Author: rob.fullsend

Air conditioning services are a useful tool to improve employee concentration in the workplace, regulate the temperature of your business premises and keep occupants comfortable. Internal air conditioning keeps your environment healthier and can even help with asthma and allergies. 

Conditioning units will filter the air in your premises, and remove dust, bacteria and excess humidity (which can cause the growth of mould). However, these benefits only apply to a working system, so it’s important to service your units regularly!

Here is a useful list of common air conditioning problems, and how to fix them.

Blowing Warm Air

If the air coming from your air conditioning machine isn’t as cold as it should be, then you may have a refrigerant leak. This leak often starts like a pinhole, but over time will develop and expand, and become a larger problem. It’s vitally important that you handle a refrigerant leak as soon as you notice it, as immediate action will save you a lot of hassle later on.

Not to mention, the substance escaping the holes in a refrigerant leak is toxic, and can be detrimental to health. Refrigerant leaks must be handled urgently by a professional offering reactive maintenance call-out services. Handling the chemicals inside your air conditioning machine could have a fatal effect without the correct equipment, and the leaks deplete the ozone layer while being unsafe for the immediate environment. 

Another good indicator that a refrigerant leak could be occurring is a foul smell escaping the vents of your machine, so make sure to check the scent regularly. If you have any suspicions at all, contact an air conditioning technician. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Increased Energy Usage

Sometimes your air conditioning unit may still be providing cold air, but the actual machine feels hot to the touch. This isn’t the ideal case, because it indicates that your conditioning unit is overworking. An overworking machine will require more power and will be more expensive to keep running. If you’ve noticed you’re paying more in utility bills, it can be worth checking your machine out.

The problem here is likely that the filter of your machine is clogged or dirty. The air entering and leaving your machine has less space, and so requires more energy to suck in or push out. It isn’t always the case, but the cold air being offered by your machine may also be less cool than usual when your filter is dirty. The biggest indicator is your unit being more expensive to run.

To clean the filter of your air conditioning unit, you can physically remove it and run it under warm water. As soon as it’s dried, reinstall it to your system and note if you see a change. If you can’t see a noticeable improvement and your machine is still consuming a lot of energy, it could be time to purchase a new filter as a replacement. A handyman is a final resort if that doesn’t work.

Making Strange Noises

If your air conditioning unit is making an unusual buzzing or banging noises that you haven’t noticed before, it’s likely an indicator of an internal problem. This can be due to a malfunctioning compressor, missing or damaged isolation feet, loose parts, or perhaps because your unit is frozen. A leak usually causes a frozen unit, so this cause is less likely if your air conditioning isn’t blowing hot air.

The compressor in your air conditioning unit is supposed to pressurise and cool the refrigerant. A buzzing sound likely means your compressor isn’t working quite properly, or that the voltage flowing to your machine isn’t at the correct level. A banging sound is more likely to be loose parts in your unit, but buzzing can also occur since the other parts of your system will be working harder to keep your machine running in the absence of your loose parts.

Since these strange noises are hard to understand without familiarity, it’s worth calling a professional to see what the problem is. You can’t assess your units perfectly yourself, and taking them apart is a risky game unless you’re qualified. 

For professional air conditioning unit repair and further advice, please contact us at Kiasu Workforce.

The list of a landlord’s responsibilities can seem overwhelming. Consistently maintaining the security and health of your rental property is vital to reduce the number of time-consuming repairs you’re faced with while protecting your tenants’ safety. 

A well-running property maintains its value and will pass any inspection with flying colours. Investing in your relationship with your tenants is also wise, as you want to be approached as quickly as possible about potential issues with your property to avoid expensive fixes. Our landlord’s guide to property maintenance will help you dodge any costly mistakes.

Conduct inspections

The state of your property can change throughout a tenancy, so it’s advisable to conduct regular inspections as a landlord. Some tenants aren’t able to carry out essential maintenance in a home themselves, so maybe unable to identify dangerous problems with your property. It is your responsibility to keep your property inhabitable and adequately functioning, for the sake of your tenants.

