By: Andrew Parks, Director of Marketing – SmartAC.com
Modern homes utilize various appliances to create healthy and comfortable environments, and modern commercial spaces do the same. From refrigerators to water heaters to HVAC systems, today’s appliances give us the power to orchestrate ideal living and working conditions.
However, facilitating that level of control comes with a cost. HVAC expenses, for example, represent 54 percent of the average homeowner’s energy costs. For commercial building owners, the amount is 44 percent.
To reduce those costs, companies that produce and support appliances have developed innovative diagnostic tools to ensure that appliances operate efficiently. These tools track performance metrics to identify efficiency issues, alert users to the need for maintenance and repair, and provide long-term data analytics that can help users understand the impact of their usage habits.
The following are examples of ways modern diagnostic tools can be leveraged to potentially save money for your home or business.
Increasing HVAC Efficiency With Remote Monitoring Sensors
As mentioned above, HVAC costs contribute heavily to the energy costs in both residential and commercial structures. Consequently, diagnostic tools aimed at increasing HVAC efficiency can potentially provide benefits.
One emerging approach to increasing HVAC efficiency involves diagnosing performance by placing remote monitoring sensors on existing HVAC systems to measure key metrics. The sensors track measures such as temperature and airflow levels, comparing them to standards and past performance to identify issues as they develop.
Air flow sensors, for example, can detect changes in flow volume that indicate issues with unit motors or ductwork. By combining performance data with maintenance data, diagnostics can determine when issues indicate the need for filter replacements, duct cleaning, or other regular maintenance.
Sensors that track output temperatures can also identify heating or cooling performance issues. An unexpected drop in temperature can indicate a possible coil freeze, for example. A slow increase in temperature over time can indicate a coolant leak preventing the system from absorbing sufficient heat.
Platforms that analyze and leverage the data they collect to diagnose problems multiply the value of remote monitoring sensors. In some cases, these diagnostic tools can empower preventative maintenance by using data trends to identify problems before they cause shutdowns or damage. Whether used in a proactive or reactive way, diagnostic evaluations can be routed directly to support companies that can monitor and support efficiency on behalf of HVAC users.
Preventing Costly Water Leaks With Remote Monitoring
Undetected leaks—whether they flow from pipes, water heaters, refrigerators, or other appliances—can cause a number of unnecessary expenses. In most cases, utility companies will hold building owners responsible for water wasted as a result of leaks, which means they increase your water bill. Leaks can also lead to expenses associated with addressing the damage they cause, including structural repairs and mold mitigation.
Moisture sensors with remote monitoring capabilities can detect leaks and high humidity levels around pipes and appliances. They can notify homeowners or building management companies to alert them to the potential problem or, with advanced systems, automatically shut off a building’s water supply. Homeowners who use moisture sensors may also be able to access insurance discounts.
Other types of water sensors monitor the amount of water moving through pipes to identify unusual flows that could indicate a leak. These sensors diagnose trends in water volume to identify irregularities. In addition to identifying problems, they can also help users identify strategies for improving efficiency by analyzing usage trends. For example, suppose hot water usage is found to be limited to certain periods during the day. In that case, homeowners can save money by installing a timer that shuts off the heater during hours when it is not typically in use.
Identifying Inefficiencies With Energy Information Systems
An energy information system (EIS) diagnostic tool monitors and analyzes building-wide energy usage information. Primarily used in commercial buildings, these systems allow users to monitor energy usage in real time, identifying when usage spikes occur and the components causing them. An advanced EIS can determine how elements such as weather and occupancy patterns affect energy usage and make suggestions for mitigating their impact.
By establishing usage norms, an EIS can also alert users to situations that may indicate a fault. The more data an EIS collects, the more its diagnosis can be more precise. An advanced EIS can provide alarms for subtle but notable changes, such as an increase in the run time of a water heater that may indicate a failure of a heating element.
Timely maintenance is crucial to ensuring today’s appliances operate with maximum efficiency. Today’s diagnostic tools provide users in residential and commercial settings with a wealth of insights that can be used to optimize maintenance. Users can potentially achieve maximum performance at minimal expense by taking advantage of those tools.
– Andrew Parks, Director of Marketing for SmartAC.com, has over 20 years of experience in technology, oil and gas, construction, and consumer products industries, which has allowed him to bring a unique combination of technical, leadership, and strategic skills to his work. Prior to joining the team at SmartAC.com, Andrew was the Director of Innovation and Sales at Allied Outdoor Solutions, growing the sales team and overseeing customer-facing and strategic internal projects.
Published by: Annie P.
