We are Hiring! - Air Conditioning Service Engineer

An exciting new vacancy for an Air Conditioning Service Engineer

Take on a fresh challenge with one of the fastest growing companies in Ireland. As an Air Conditioning Service Engineer, you will be tasked with working as part of a team to service a full range of air conditioning, chillers and HVAC systems. A major element of this role is to act as a representative for the company and to provide exceptional levels of service to customers while effectively managing their requirements. Specifically, you will be involved in servicing, fault-finding and repairing air conditioning and HVAC systems. You will operate to defined procedures, service routines and schedules and will liaise with clients, suppliers and contractors as required.

Experience with Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Daikin & Panasonic brands would be an advantage.

 

Key skills and experience required

• A minimum of 3 years industry Experience.

• Full accreditation for refrigeration F GAS certs essential.

• Experience installing and servicing both VRF and Split Systems.
• Full Driver Licence.
• SafePass & Manual Handling.
• Extensive experience in the field of commercial HVAC.
• Proven ability to work on own initiative with a minimum of supervision.
• An aptitude for teaching and training junior engineers.
• Must be performance driven and solution focused.
• Team player who can multi-task and takes the initiative.
• Able to communicate politely and professionally at all levels, internally and with customers
• Fluent English written and spoken.

Comprehensive package: including company vehicle for the successful candidate.

Immediate start available.

Job Type: Permanent

Attractive Salary Package/Negotiable

Reply with CV’s to info@alphamech.ie

Sustainability tips for Commercial HVAC that save you money.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are among the most energy-intensive mechanism of any business. In fact, space cooling alone accounts for 15% of the electricity used in commercial buildings on average. Much of the energy and cost that goes into powering HVAC is lost to waste – upwards of 30% in the average commercial building.

Reducing wasted HVAC energy consumption is an important building block in the push for greater sustainability in the business world. It is also a great way to substantially reduce operating costs. And many of the steps that business owners and managers can take to improve sustainability and reduce costs require little to no expense. Many of those steps are also incredibly simple, and the more complex waste-reducing practices often offer excellent return on investment.

Reduce wasted energy by 5-10% by regularly changing HVAC filters

Dirty filters overwork HVAC systems by restricting air flow, cost far more to use, lead to poor indoor air quality and result in far more commercial HVAC maintenance issues and costs. Check HVAC filters on a quarterly basis. Finding an HVAC technician to perform regular check-ups can help.

HVAC filters should be changed every month. At the longest, HVAC filters should be switched out every three months. Switching out dirty filters is one of the simplest sustainability steps a business can take, and it can reduce wasted energy costs by 5-10%.

Reduce costs, save energy with programmable thermostats.

Temperature settings in a business can often be contentious. Installing programmable thermostats removes much of the burden of tailoring temperature settings to meet the desires of a diverse workforce and customer base by focusing on sustainability and reduced costs.

Installing programmable thermostats can affect sustainability and wasted energy in a number of ways. Building temperatures can be set to run at higher or lower temperatures depending on the season, but it is critical that they are correctly programmed.

Programmable thermostats are available in 7-day models, which are ideal for regularly changing schedules; and 5+2-day models, which are appropriate for businesses that operate on regular five-day schedules where less energy use is required on weekends or other two-day periods.

Reduce commercial HVAC maintenance costs by 40% with planned preventative maintenance.

Commercial HVAC maintenance is like getting a tune-up for a car – both are necessary for top performance. Regular planned preventative maintenance on all HVAC systems and equipment ensures that those systems and equipment are not wasting energy due to substandard, ageing or faulty performance.

Taking a proactive approach to a building's HVAC systems through regular quality maintenance can reduce commercial HVAC maintenance costs by up to 40%.

Planned Preventative Maintenance greatly reduces call out costs and labour fees, causes less disruption and is a much better alternative to risking a potentially damaging breakdown of equipment.

Improve HVAC efficiency by 20% by properly sealing heating and cooling ducts.

Doing something as simple as properly sealing heating and cooling ducts can improve HVAC efficiency by 20% or more.