Regular inspections also help you to keep tabs on how your tenant is treating your property. An involved landlord is much harder to lie to, and you’ll be able to keep an up-to-date record of property incidents that weren’t your fault. These can be particularly handy at the end of a tenancy, just in case there is any dispute. 

As well as being able to keep an eye on the treatment of your property, you also seem more invested in the experience your property provides – which your tenants will appreciate.

Repair quickly

When problems like mould, damp and blocked drains occur, it can be tempting to try and save money by avoiding those repairs for as long as possible. Unfortunately, problems begin to deteriorate as soon as they start and rarely fix themselves, so you’re best off acting quickly and decisively.

As soon as damp rears its head, structural damage could be occurring within your property. Renovating a house is costly work and leaves your tenants without a home for the time of repair. Trying too hard to save money can cost you more money in the long run, particularly with an older property that’s more susceptible to decay. Call out an experienced professional as soon as damp or mould has been noticed, and avoid property deterioration and complaint from your tenants.

Find reliable tradespeople

When maintenance of your property is constant and, little repairs need to be carried out consistently, finding a reliable set of tradespeople with reasonable prices can make a world of difference. Shop around with reputable local contractors to find the most cost-effective service possible, and stick with those tradespeople. They may reward your loyalty with an even lower discounted price. 

As well as the potential to save money, you save time by developing a mutually beneficial relationship with a team of tradespeople. You could find and rely on one ideal handyman for your DIY jobs, consistently call out one team of emergency plumbers for your water needs, and hire a regular group of painters and decorators. You won’t need to shop around for quotes when work needs carrying out, and the team will already be familiar with your property. When your usual contractors aren’t able to fulfil a job you require, they may be able to refer you to another team they trust and guarantee they will operate effectively.

With regular inspections, quick repairs and a team of reliable tradespeople, your property will remain in excellent condition during any rental. Record inspections and repairs as closely as possible to prove your consistent involvement in the property, and there will never be any dispute as to your reputation as a landlord. If your tenants can recognise that you care about your property and their place to live, they’re much more likely to reciprocate in a friendly relationship with you.

Returning to office life during the time of the coronavirus does not come without risk. To keep employees safe, practical steps should be put in place to reduce the likelihood of the disease being able to spread through the office. 

With a new hyper-awareness of hazards to health for both employers and employees, it is vital that both parties work hand-in-hand to keep the office safe during coronavirus. Employers have the potential to be liable for sickness at work if COVID-preventative measures aren’t imposed correctly, and employees want to remain fit to work to support themselves financially. 

What does the ideal office look like at this time?

Hygiene at the heart

Hand-washing should be a priority in the workplace during this pandemic. Easily accessible sanitisers and soaps encourage employees to clean their hands regularly and prevent the spreading of germs through touching of handrails and shared appliances. 

As an employer, it is your responsibility to provide adequate risk protection to everybody on your business premises, and this includes cleaning supplies as protection from the virus. Simply encouraging hand washing isn’t enough, because germs can spread through the air and cover any surface. Even an unknowingly sick employee sneezing at a private desk has the potential to infect everybody in the workplace because those germs can spread through the air without an effective ventilation system and the interruption of fresh air. 

Windows should be open as much as possible, surfaces should be wiped of bacteria with antibacterial spray frequently, and social distancing should be practised by all employees and at desks. 

Deep cleaning by a professional should be carried out weekly while employees aren’t present, to remove dirt and bacteria missed during daily cleaning. The sharing of appliances should be at to a minimum, but if unavoidable, then they should be disinfected after every use. Everyday disinfecting is an employee responsibility, and it is reasonable to request that your staff maintains the wiping of equipment.

A thoughtful schedule

To maintain social distancing, you may consider introducing staggered lunch breaks, rotating days of different teams using meeting rooms, and alternating days between working from home and visiting the office for each employee. 

A great place to start is considering the risks of each room in your office building. If your kitchen is small, no more than two employees are going to be able to enter at once. If the desks in your salesroom are tightly packed with no room for movement, half of the team will need to work from home per day. The space that you have will dictate the approach you’ll need to take in having employees return to an office with COVID-secure procedures. 

