Warehouse Air Conditioning Challenges: Solutions for Large-Scale Spaces
Across Illinois, it’s estimated that there are just over 6,500 leased storage or warehouse businesses. Transportation and warehousing businesses provide tremendous job growth in the state, but also pose problems with the summer heat. HVAC systems need to be designed by commercial HVAC specialists, or they don’t work effectively.
Warehouses are large buildings with bay doors that are often left open for unloading or loading. Machinery like forklifts, shrink wrap systems, and computers all produce heat that warms the building. Because the building is open, it’s hard to efficiently deliver cool air to each department or work station, which poses a problem when you’re trying to keep your employees comfortable. Don’t worry. Air Blue has solutions for large-scale spaces.
The Challenges in Illinois Warehouse Air Conditioning Systems
The climate in Illinois is one of the biggest hurdles to having an efficient, effective commercial air conditioning system, but it’s more challenging when you add these other components to the hot, humid summers.
Poorly Insulated Spaces
Many older warehouses have little insulation. Windows are often older and allow cool air to escape an air-conditioned space. Unless you take the time to make sure your entire plant is well insulated and any drafts are sealed, it’s hard to keep a building cold enough for workers to work in comfort.
A Bustling Environment
Doors opening and closing frequently add to the problem, with cool air leaving and hot air coming in. On a hot, humid day, something as simple as opening a loading dock’s door allows heat to rush into a large space. While that door is open, the heat and humidity rush in and make the HVAC system work harder to restore the building’s temperature and humidity levels.
Your workers get too hot and throw open doors, hoping to get some airflow to their department. If there are windows, heat gain is a problem as the sun coming in a window quickly heats a space. Each of these situations makes it harder for a warehouse AC system to effectively do its job.
A Lot of Space Needs Cooling
Warehouses are large, open spaces with high ceilings. You might have partitions to divide areas, but you still have a giant space to cool. A warehouse AC system runs as any AC system does. It’s a continual loop where these steps occur.
- Fans pull warm, humid air from the building through vents.
- That warm air goes over coils filled with refrigerant that absorbs the heat.
- As heat is removed from the air, cooler air is pushed through the vents and back into the building.
- The air passes through filters to remove dust, dirt, and other contaminants.
- The warmed refrigerant travels in gas form outside the building, where fans cool the coils so that they release the heat.
- Coolant is pressurized to return to a liquid form to repeat the process.
If you think of how quickly this process happens and the sheer size of a warehouse, it’s easy to see how a small AC system would never work. A commercial system designed specifically for warehouse air conditioning is essential.
Poor Air Quality
The final consideration for a commercial HVAC system in Illinois is the air quality in the summer. Industrial areas often have more exhaust, which can worsen the outdoor air quality. Open a door, and that pollution enters the space.
Dust is also a common issue in warehouses, especially if that warehouse has a lot of cardboard and packaging materials like shredded brown paper. Dust brings dust mites, which trigger allergies. An AC system is designed to remove those allergens and other contaminants like mold and mildew, but it must be designed for your space. If the AC isn’t right for your space and conditions, the air quality will decline.
Expert Commercial HVAC Solutions Tailored for Illinois Warehouses
Addressing these challenges takes the skill of a professional commercial HVAC team. You need a commercial air conditioning system that matches your industry and the outdoor temperatures and humidity. Air Blue Heating and Cooling has several approaches to consider.
- High-Volume, Low-Speed Fans (HVLS)
HVLS fans can move a lot of air at low speeds to help keep warm, humid air from pooling in an area farther from vents. They improve air flow and circulation, which makes it easier for your commercial AC system to cool air properly and return it to all areas of the warehouse.
- Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Systems
VRF systems adapt to temperature fluctuations in the fall and spring. We all have experienced that frosty morning when you’re shivering, which quickly leads to you shedding clothes by the afternoon as temperatures soar unseasonably. A VRF system allows for heightened temperature control when your HVAC system is torn between running heat in the morning and AC in the afternoon.
- Zoned Climate Control
Establishing zones for cooling is essential. Instead of having one thermostat controlling the temperature at all corners of the plant, you create zones where a thermostat manages the temperature in that area and nowhere else.
You might not want the loading dock offices to be as cool as the area farthest from the doors. As the doors in that area open and close regularly, it’s wasteful to keep the temperature 20 degrees cooler than the outside air, as it is in the area where your computer servers are located. With multiple zones, the room temperature is easier to regulate, and that helps keep your costs down.
- Smart Technology
Smart thermostats and AC systems with smart diagnostics make it easy to pay attention to the temperature in your plant. If it is getting warmer than expected, you’ll know before it’s a problem and can have your maintenance team see what’s going on and take care of simple fixes like changing air filters or replacing a failing thermostat. A professional HVAC technician can check for issues remotely and know what tools and parts to bring if a service call is necessary.
- Improve the Insulation
Before you have a commercial HVAC company install a warehouse AC system that fits your space, have the insulation upgraded. It’s worth it to have drafts sealed, insulation boosted to meet the recommendations of R-13 to R-20 for walls and R-30 for the roof.
Replacing windows with those that are better at blocking heat gain is also advisable. If that’s not possible, adding blinds that can be adjusted to block the sun on hot days is a smart idea.
Once Installed, Keep Your Commercial AC System Maintained
Regular maintenance of your warehouse AC is important. Routine cleaning and maintenance prevent unexpected wear and tear and ensure your system keeps your workers cool throughout the summer. You avoid avoidable downtime by having the system serviced before summer’s heat arrives.
Talk to Air Blue About Our Smart Solutions for Illinois Warehouses
Keeping your warehouse cool all summer can seem challenging, but Air Blue has installed many commercial HVAC systems that match the company’s floor plan, square footage, and needs. We provide customized solutions that consider the different hurdles and ensure you have an efficient, effective AC system. Reach us for a free consultation to discuss your warehouse’s cooling needs.
