Technical Corner: Where Does the Money Go?

Posted on December 17, 2012 by crttipster

lynnAt times there seems to be a gap between maintenance engineering departments and finance budgeting. While in some cases this is understandable, there are areas that are of vital financial interest to both the building owners, and to those who pay the bills. One major shared interest is HVAC systems.

There is no question that the heating and cooling systems of buildings are a necessary, albeit expensive, item to purchase and install. Most would like to maintain this investment, and to prevent a premature re-investment in replacement equipment. In larger buildings, such a re-investment could easily cost a million or more dollars.

Outside of sustaining the equipment to avoid very expensive replacement, the operating cost of the equipment also involves serious money. According to the engineering society ASHRAE, 50% or more of a buildings’ monthly energy costs originates directly from the HVAC system.

But given all this, are the best maintenance practices being kept regarding HVAC equipment?

Of course, purchasing more efficient equipment markedly helps lower monthly electrical bills, but ASHRAE’s studies show that dirty or fouled cooling coils increase energy costs by 20% or more. Letting coils become dirty and fouled only serves to throw money down the drain, however few buildings pay attention or provide a budget to keep coils clean. Additionally, this puts more stress on the unit, causing it to work harder, and live shorter.

Replacement can be preventable through proper, and not necessarily expensive, maintenance. With that in mind, we here at CRT have built our reputation, providing solutions that directly affect and eliminate the need for air handler replacement.

We can offer economical and effective solutions to put more money into a user’s pocket by cutting operating costs of the HVAC system, while at the same time insuring that air handling equipment will not have to be replaced for a long time. For more information on these solutions, contact our customer service department at 800-766-9057, or visit us on the web at http://www.cleanac.com.

Lynn Burkhart is the founder and president of Controlled Release Technologies, Inc. located in Shelby, North Carolina. More information about the company, and its products, can be found at http://www.cleanac.com and by calling (800) 766-9057.

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CRT in the News

Posted on September 4, 2012 by crttipster

It never ceases to amaze me as to the diversity of manufacturing we have in Cleveland County. This was once again in evidence as we celebrated with one of our newest members, Controlled Release Technologies, at their ribbon cutting this past Thursday.

Controlled Release Technologies is a chemical company that specializes in products designed to clean and revitalize HVAC systems. If you have ever looked at the air handler on your HVAC system you know what I’m talking about when I say that it can get pretty “gunked up”.

Controlled Release Technologies makes a product that cleans, sanitizes and deodorizes those “gunked up” HVAC coils. They also produce a product that revitalizes HVAC drip pans and one that protects against buildup and overflows in drip pans. It is estimated that the cleaning of HVAC coils can result in as much as a 25% increase in operating efficiency. That translates into a very positive cost savings.

Controlled Release Technologies products are only available through commercial outlets, so if you want to clean your home HVAC unit you need to call one of the Chamber members who specialize in installation and care of HVAC units. Check our business directory on our web site for the names of chamber members that can do this work for you. For more information about their products give Controlled Release Technologies a call at 800-766-9057.

Michael Chrisawn, Chamber President “Your Cleveland County Chamber is committed to the task at hand. Our goal is to provide effective membership services and proactive leadership to enhance economic opportunity and quality of life for our citizens. We are moving mountains… one shovel full of dirt at a time.”

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Technical Corner: Is Bigger Really Better? (Part 2)

Posted on March 20, 2012 by crttipster

Those who have read Part 1 of “Is Bigger Really Better” know that when it comes to air conditioner sizing, bigger is not necessarily better. But there are areas where bigger is better when it comes to preventative maintenance.Take the area of the condensate collection pan for example. Collection pans get dirty and produce odors. In some cases they are a breeding ground for bacteria, fungus, and other microbes.There is no question that these areas are among the dirtiest, if not the most offensive, areas of the air handler. Water overflowing comes about from fouling so bad that the collection pan drain line becomes solidly plugged, preventing water from flowing out naturally.Before the mid-1980s, all that could be done was to add tablets to the condensate pan to attempt to address the problem. Tablets dissolved quickly. Even those that purported not to dissolve quickly (a small weighted red box), an analysis of the active ingredient showed its’ solubility rate was 1.5 grams per liter of water. This would be how much would dissolve in one liter (about a quart) of water.

