In summer, the Chicagoland area is often forecasted to experience extremely hot temperatures with high humidity that will test the limits of the air-conditioning capabilities of building cooling equipment.
In advance of this and other extreme weather events, it is important to make sure buildings are prepared to provide comfortable conditions for their occupants. We recommend taking the following steps to ready your building, as applicable:
- Override unoccupied and overnight setbacks to occupied
- Avoid scheduled shutdowns of systems
- Avoid turning cooling related equipment off
- Maintain continuous operation of all cooling related pumps
- Minimize infiltration by keeping doors, windows and other openings sealed and shut
- Keep blinds and shades closed on windows during the day to avoid direct sunlight
- Perform a system check of all air-conditioning critical equipment
- Verify the operation of all backup or redundant air-conditioning equipment not normally operated
- Ensure make-up water feeds to cooling towers are fully functional and water levels are able to be maintained
- Ensure condensate drains and traps have been checked and are functional
- Proactively change filters in fan coils and air-handling equipment
- Enhance dehumidification by lowering cooling coil discharge air temperatures and slowing down fan speed, where necessary. Ensure equipment is operating within manufacturer guidelines. Adjustments to DX equipment should be made by a service contractor authorized by the manufacturer
- Set all thermostats to typical design indoor conditions of 74°F-75°F
- Sub-cool event spaces and venues prior to scheduled events