A detailed cleaning schedule could also be beneficial for your office space. Making sure that time is allowed for kitchens or bathrooms to be inspected every hour and cleaned at least twice a day could be vital in deterring the spread of any infection. A schedule also lets employees know when each room won’t be available, so toilet breaks or kitchen trips can be finished before the cleaning is supposed to begin. Such a schedule serves as a record of what your business is doing to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Temporary measures

With an understanding of the virus continually developing, it is reasonable to decide you aren’t quite ready to invest money in permanent coronavirus protection yet. Disposable screens for between desks are a great measure to put in place to enforce social distancing and prevent germs from spreading across desks, even though they are a temporary measure.

Disposable cups, plates and cutlery may also be something to consider in the short term, as it minimises time employees spend in the kitchen and is more hygienic than relying on your employees to properly clean office drinkware. Even removing plates and drinkware altogether and instructing employees to manage their own cups and plates is a temporary measure that may benefit the office in the very beginning.

When reintroducing your employees to an office environment, your business premises need to be carefully considered and arranged to protect all staff. Professional deep cleaning should be carried out weekly to remove any bacteria missed by daily sweeps. 

It is your responsibility to provide cleaning supplies to your workers, both for themselves and for worktop surfaces. Failure to do so could result in a justified complaint from an employee, or closure of your business after an unsuccessful inspection. 

Keep your office as happy as possible by being thoughtful about layout, supporting social distancing and encouraging all employees to practise good hygiene.

Running a home is no easy task, as building maintenance costs time and money. As with all commitments, though, potential problems are best fixed as soon as they’re noticed. With close care, you can keep your home running as smoothly as possible by avoiding emergency repairs and pre-empting issues that could cost you time to correct in the future. 

Have some consideration for the future you, and read our list of 3 home maintenance mistakes to avoid so that you can save yourself the hassle. 

Not servicing your boiler annually.

Your boiler is the heart of your home, providing heat to all your radiators and hot water to your taps. Without proper care and attention, your boiler could start to leak or have too high or low a pressure to work your central heating. Central heating is vital in keeping your property a comfortable temperature, not too warm or too cold. 

Without the removal of limescale and debris during a boiler service, your boiler can also become very noisy and distracting – which nobody enjoys!

All these problems are easily avoided if you ensure your boiler receives an annual service, at least. A well-running boiler is particularly important in preparation for the winter months, where preserving and maintaining heat inside your home is more necessary than ever.

Not preparing for winter

Maintaining your insulation, preparing your pipes and testing your boiler are all vital steps to making sure your home thrives during the winter. Repairing leaks and gaps in your property structure is vital for protection from harsh weather. Your home’s heat retention will make a great deal of difference to your bills during the colder months.

In the long run, it may be worthwhile to re-fit your windows with triple glazing before the frost hits. Triple glazing will keep your home as warm as possible, as much less heat escapes through the glass. Despite the initial cost of purchase and installation, you won’t have to spend as much on heating to maintain a comfortable environment at home.

Not deep cleaning your property

Illness can be just as costly financially, leaving you bedridden and unable to work, as having to pay for a repair. For this reason, it’s equally important to keep your property as clean as possible as it is as secure as possible. Something as simple as mould growing in a damp area of your home could easily cause a health problem which could have been avoided.

Avoid problems such as aspergillosis from mould, and sickness from invisible germs like E. coli, within your home by considering an annual deep cleaning session. Deep cleaning attacks dirt in the areas of your property that you wouldn’t even consider checking, like around your windows and behind the fridge! This deep cleaning prevents the growth of substances like mould and preserves the materials of your house. Checking for mould as the potential for structural damage is much more cost-effective than a rebuild.

Mould removal is much more costly than mould prevention, and the damage to your building structure in that damp environment could mean an even more expensive repair still. Stopping potential hazards in their tracks before they fully develop is key to effective home maintenance.

Nothing is worth more than a happy and healthy home all year round. Being careful to perform routine maintenance for your property is key to avoiding big repairs, as much as possible. Seek the advice and service of a professional in areas where you are not experienced or confident because dangerous DIY mistakes aren’t worth making. 

The assurance of hiring an experienced team like ours for property maintenance is invaluable, as you can be sure that your property is smoothly running at best capacity.