These type products, considered the best at the time, were used with varying results. It was not uncommon to see literally dozens of these boxes in an air handler, all with fungi and other microbes growing around them.

If the products were that good and they were not consistent, then there must be something we didn’t know as to why. One reason might have been that the water flow was much higher than the tablet could effectively treat. We checked a small fan-coil unit in Florida and found that this smaller unit flowed 1-1⁄2 gallons of water per day or about 6 liters of water.

Now if 1.5 grams of the tablet dissolved in 1 liter of water, then 6 liters would take up 9 grams with one day’s flow of water. But the tablets weighed 3⁄4 ounce or 21 grams. At its 50% active ingredient level, that meant the tablet contained only 10.5 grams of actives. So, in a little over a day, there would be nothing there to work with.

Most engineers and professionals need products they can rely upon, and HVAC maintenance people demand the same. It is irritating to have to make an emergency call to a unit to handle an overflow, or having complaints on odors, and other service related matters.

In 1986 our company made a major breakthrough in this area. This was the development of the first true controlled-release condensate pan treatment. Unlike old treatments used without consistent results for decades, PanGuard and Algae Guard makes a remarkable leap forward. They slowly release ingredients over a 3 to 6 months period of time. This lays on the table what every manager wants: consistency and predictability of results.

Time after time, it works. No surprises and no extra labor. In fact, since the products are only placed in the condensate pan when filters are changed, there is no extra work involved.

To obtain this optimum performance, we determined the condensate flow of water from each tonnage of air conditioning unit. Next we oversized Algae Guard and PanGuard to insure that no matter what conditions would occur, the products always work.

Because upsets seem to occur when one least expects them, we went that extra step by being conservative in our controlled release products: they were engineered to handle all the water from a certain tonnage of air conditioner when that unit was running 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, at a relative humidity of 100%. No other manufacturer of condensate collection treatment products engineers a product to these high standards. With these products, failure is not an option!

Our EPA registered Algae Guard product contains 32% active ingredients as shown on its box label. Users are encouraged to check our box label with other timed-released products to see the difference quality engineering makes.

There is only one other polymer-based product on the market similar to ours; it uses our old 1986 polymer matrix.

Good, but in 2007 after years of further research and development, we upgraded our system by synthesizing a brand new timed-released molecule that is much sturdier, and more efficient at the controlled release of working ingredients. This coupled with our 32% active ingredients in the case of Algae Guard increases its desirability over a 20% active, lower performance polymer molecule.

In this case, bigger is better. Upgrading our products continuously insures our customers only get the latest in technology as we develop it.

CRT Time Released Products

Lynn Burkhart is the founder and president of Controlled Release Technologies, Inc. located in Shelby, North Carolina. More information about the company, and its products, can be found at http://www.cleanac.com and by calling (800) 766-9057.


Filed under: Ductwork, Walls and Insulation, Evaporator and Condenser Coils, Pans, Basins and Metal Surfaces, Technical Corner | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Technical Corner: Is Bigger Really Better? Pt.1

Posted on March 13, 2012 by crttipster

When it comes to many things air conditioning systems, bigger is not always better. Take the sizing of an air handler for instance.

Many instances have been uncovered where architects and mechanical engineering firms oversized the air handler. For example, where the conditions called for a 50 ton unit, 75 tons or higher was installed. Bigger must be better was the supposed reasoning.

Unfortunately, this mistake costs the building owners over 20 million dollars in the end and nationwide infamy. Why?

Air handlers not only must provide adequate cooling, but also reduce the amount of moisture or humidity of the inside air. When the units were started up, cooling was almost immediate. However, the cooling capacity of the units was so large that the unit was able to come on only for a few minutes before it shut off again.

As a result, little moisture was removed and the humidity levels remained high. In Florida, where high humidity is a fact of everyday life, moisture removal is vital. Normally in air conditioners where the air moisture condenses upon cooling coils (similar to the condensation on the outside of a glass of water you may drink in a restaurant), and moisture in the air is removed.