Ducts can be sealed using mastic, foil tape or blown-in duct sealant. The sealing effect is further improved by wrapping the ducts in insulation. Focus first on areas of the building that are unprotected – underneath the building or in unheated/cooled storage spaces.

Improve efficiency by 5-20% with HVAC upgrades and/or HVAC replacement.

Sometimes the best ways to improve HVAC efficiency come through upgrading or replacing existing HVAC equipment and systems. Running HVAC systems and equipment past their suggested lifespans leads to exorbitant energy and maintenance costs.

If a building’s air conditioner or heat pump is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it. Furnaces or boilers that are more than 15 years old will also likely be due for upgrades or replacement, and offer significant cost and energy savings.

Retrofitting existing packaged rooftop HVAC units with advanced digital economizer controls and/or sensors that bring in ventilation air only when needed – also known as demand controlled ventilation – is yet another important and successful way for businesses to significantly improve energy efficiency.

 

Hire expert mechanical services contractors.

Alpha Mechanical Services & Contractors are one of The United Kingdom's and Ireland's leading providers of high efficiency commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC). Services include: new equipment installation, repair, replacement and planned preventative maintenance.

We offer a full range of mechanical consulting, installation and maintenance services with expertise in all aspects of commercial and retail HVAC systems. We have our own in-house engineering, fabrication, commissioning and health and safety experts to ensure cost-effective delivery of the highest quality solutions in a zero harm environment.

At Alpha Mechanical Services Ltd. we bring industry leading expertise and cutting edge technology to create uncompromising solutions. Always on budget and on schedule. Lets work together!

www.alphamech.ie

Are you a contracts manager? Come and work with Alpha Mechanical.

Job Description: Contracts Manager

An exciting new vacancy for a Mechanical Service Contracts Manager to work within an expanding company that offer expertise in design and build installations and management packages including project management, design, procurement, installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance of Mechanical Services both in Ireland and the UK. The successful candidate will have proven experience within the role (Proven background in delivering projects circa €100k-€750k+). The background of the candidate needs to be within Mechanical engineering installation projects within Commercial and Public sector buildings, with the individual needing to be both technically and commercially astute.

• Organise the project in the field and maintain active knowledge of the site progress
• Obtain and study the project drawings and specifications, including scope of work as defined by our contract with the General Contractor
• Maintain open communication with Management and attend project meetings
• Maintain record documents and approved submittals
• Write and submit all requests for information (RFIs) and maintain log of all RFIs
• Maintain a clean and safe work site
• Install HVAC systems to meet site specifications
• Supervise all site personnel that you are responsible for, reporting any issues to Project Manager
• Maintain project schedule and notify Project Manager of any manpower needs

Key skills and experience required:

• Recognised industry qualifications desirable. Engineering/Installer back ground would be ideal.
• Proven track record in the HVAC / mechanical services industry. Must have sound knowledge of all mechanical systems from LTHW, domestics, public health through to gas and ventilation services
• Able to communicate politely and professionally at all levels, internally and with customers.
• IT proficient in all key Office products, including Excel and comfortable working in an office environment.
• Able to read and understand tender drawings and specifications.
• Comfortable working amongst a team yet equally as driven when working alone. Excellent organisational skills and able to manage workload.
• Capable of remaining focused and calm during busy periods. Receptive and adaptable to change. Full driving license.

Job Type: Permanent

Attractive Salary Package/Negotiable

Reply with CV’s to info@alphamech.ie

Commercial HVAC Pump Problems and Solutions

There are various types of pumps used in the HVAC systems, but the most common include the centrifugal pump and the booster pump. However, what happens when the HVAC pump cannot keep your building cool in the summer and warm in the winter? This means that you are having pump problems. Below is a list of the most commonHVAC pump problems and solutions.

Do you have a system of planned preventative maintenance? PPM is a schedule of planned maintenance operations aimed at the prevention of breakdowns and failures. PPM ensures continuity of service, maximises efficiency and reduces total running costs.

1. Leaky Seals

The seal has an unpredictable lifespan, and it may fail for some reasons.The seal may fail because the seal faces open, excessive heat or the chemical environment. The seal should also not be allowed to run dry since this will cause damage to the seal and extreme leakage.Heat destroys seal faces and causes seal leakage.

