Sustainability and energy consumption are growing priorities in the HVAC industry. Commercial building owners and residential homeowners alike feel the pressure to reduce their energy consumption, and by extension, their energy bills. The heating and cooling unit is one of the biggest consumers of energy in a home or building, so engineers have looked for ways to make HVAC systems more energy friendly.
The rise of software-enabled HVAC systems may be the answer homeowners and building managers are looking for, because these systems provide valuable data to HVAC technicians. The data describe how the heating and cooling unit is functioning—or malfunctioning—giving techs the ability to positively intervene.
HVAC management software systems collect and analyze data about the HVAC system’s performance. This data can tell technicians about elements such as temperature, humidity, and air quality. And technicians don’t even have to be onsite to receive information about an HVAC system!
The Internet of Things (IoT) is increasingly being used with HVAC heating and cooling systems to improve their efficiency, reliability, and functionality. IoT is a network of connected devices that can communicate with each other and exchange data over the internet. IoT-enabled HVAC systems are growing in popularity because they offer many benefits to techs and consumers.
The Internet of Things is transforming the way contractors and HVAC technicians handle some HVAC installations, services and repairs. Find out more about these benefits below.
IoT-enabled HVAC systems use sensors and smart thermostats to help techs optimize the system’s performance, lower energy levels and improve comfort for building occupants. HVAC techs can receive alerts about potential problems before they balloon into larger, more serious issues.
For example, the software may detect an airflow drop or an expensive heating-and-cooling loop. It can alert technicians and provide information to help them troubleshoot or pinpoint the cause. In a heating-and-cooling loop, a malfunctioning HVAC system may cool a room to a temperature that’s lower than the occupant’s desired setting. Then the system will attempt to adjust the error by heating the room back up. This creates wasted energy and costly bills but often goes undetected.
With the help of HVAC management software, technicians can make a home or building more environmentally and sustainably friendly. They can do all this remotely, as software-enabled HVAC systems are designed to be accessible from a central location. This saves time and reduces the need for onsite visits.
The data provided by software-enabled HVAC systems can help technicians be more proactive with preventative HVAC maintenance, ensuring that the system remains efficient and reliable while reducing the risk of breakdowns and costly repairs. The approach can also boost the level and quality of service that HVAC techs provide to customers.
Kick off a new career path at Apex! The Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Appliance Controls program is enrolling soon. Come join us for a tour of our classrooms and see the shops where you’ll be taught hands-on entry-level HVAC skills and put theory into practice. Learn more about the HVAC program now.
*Apex Technical School and its instructors are licensed by the State of New York, New York State Education Department.
Disclaimer: Apex Technical School provides training for entry-level jobs. Not everything you may read about the industry is covered in our training programs.
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