How Air Curtains Improve Energy Efficiency in Entryways and Commercial Spaces

May 5, 2025

If you are looking for a way to improve the energy efficiency of your business in St. Louis, MO, consider an air curtain. Many industries find it beneficial to use air curtains, from warehouses to restaurants. While these amazing devices save energy and lower utility costs, they also keep employees and guests more comfortable throughout the workday. Our professional technicians can quickly and easily install an air curtain over almost any business’s entryway and other doors. What Is an Air Curtain? An air curtain is a device that creates an invisible barrier over openings such as entryways and doors. This barrier prevents air exchange between interior and exterior spaces. The goal is to keep dust, pests, debris, and other pollutants out of specific spaces to create a clean space. Plus, it controls the temperature of a space while allowing businesses in St. Louis to operate regularly. How an Air Curtain Works Air curtains feature a downward-facing blower fan mounted over an entrance, doorway, or another opening between two spaces. The air curtain pulls air from the space’s HVAC system when running. A fan accelerates the air, using a nozzle to blow a continuous, controlled air stream to the bottom of...

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What Does a Commercial HVAC Air Handler Do?

December 12, 2024

Commercial HVAC air handlers play an essential role in creating comfortable and efficient environments in large buildings. These units are central to the ventilation system, ensuring proper air circulation while contributing to temperature control, humidity regulation, and indoor air quality. Understanding how air handlers operate helps business owners understand their importance within an HVAC system. Whether managing an office, retail space, or industrial facility, air handlers are indispensable for maintaining a healthy and productive environment. How Commercial Air Handlers Operate Commercial air handlers are designed to manage airflow efficiently and ensure consistent indoor conditions. They draw air from the building’s interior or the outdoor environment. Upon entry, the air passes through filters that trap dust, pollen, and other airborne contaminants. These filters play a crucial role, especially in commercial settings, where air quality impacts employee health, customer satisfaction, and compliance with indoor air standards. Filters also prevent dirt and debris from harming the HVAC system’s internal components. Once filtered, the air is heated or cooled to meet the building’s needs. In many systems, this process involves passing air over heating or cooling coils, which are connected to the broader HVAC system. However, not all HVAC systems rely on coils for...

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What Is the Usual Life Expectancy of a Commercial HVAC Unit?

August 20, 2023

Updated September, 2025 The life expectancy of a commercial HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) unit is a big concern for many facility managers and business owners. After all, such systems are significant investments that, ideally, should serve your establishment for a substantial period. Learning more about commercial HVAC units can help you determine the average lifespan of these systems while also giving you ideas on how to keep your unit working at an optimal level. Extend RTU and Split-System Lifespan With the Right Plan Commercial units last longer with consistent inspections, coil care, and timely retrofits. We map maintenance to your building schedule to limit downtime. Enroll in Commercial Maintenance to keep filters, belts, and coils on a documented cycle. Restore performance fast with Commercial Repair and priority dispatch. Upgrade ventilation efficiency with ERV solutions without sacrificing comfort or energy budgets. We also review controls and economizer settings seasonally to protect compressors and fans from avoidable wear. How Long Do Commercial HVAC Systems Last? On average, a well-maintained commercial HVAC unit should last between 15 to 20 years. However, this is just an average range, and this number can change due to a variety of reasons. Certain factors, including...

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How HVAC Systems Operate in Commercial Buildings

June 21, 2023

Updated September, 2025 How HVAC Systems Operate in Commercial Buildings Regardless of the type of building you own or manage, not having the right HVAC system installed in your facility could lead to a loss of clientele and income. It can also make things difficult for your workforce as extreme temperatures occur, making the work environment less than ideal. While there are several types of commercial HVAC systems available to you, each unit is more complex than standard residential HVAC systems. Before you buy a commercial HVAC unit for your building, you should know how they work. From Operation to Lifecycle Planning Beyond daily operation, commercial comfort depends on preventive maintenance, fast repairs, and retrofits that cut energy costs without disrupting tenants. Lock in routine inspections and filter schedules with Commercial Maintenance. Minimize downtime and protect leased spaces with priority Commercial Repair response. Boost ventilation effectiveness without large energy penalties using energy recovery ventilators where appropriate. We can review your current sequences, ventilation rates, and controls to target cost-effective improvements for the spaces you manage. Understanding Commercial HVAC Systems Commercial HVAC systems are designed to perform the same function as residential systems, which is to keep anyone inside the building...

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5 Myths About Commercial HVAC Systems

October 19, 2017

Misconceptions related to an HVAC system can prevent building managers from keeping their systems in good shape. Commercial HVAC systems maintain the temperature of the building and keep the place comfortable throughout the year. Cooling and heating are equally important during the summer, winter, spring, and fall. But many people are under the false impression that they are essential only during the summer and winter seasons. So they tend to neglect them at other times. Besides this, there are some misconceptions related to the HVAC systems which prevent building managers from keeping their systems in good shape. Myth 1 – There is No Need to Fix a System Until it is Broken People think that that they need not take any action or fix the system until it breaks down. It is a mistake to believe that nothing can be wrong with the system until it is broken. In fact, a commercial HVAC system can continue to work with minor flaws or broken components for a long time. These defects may not be visible. If they are not rectified in time they can damage the whole system. It is imperative to arrange for regular inspections to get hold of these...

