Hospital air handler restoration saves capital budgets for Tampa Bay healthcare facility! This project profile examines how HVAC restoration saves time, money, and energy compared to replacing aging equipment.
The Challenge: A large suburban hospital located in Tampa Bay with a 479-bed facility offers comprehensive healthcare services for the region. Recently, SiteLogIQ was working with the hospital on energy/performance surveys to improve facility operations. During the study two air handler units serving Labor and Delivery rooms in The Women’s Center, The Baby Suites were identified as candidates for replacement due to degraded conditions and performance.
The Solution: Due to the units’ location inside the penthouse and replacement costs, including time and facility disruption, it was determined that hospital air handler restoration could be done with WTI | Pure Air Control Services HVAC New Life program.
Air handler restoration
Hospital Air Handler Restoration with HVAC New Life - HVAC New Life is a series of component services conducted over consecutive nights. These phased services effectively cleans, refinishes, and restores performance to an AHU without loss of supply air during normal operating hours.
CCV readings were also taken after the cleaning to monitor improvements
PURE-Steam AHU and Coil Cleaning - The first step was to HEPA-vacuum the interior of the AHUs. Next, airflow resistance readings were taken across the cooling coils. This is known as a Coil Cleanliness Verification test, or CCV. Second, the interior of the unit was masked off and sanitized with WTI Pure Air’s proprietary PURE-Steam process. This included a deep cleaning of the cooling coils as well. PURE-Steam utilized bio-enzyme treatments and high temperature, low-pressure steam to penetrate through debris that was deeply lodged in the coil. Last, CCV readings were also taken after the cleaning to monitor improvements. In total, this process effectively optimizes AHU performance, cleanliness, and indoor air quality.
Air handlers safely
High-Performance Coatings - The next step in the hospital air handler restoration process was the refinishing of all the metal components of the units.
This included the condensate or 'drain' pans, as well as the exterior. It was done with high-performance, multi-part polyurethane coatings designed and tested for use in HVAC equipment. They are antimicrobial, corrosion resistant, and have a very low odor to extend the useful life of the air handlers safely and effectively.
Outside air dampers
Outside Air Dampers and Controls - Finally, the AHUs were retrofitted with new outside air dampers which also included upgrades to the control components and system.
In conclusion, hospital air handler restoration from WTI | Pure Air Control Services helped SiteLogIQ and the hospital refurbish two AHUs in much less time than replacing and with a significant 76% capital avoidance! Where two brand new AHUs would have cost the hospital $350,000 or more, the hospital saved $266,000 in capital by restoring them with HVAC New life for $84,000. Now the hospital has peace of mind in two restored units with five-year warranties that will provide many more years of service for their patients and staff.