Can fan coil unit refurbishment be done in situ?
Yes, fan coil unit refurbishment can be done in situ. The extent of the refurbishment required will determine how best to proceed.
The work is generally carried out on the fan coil unit in its installed position without any requirement to move or reposition it. To minimise the impact on the building operation, fan coil refurbishment can be carried out either after working hours or at weekends. This eliminates the cost of having to decant people and equipment elsewhere during the refurbishment. It also avoids a disruptive event for employees that can lead to working hours losses and a drop in productivity.
What are the energy efficiency benefits of fan coil unit refurbishment?
A fan coil unit (FCU), like any mechanical system, may lose efficiency over time with natural wear and tear, and parts will then require repair or replacement. In some cases, installation of a new FCU may be the best option; however, refurbishment of a fan coil unit can bring energy efficiency benefits to the asset manager at low cost and should be considered first.
In most existing fan coil units made before the year 2010, an AC motor drives the fan within the FCU. Modern fan coil units use EC motors that are around 50-80% more efficient than AC motors. They also have superior speed control and are quieter in operation than AC motors. Existing fan coil units with AC motors can be upgraded by replacing them with EC motor fans during refurbishment. The increase in motor efficiency results in lower electricity consumption. This reduces energy demand and operational carbon emissions of a building and can help improve its EPC rating. EC motors improve the specific fan power (SFP) of the existing fan coil unit.
EC motors typically have SFPs in the region of 0.2 W/(l/s), whereas AC motors run with SFPs of around 0.8 W/(l/s). Part L of the building regulations aims to conserve fuel and power and sets a maximum allowable SFP for fan coil units at 0.4 W/(l/s) in new and existing buildings. Therefore, refurbishment of fan coil units with EC motors will upgrade them to at the least achieve regulatory energy efficiency standards.
What are the cost benefits of fan coil refurbishment over replacement?
Refurbishing fan coil units can be significantly more cost-effective than the installation of new fan coil units. More efficient refurbished FCUs deliver ongoing energy cost savings. Often, only a few components need replacing to enhance their performance. This reduces purchase, installation and other labour costs. Refurbishment also minimises waste and carbon emissions and negates the need to manufacture and transport new units. Upgraded performance following FCU refurbishment boosts energy efficiency, extends the lifespan of the existing technology and lowers operational expenses (OPEX).
What are the typical signs that fan coil units may need to be refurbished?
Signs of a fan coil system in need of a refurbishment vary, but could include increased operational noise, system leaks or insufficient volume of air leaving the FCU to cool or heat a relevant space. It is likely that an increased level of maintenance and repair is required to keep the system running and breakdowns are more frequent.
What is the process of refurbishment of a fan coil unit?
The first stage of the process of fan coil refurbishment is a preliminary survey carried out to establish the types of FCUs in the building and their overall condition. Ideally, the building’s O&M manuals should be made available, as this will provide useful information, such as whether the FCUs are concealed or exposed, along with their exact locations within the asset, and a maintenance, fault and repair history. Following the survey, a report detailing refurbishment options, recommendations, and provisional timescales will be issued.
If this report offers sufficient confirmation that fan coil unit refurbishment may be required, a more thorough survey and work schedule will be undertaken. This will detail any FCU parts, such as casings, fans, coils, condensate trays, insulation, spigots, and control valves that require repair or replacement. A confirmed price and timeline for the works will be stated to give a full picture of the FCU refurbishment process for the facility manager or a building owner.
Who can I contact to assess my options for fan coil unit refurbishment?
Ability has years of experience in carrying out fan coil refurbishments for commercial buildings of all sizes across the UK. Our full fan coil refurbishment service includes a free of charge initial report prepared by our experienced service team. They will investigate your system on-site and provide refurbishment recommendations that best suit your needs. This includes when FCU refurbishment can be a more cost-effective option than replacement and when component upgrades or unit maintenance can result in increased system performance.
We offer fan coil unit refurbishment services on Ability FCUs as well as fan could from any other manufacturer, including FCUs those no longer in production. Contact our dedicated fan coil refurbishment team to find out more or to book a survey.