Solution: You must ensure that the pump seal chamber is full of a lubricating liquid to prevent the seal from running dry. The seal needs to be replaced many times to keep it from wearing out. Routine maintenance of the seal is also crucial because the set screws may have gradually loosened.

2. Cavitation

Cavitation is the buildup of low-pressure bubbles in the liquid flowing through the system.If not addressed and corrected, pump cavitation may lead to severe problems. Cavitation causes damage to the impeller and reduces the life of the pump. Cavitation also leads to the accelerated wear and tear in seals and bearings.

Solution: Steps must be taken to increase the NPSH (Net Positive Suction Head) energy on the suction side of the HVAC pump. This can be done by reducing the temperature of the liquid being pumped, decreasing the number of elbows and valves, reducing the length of the pipe or increasing the pipe diameter.

 

3. Damaged Pump Shaft

The shaft may break due to instantaneous fracture that is caused by sudden imbalance or overload. This indicates that the shaft damage occurred suddenly rather than it occurring gradually. However, if the broken shaft is discoloured (blue), this means that excess heat was involved in damaging the shaft, and the damage occurred gradually.

Solution: Carefully check the belt drive system and the pulleys for any signs of fatigue. When installing belts, use a proper belt tension gauge. Also, check out for a damaged fan or fan clutch. The fan has to be correctly mounted on the pump shaft to prevent any damages.

4. Vibration And Out-Of-Balance Equipment

Excessive vibration indicates that there is a problem with the pump or the next pump system. The main causes of excessive pump vibrations may be mechanically induced, system induced or operation induced. The pump may vibrate due to bad bearings, unbalanced rotor, bent shaft, clogged impeller, or when you change from low to high suction energy pumps.

Solution: You have to check the pump for excessive wear, check the lubrication of bearings and replace the worn out bearings, avoid maximum size impellers, keep the flow in design range and maintain the speed in design range.

5. Oversized Pump

When the pump is oversized, it starts up and shuts down more than it should. This is because it only needs to run for a short period before it meets the thermostat requirement. On a typical day, an oversized pump will have more start-ups and shut-downs than a regular sized pump. This means that it will wear and tear sooner than expected.

Solution: The pump should be sized to run almost perfectly at the designed temperature. There is a lot more to look out for than just the square footage of the floor area when choosing a pump.

Rust, Corrosion And Deposit Build-Up

Corrosion and rust on the pump or the impeller may make the pump ineffective. Other deposits may also build up inside the pump causing it to clog and prevent it from functioning correctly. Corrosion and rust may be due to a spoilt pressure cap which may speed up the rusting process.

Solution: Check out the pressure cap and make sure that is functioning properly. You must also flush the pump to make sure that no deposits remain to clog the pump.

A Titanic project, Alpha Mechanical commence works on the former Harland & Wolff HQ, Belfast.

Alpha mechanical have recently commenced works on the prestigious luxury Titanic quarter hotel. The iconic buildings, where RMS Titanic and 1,000 other ships were conceived and designed, will include a new boutique hotel and public heritage space.

The works by Alpha Mechanical Services Ltd consists of the full design and build of the mechanical install. The project will consist of air conditioning, water services and ventilation to all areas of the grade A listed building.

The three-storey building in sandstone and brick was built in stages between c.1900-1919. The building was the administration and drawing office centre for the world famous Harland & Wolff shipyard.

Kerrie Sweeney, Chief Executive of Titanic Foundation, said: “The Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices are one of Northern Ireland’s most significant and important historical buildings.  It is a building of global significance where over 1,000 ships were designed including Titanic, Britannic and Olympic.  Today marks a key milestone in its long-awaited restoration.

“It’s almost 30-years since the Drawing Offices were used as a commercial premises, but now, thanks to the support from Heritage Lottery Fund and the partnership between ourselves and Titanic Quarter Ltd, we have the opportunity to bring them back to their former glory. This will give the public the opportunity to experience over a century of innovation and exceptional craftsmanship and allow the redevelopment of the rest of the building into a unique hotel.”