State of Michigan Boiler Code Updates
In the State of Michigan mechanical, electrical, and plumbing codes are statutorily required to be updated every three years, however there is not a time-based mandate on boiler codes. Since last year the MI Bureau of Construction Codes has been working to update adopted boiler codes through the rule making process. These new rules went […]
Energy Code Changes
Contributes to Significant Changes to Heating & Cooling Equipment Due to recent energy code updates, significant modifications will be made to all roof top heating and cooling equipment with a special emphasis on base model equipment. These changes mean that manufacturers must retool the production lines to accommodate these changes. The manufacturers are setting ordering […]
CSD-1 Testing for State of Michigan Boiler Compliance
What is a CSD-1? CSD-1 is a guideline that has been adopted as code in numerous states. CSD stands for Controls and Safety Devices, the rules of this Standard cover requirements for the assembly, installation, maintenance, and operation of controls and safety devices on automatically operated boilers directly fired with gas, oil, gas-oil, or electricity, […]
Are Your Employees Breathing Easy?
All buildings must have some fresh air circulation to maintain a healthy workplace. Otherwise, you may be looking at health risks for your employees. There needs to be a way of exchanging the carbon dioxide that we exhale for fresh oxygen. Without this, your employees are at risk for complications such as headaches, increased […]
Contactor Pitting, Inrush Mode, and the Health of Your HVAC System
Why is it so urgent when your technician tells you about pitting on your contactors? One way to maximize the life expectancy of an HVAC compressor is to minimize its operation time in the inrush amperage mode. Inrush mode, in HVAC systems and other electronic devices, is the momentary burst of current that flows […]
The Risk You’re Taking With Dirty HVAC Coils
Yesterday, the crew at Pleune sent out a technician to visit a new customer. The service call was the result of the customer’s cooling not keeping up with the hot weather. With a brief inspection, it didn’t take long for our technician to figure out what the problem was. Many customers who are not […]
New Technology Will Change Your Heating and Cooling
There’s an exciting Japanese HVAC technology, and it’s gaining more acceptance in the states. Invented by a company called Daikin in 1982, VRF systems, or variable refrigerant flow systems, use refrigerant for both heating and cooling. This puts them in the same family as ductless mini-split air conditioners. However, they differ from those units […]
The Importance of Lighting Maintenance
All lighting systems experience deterioration of performance during operation, and so require ongoing maintenance. As the useful light distributed by a lighting system decreases, wattage stays the same, resulting in energy waste. In many buildings, lighting system maintenance consists of reactive rather than proactive solutions. Fixtures are rarely cleaned, although dirt and dust build […]
Is Your HVAC Causing Sick Building Syndrome?
When employees suffer health or comfort issues linked to time spent in a building, and no specific illness is at fault,“Sick Building Syndrome” could be the culprit. Many times the cause can be flaws in the HVAC system, which can be fixed with regular maintenance. Sometimes, though, the cause is mold, use of industrial chemicals, […]
Stop Losing Money With Your HVAC System
Energy conservation has gained popularity ever since the rise of “going green”. The lists of tips and tricks on how to be more environmentally friendly are endless these days. So what can you do to make your business more energy efficient, and even keep some extra cash in your pocket? Most people don’t know […]