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Maintain Your Cooling Tower Efficiently to Save Money in the Long Run

September 27, 2017

Regular maintenance of the cooling tower will help in increasing the efficiency of the cooling tower and reducing overall costs. Commercial HVAC owners are on a constant lookout for ways and means to reduce their energy consumption while trying to gain maximum cost-efficiency from their HVAC systems. The bigger fight however, is to try and keep the utility bills lower. One way to achieve this is by maintaining your cooling tower efficiently. What is a Cooling Tower? A cooling tower is a device that is used to remove excess heat that is generated when the HVAC functions to either heat or cool a building. Cooling towers remove the excess (or waste) heat by evaporating some amount of the water that circulates inside the system into the atmosphere. These are usually seen outside the building or adjacent to the building housing the HVAC system Two Types of Cooling Towers There are two types of cooling towers: Natural draft – A natural draft cooling tower cools by way of natural convection of the airflow. As the air inside the cooling tower becomes warm and moist, it rises to the top in the form of steam that evaporates, and the cooler air that...

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5 Reasons Your Commercial HVAC System Needs Preventive Maintenance

September 15, 2017

A well-maintained HVAC system can contribute a lot to the success of a business. Your HVAC system has a great impact on the commercial activities that take place inside your building. It not only forms an integral part of the building but also plays an important role in the growth of a business. In this post, St. Louis HVAC experts explain why preventive maintenance of commercial HVAC systems in so important. A Good HVAC System Makes for a Pleasant Shopping Experience The customer is the key to the success of any business. So it is essential to provide an enticing ambiance in the shop or restaurant. Commercial HVAC systems play an important role in making the place comfortable for customers. A well-maintained heating and cooling system can make a huge difference in attracting more and more customers retaining them. A Malfunctioning HVAC May Drive Away Your Customers If the place is stuffy or hot in summers or if the place is too cold during the winters, customers will likely stay away from it. If your building’s HVAC system is malfunctioning and causing discomfort the old clients who had earlier patronized the place because of its good environment may look for...

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Mold Prevention and Treatment – St. Louis Commercial HVAC

August 15, 2017

Mold prevention and treatment are important steps to keeping employees happy and healthy. Mold infestation is extremely problematic for HVAC systems. Mold spores have been known to cause a large amount of property damage. Moreover, in workplace establishments, it can lead to significant health hazard to workers. Mold spreads quickly and can cause those who are allergic to have serious reactions. However, clearing a mold infestation is not an impossible task. Why HVAC Systems are Susceptible to Mold HVAC systems are susceptible to mold growth. Part of the cause is the constant presence of moisture which makes it a very conducive environment for fungus and mold. The fight against mold is more really a fight against chronically humid, moisture-laden, and damp areas in the house. Therefore the HVAC system proves to be one of the most favorable locations for breeding mold infestations. In particular, one can find mold accumulation and growth in the following places: In and around condensation drain pans On cooling coils Inside the interiors of the duct work On humidifying equipment On cooling towers On dehumidifying equipment On return-air plenums Outdoor air intakes On screens, grills and air filters that are clogged with dirt and debris It...

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Enhanced Efficiency Reduces Operational Costs of Commercial HVAC

July 25, 2017

Scott-Lee Heating can help enhance the efficiency of your commercial HVAC system and minimize operational costs. What most facility and property managers desire to find is a way to enhance the efficiency of their commercial HVAC systems so as to minimize their operational costs. It becomes even more important during the summer months when cooling is absolutely necessary. You can make use of specialized equipment that is installed in the HVAC system to achieve higher efficiency. Read on to know more about these components. Enhanced Airflow You can integrate terminal units into your HVAC to improve airflow. They improve the airflow quality in your building, ensuring more comfort to your employees. St. Louis HVAC technicians explain that the enhanced airflow does not put pressure on the systems, which means they will use less energy. In most cases, outdated HVAC systems can only distribute a limited amount of air in a room. Terminal units, on the other hand, can distribute various amounts of air depending on need. Up-to-date HVAC systems ensure more efficiency, which translates into lower operational costs. These terminal units are integrated into the system ductwork just close to every room of the building. They also work with each...

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How to Reduce St. Louis Commercial HVAC Costs and Wasted Energy

February 26, 2017

According to the US Department of Energy, more than 30 percent of the energy and cost used in powering Commercial HVAC systems gets wasted. Sustainability, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness are some of the features that commercial consumers look for while purchasing heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. However, many are unaware that HVAC systems are in fact one of the most energy-intensive systems used in commercial setups. St. Louis HVAC experts believe that reducing this huge energy waste is imperative for higher sustainability, better energy efficiency, and cost reduction. There are 6 simple, yet effective, ways commercial business owners can achieve these. 1. Regular HVAC filter replacement Dirty filters block airflow in the system. This can lead to an overworked HVAC system and poor air quality inside the building. Dirty filters also lead to a number of maintenance issues and increase operating costs. Ideally, air filters in a commercial should be checked or replaced every 1 to 3 months. These regular maintenance checks can reduce energy waste by 5 to 10 percent. 2. Using programmable thermostats St. Louis HVAC experts have found that in commercial HVAC setups, the temperature setting remains constant for long periods of time. Often, the...

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