The following describes what poor humidity control symptoms are immediately recognizable:
Condensation
With glass doors or windows, you can see the condensation forming on the panes when it’s muggy outside. From the point of view of your prospective diners, this isn’t very appealing. It would be similar to setting out a sign saying “it’s muggy in here!”
Wet floors
When humidity is reaching extreme levels in the kitchen, (or even the dining rooms) floors will sweat. They may take long periods to dry off after being mopped (most notably in the restrooms and kitchen).
The reason your HVAC system isn’t handling the humidity.
Without getting too technical, HVAC systems are intended to cool two kinds of ways. Sensible cooling decreases the temperature and latent cooling reduces humidity. In past decades, air conditioners were manufactured to allocate around 25% of the overall cooling capacity to latent cooling. The rest was used for sensible cooling.
These days, new equipment is being produced to help with energy efficiency. That means modern equipment just utilizes roughly 10-15% of its volume for humidity regulation. Making things worse (in regards to humidity) is how less equipment is able to lower humidity. Building rules are creating more humid spaces.
Buildings are more air-tight and better insulated for energy efficiency. Building requirements demand increased measures of makeup air (outside fresh air) to raise humidity more.
HVAC alternatives for better humidity management in restaurants
Get a properly sized HVAC unit
Oftentimes owners have an oversized system with too large of a capacity for the building. These kinds of arrangements turn on and off constantly and never enough to eliminate humidity. More control would mean downgrading your capacity.
Better HVAC design
Since your restaurant kitchen and dining room require different atmospheres, fitting HVAC design is vital. You may have to create distinct zones using a VRF system. Ventilation is just as important to incorporate adequate levels of makeup air in both areas, to leave kitchen smells in the kitchen and to handle humidity.
Think your business is having a tough time dealing with humidity? VP Mechanical Inc.’s experience ensures we will install and maintain your project long after it’s completed. Give us a call right away at (847) 468-9122.
