Tampa Bay Hospital Air Handler Restoration
Written By: Tremco Roofing
Written By: Tremco Roofing
To improve their facility operations, a 479-bed hospital in Tampa Bay conducted a series of energy and performance surveys to understand the energy efficiency of their building systems. During the study, two air handler units were identified as candidates for replacement due to their degraded condition. Replacing these AHUs would be expensive and highly disruptive to the patients and staff of the hospital.
After further review, it was determined that the hospital’s air handler units could be restored rather than replaced to minimize cost and disruption while still upgrading the system’s efficiency. Using WTI Pure Air’s HVAC New Life program, the restoration process was phased out over consecutive nights to clean, refinish and restore the AHUs without losing supply air during peak operating hours.
The first step was to HEPA-vacuum the interior of the AHUs. Next, airflow resistance readings were taken across the cooling coils through a Coil Cleanliness Verification test or CCV. The interior of the units and cooling coils were then sanitized and CCV readings were taken again to confirm the improvements.
The metal components, including the condensate or drain pans and the exterior, were refinished with high-performance polyurethane coatings specifically designed for HVAC equipment. These HVAC coatings are antimicrobial and corrosion resistant to extend the life of the air handlers. Lastly, the AHUs were retrofitted with new outside air dampers and upgraded control components.
In the end, the hospital’s two AHUs were refurbished in less time than replacement and with a significant 76% capital avoidance! By choosing HVAC New Life, the hospital now has the peace of mind that their refurbished units will deliver reliable service for years to come, benefiting both patients and staff.
