by Tom Varga
The U.S. is experiencing record-breaking heat. Take resort hotspot Las Vegas, for example, which made history as temperatures recently soared to a record-high 120-degrees Fahrenheit.
With scorching temperatures expected to stick around well into fall for parts of the country, hotel and resort operators must make sure their HVAC systems can withstand extreme heat and are running optimally so guests have comfortable, pleasant stays.
Here are some tips to maintain efficient cooling during sweltering months:
Don’t neglect maintenance
Scorching heat is no time for a property’s air-conditioning system to fail. By scheduling regular HVAC maintenance, technicians can identify and prevent significant issues that could impact the guest experience.
Keep batteries fresh
The last thing a guest wants is for their thermostat to fail. If a property uses wireless thermostats, have the maintenance team regularly replace old batteries with new ones.
Clean or replace filters
Dirty filters impede air flow and make it harder for the HVAC system to work efficiently. Clean or replace air filters regularly to maintain a clear air stream so the system performs better.
Keep outdoor units debris-free
Although plants provide beauty and shade, they can interfere with air flow if they aren’t trimmed and kept away from the outdoor air condenser. Regularly prune plants around the outdoor AC unit to maintain a minimum two-feet clearance. Doing so will help keep organic material from impeding the outdoor unit’s performance.
Tend to unoccupied rooms
When a guest checks out of a room, have housekeeping adjust the air conditioning so it isn’t running full-blast and cooling an empty space. Have staff set the temperature between 75 and 78 degrees so the unit runs but not at full capacity. Additionally, ask housekeeping to close the drapes in unoccupied rooms to block the sun’s rays and keep rooms cooler.
Optimize energy usage
Many larger hotels and resorts have a centralized energy-management system to monitor and maintain the HVAC system across multiple rooms or buildings. Make sure hotel staff optimizes these systems to remotely adjust temperature settings, schedule maintenance and monitor energy usage. This contributes to cost savings, sustainability and operational efficiency.
Consider heat pump technology
For new builds or properties with HVAC systems nearing their end of life, consider a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pump solution that simultaneously heats and air conditions indoor spaces.
When speaking with hotel and resort owners, designers and engineers, I recommend variable-capacity systems because they use only the precise amount of energy necessary to keep each room or zone at the preferred temperature or set point. Through a combination of sensors and inverter-driven technology, capacity is adjusted to keep up with changing capacity loads to maintain desired temperatures. Conventional systems waste energy by turning on and off to meet the set temperatures, causing large temperature swings and energy usage spikes.
All-climate, all-electric VRF technology is the fastest-growing segment of the commercial HVAC industry. Across the U.S., hotel and resort developers and owners are discovering how simultaneous heating and cooling systems help future-proof their buildings and reduce operational costs. Plus, these solutions are ultra-quiet, which is a plus for the guest experience.
Keep guests cool and comfortable
Record heat or not, it’s an ongoing task to keep hotel HVAC systems running optimally—but not an insurmountable one. By using the tips listed above, hotel and resort operators can help ensure guests have a comfortable stay. At the same time, these suggestions help properties save energy, reduce utility costs and optimize their HVAC solution’s performance.
As the hospitality vertical markets manager at Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS), Tom Varga is responsible for the growth of ductless and VRF sales within the hotel/lodging market throughout the U.S.
This is a contributed piece to Hotel Business, authored by an industry professional. The thoughts expressed are the perspective of the bylined individual.