What is known by all indoor air quality professionals is that humidity levels over 60% are conducive to fungal (mold) growth. In this Florida case above, moisture was not removed ever from the air. A building occupant, after the new building was condemned and occupants evacuated, stated “It was either hot and damp or cold and damp in the building. But it was always damp.”

Owners were confronted with bulldozing down the marble enclosed building and re-­‐building it from scratch, or trying to repair the existing building.

There are other areas however where bigger is better. Handling mold issues in the HVAC condensate collection pan is one of them. My next blog will address this important factor.

Please do not hesitate to leave your comments or testimonials below.

Lynn Burkhart is the founder and president of Controlled Release Technologies, Inc. located in Shelby, North Carolina. More information about the company, and its products, can be found at http://www.cleanac.com and by calling (800) 766-9057.


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Product Spotlight: Airing Out Your Dirty Laundry (Socks)

Posted on October 11, 2011 by crttipster

Practically all items inside of buildings contribute to indoor air quality. Everything from carpeting to office equipment release gases and particles known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, the most referenced cause of indoor air quality concerns by tenant and workforce populations is the HVAC system. These concerns are a result of the strength and frequency of undesirable odors being disseminated by HVAC systems.

Contaminated outside air, bacteria and mold are thought to contribute to many health issues. Unfortunately this is quite common, as the interior of HVAC systems provide the perfect growth environment for spores to become active. Along with providing a dark, temperature-controlled area, HVAC systems remove moisture from the atmosphere providing mold spores with water, and remove dirt and debris providing mold spores with food.

Controlled Release Technologies, Inc. (CRT) has developed the following solutions to help buildings maintain positive indoor air quality, and avoid odor problems originating in the HVAC system. By using these products, air handler units can remain clean and sanitized. Additionally, the time between cleanings and the life of the unit itself can be increased, and the chance of poor indoor air quality can be dramatically decreased.

The Dirty Sox Kit is an annual, three-step application process developed by CRT that rids HVAC air handler units of odors by cleaning, sanitizing and protecting the evaporator coil. It is generally applied in the fall or winter months, and in systems where Dirty Sock Syndrome is thought to be present.

Dirty Sock Syndrome is a term coined by industry experts to describe unidentifiable odors which building occupants equate to the smell of dirty laundry or a gym locker room. Dirty Sock Syndrome is believed to be a result of bacterial growth on HVAC evaporator coils. The problem is generally limited to heat pump systems, but may be noticed in other system interiors.

Dirty Sock Syndrome is prevalent in buildings located in hot, humid climates, where there is a constant supply of moist air exasperating the problem. Because a microbial can grow quite rapidly, the emission of odors increases over time.

Follow these steps when applying Dirty Sox Kit:

  1. Apply Instant Powder Kegs coil cleaner to clean the evaporator coil of deposit buildup.
    Instant Powder Kegs is a concentrated cleaning powder, that is mixed with water at the job site, saving users expensive and unnecessary shipping charges. Instant Powder Kegs removes dirt and odor-producing build up that hinder the efficiency of HVAC systems.
  2. Apply Fast Attack to sanitize the coil, and remove any odor-causing algae, fungus, bacteria or mold.
    Fast Attack is an EPA-registered, concentrated antimicrobial that cleans as it sanitizes. Iodine was chosen as the active ingredient, as its effectiveness is well known and widely used in hospitals and laboratories.
  3. Apply First Strike Micro Coat to the coil surface to protect against future buildup of dirt and contamination.
    First Strike Micro Coat provides a clear molecular barrier (less than one micron), that does not inhibit heat transferability. Because First Strike Micro Coat has been extensively evaluated, it performs without maintenance attention for a year or more. This decreases redundant labor costs and coil cleanings, and keeps coils performing at optimal energy usage.

Controlled Release Technologies, Inc.,is a research, development and manufacturing firm based in Shelby, North Carolina. CRT is an EnergyStar Partner and manufacturer of independently-certified Green products for HVAC maintenance. Since 1986, CRT has been creating leading edge HVAC maintenance products that have become industry standards, used in thousands of commercial buildings world-wide. CRT employees are members of BOMA, ASHRAE, ASHE and the American Chemical Society. www.cleanac.com (800) 766-9057.

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