Sports, music, industry conventions, and more have been on hold since early 2020.
Now, at last, it’s safe for events to start appearing in the schedule. Civic centers from coast to coast are getting ready for an exciting season. While there may still be occupancy limits and other restrictions, it will only get safer and easier for groups to gather. Before you know it, large events will be the norm everywhere once again.
It’s the perfect time to make sure your civic center is prepared.
During long months of closure, many civic centers have capitalized on the opportunity to do maintenance. Cleaning, painting, and several other projects are made much easier by reduced foot traffic. Now, it’s essential to extend that same spirit to your other building systems.
In particular, consider:
- Your HVAC system, particularly if it has been reduced to minimal use in recent months
- Any refrigeration systems that support on-site kitchens, especially if they have been off for the past year
A few days of maintenance right now can prevent issues later and help your civic center get off to the right start. Many visitors are sure to be relieved to have the chance to enjoy their favorite events in-person, so it’s wise to brace yourself for unusually high levels of occupancy – and the demands that come with them!
Making Sure Your Civic Center Is Ready for the Future
Civic centers often have very complex cooling systems. In addition to your main convention floors, you might have musical or theatrical venues that are kept at a particular temperature. Likewise, when organizations rent space for their event, they tend to want some control over the climate.
As a result, civic centers have more temperature zones than most other buildings. Combine that with formidable square footage and the need to offset body heat from thousands of attendees and you are dealing with a real challenge – one that can age your commercial compressors well before their time.
Here’s what you can do to prepare for the busy months ahead:
1. Make Sure You Are Up to Date on HVAC and Refrigeration Maintenance
Maintenance is crucial for extending the service life of any complex mechanical system. Your compressor is the most sophisticated and important part of your HVAC. Without it, everything else comes to a halt – and defects in other areas of the system can cause it to work harder, reducing its lifespan and output.
Be sure you are following an annual HVAC maintenance checklist. If you notice some steps that haven’t been followed lately, now is the ideal time for a maintenance deep dive. Do the same for your refrigeration system maintenance. This will help you uncover and resolve issues before they become serious.
2. Calibrate Your Thermostat and Other Smart Building Systems
Smart systems help facility leaders save money by optimizing the operations of large buildings. If you are not yet using a smart thermostat, now is a terrific time to install one: The business case practically writes itself with the savings you can achieve over time. If you already have one, take time to calibrate it.
A thermostat operates as the brain of your HVAC system and directly impacts the efficiency of any commercial compressor. Smart thermostats can lose calibration over time as sensors become less sensitive or require maintenance. Replacing them can prevent your system from cycling unnecessarily and straining your compressor.
If you use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), make sure it is part of your maintenance plans, too.
3. Source Remanufactured Commercial Compressors if Needed
It is not unusual for a modern commercial compressor to deliver strong performance for ten years or more. However, output often decreases with age, and there should be a formal replacement plan in place before each compressor reaches eight years in service.
With appropriate maintenance and the right operating environment, sudden compressor failure before that time is very unusual. But once a compressor is near the end of its lifespan, a replacement could be necessary on any day. Unexpected compressor failure can lead to events at your venue being interrupted or canceled.
A remanufactured commercial compressor is ideal for large properties that deploy many compressors.
During the remanufacturing process, a compressor is completely disassembled. It is cleaned inside and out and components are checked for functionality. Replacements are made as necessary before the unit is reassembled. Each compressor that is remanufactured by Compressors Unlimited is run and tested before it is released to inventory and ultimately sold to the customer.
Remanufactured compressors provide performance comparable to an all-new model at a significant discount, often up to 30%. They can also be sourced weeks sooner, helping you meet your goals despite tight timeframes.
If anything says “back to normal,” it’s a concert or sporting event at the local civic center. With these tips and the right commercial compressors, you can make sure those thousands of fans will have a great experience.
