including: Education, Healthcare, Science &  Bio-Technology, Hospitality, Arenas & Entertainment, Government, and Data Centers should begin preparation for the upcoming 2012 Hurricane Season.

Officials at NOAA stress the necessity of developing an operational hurricane relief plan. This should be a continuous plan of defense and preparation against any impending hurricane emergency that threaten the lives and productivity of the community and its enterprises. It is suggested that these step by step hurricane preparedness plans be strategized, documented and acted out year after year for consistent disaster relief planning. It is also suggested that businesses conduct thorough risk assessments of their property and facilities. South Florida businesses are faced with the challenge of issuing through safety measures and are urged to develop a strategy to get their business back up and running as quickly as possible. This plan should be assembled with input from all the employees and should account for every facet of the business’ operation.

South Florida business owners and facility managers should have a plan worked out far in advance for staying in touch with employees, including a phone number those employees should contact – one outside the designated area code, which may be inoperable during a hurricane. Additionally, all vital documentation should be backed up and readily available in the event of a necessary evacuation, including payroll, account information, contacts, and tax records. Investigate alternatives for relocation to ensure the infrastructure there can support the business and provide the necessary materials, storage space, maintenance facilities, etc.

Choose a South Florida HVAC contractor with demonstrated capabilities in dealing with hurricane recovery.

It is imperative to have a full-service mechanical air-conditioning contractor on hand to assist in your hurricane preparedness planning. Do your research and investigate the pre-storm service methods of your chosen air conditioning company. These services generally include helping to prepare their facility for a storm, once a threat has become imminent. It usually involves putting up storm shutters, securing exposed equipment, shutting down systems to prevent electrical damage, etc. When faced with an impending hurricane or storm, the demand for manpower far outweighs the supply so make sure you select an air-conditioning company with the manpower to withstand and support before, during and after a storm. Be sure to select a licensed, full-service mechanical contractor in the State of Florida with demonstrated experience maintaining, servicing, repairing and retrofitting energy based solutions for cooling towers, chiller plants, condenser units, chilled & condenser water systems and emergency mobile chillers.

Most mechanical contractors are limited by their license to normally perform the work of their specified trade. However, in emergency situations, be sure you choose an air-conditioning contractor that is able to quickly make non-permitted repairs in order to protect life and property. Choose an air conditioning service company with the demonstrated ability to be on-site immediately after a storm passes. This will further ensure you are protecting your facility from further damage.

Work with a South Florida HVAC Contractor that hires self-reliant technicians that are experienced, knowledgeable and comfortable with hazardous situations. There are only a handful of air-conditioning companies that partner with sub contracting companies to further support and assist trades often threatened in a hurricane scenario (electricians, roofers, plumbers, elevator repairmen, etc.), so inquire on the ability to work with multiple trades simultaneously to ensure you experience little to no down-time.

A true Fort Lauderdale air conditioning expert has the data and research to back up any specific claims so be sure to partner with an experienced HVAC company furnished with the full-service capability of emergency response and hurricane / disaster recovery.

Before selecting a South Florida air conditioning service company, look for a few vital characteristics of a successful company:

•Is a MSCA Green Star and LEED Certified contractor in Florida
•Employs licensed and trained professionals who can offer dynamic solutions to improved air quality and contamination control
•Has on staff qualified disaster recovery solutions consultants experienced in emergency management, hazardous waste operations, severe weather planning and hazard vulnerability relief
•Has a history of Florida-based, commercial air conditioning design, installation and maintenance
•Guarantees 24/7 service repair response
•Offers prompt disaster recovery response before and after events
•Presents a detailed energy saving strategy and ongoing scheduled HVAC maintenance plan