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Effective heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning at medical and healthcare facilities isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity and requirement. In addition to creating a comfortable space for healthcare workers and their patients, efficient HVAC systems can help keep people healthy and safe.
Cooper Mechanical Services uses customizable Clean & Service agreements to help our Myrtle Beach healthcare partners deliver quality service in properly cooled, heated, and ventilated workspaces.
Not all HVAC systems are the same, nor are business needs the same. Cooper Mechanical Services works with healthcare facilities, medical offices, and hospitals of all sizes to create custom service agreements that start with biannual scheduled service, inspection and cleaning.
The scope and frequency of visits can be tailored to your needs, and we can help all clients make improvements for HVAC efficiency and cost savings.
All scheduled visits include a comprehensive inspection of the indoor and outdoor components of the HVAC system and a deep chemical cleaning. During each visit a Cooper Mechanical Services professional will do the following:
Regular cleaning and maintenance can extend the life expectancy of a healthcare facility’s HVAC system. They are also helpful in identifying problems or system failures early, before costly repairs or threatening conditions to vulnerable populations.
Because Myrtle Beach is a large summer vacation destination, medical and healthcare facilities see rises in patients during the same months that we experience our hottest, most humid temperatures.
An HVAC failure during the summer months is costly and potentially dangerous for those in hospitals. Cooper Mechanical Services technicians are happy to meet to discuss your unique situation to design a plan so you can continue to work in comfortable and safe indoor air environments.
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The Cooper Mechanical Services electrical division handles electrical and power supply needs for residential and commercial customers of all sizes. To offer our Myrtle Beach customers fast, reliable, and affordable service, we invest in our team and equipment. Our certified, licensed, and bonded electricians use company-owned heavy machinery to ensure jobs are done right and in a timely manner.
Recently on the blog we featured our bucket truck, which gives our team an aerial platform for lighting and electrical jobs in high places. Another piece of specialty equipment we use frequently for electrical jobs is a trencher, a piece of machinery that efficiently digs trenches for electrical line or piping.
Trenchers come in a variety of types and sizes, from walk-behind portable models for landscapers to large wheel models for cutting through hard rock. The Cooper team uses a trencher for a single purpose: cutting deep and narrow trenches for burying electrical and telecommunications line.
Many areas have underground cabling, which can have higher up-front costs but offer many benefits. Buried lines have longer life spans, decreased operational costs, and offer better protection against weather and other conditions that damage lines.
For residential and most light commercial operations, buried electrical lines should be at least 24 inches underground. A trencher lets the Cooper team quickly get a trench for lines that meets the required depth for code.
Digging a trench without specialized machinery can be time-consuming and expensive. By investing in a trencher, the Cooper team can get right to work. There is no sub-contracting or time and costs spent acquiring one from a rental company.
Whether you are bringing power to new construction or expanding power to an existing structure, Cooper Mechanical Services is ready to help you with all aspects of electrical design, installation, inspection, readiness, and troubleshooting.
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The Cooper Mechanical Services team brings knowledge and experience to commercial lighting projects in Myrtle Beach. Not all lighting systems are equal. The right lighting can make your business more attractive, your parking area safer, and your power bills cheaper.
Pole and post lighting is used in many commercial and public spaces:
The right pole or post lighting option depends on your purpose and needs. Our bucket truck helps us light even the most challenging spaces, and the Cooper team always works with clients to find the right lighting solutions at the right budget and price point.
Sadly, there's no shortage of Myrtle Beach stories about muggings or crime occurring in parking garages and lots. When poorly lit, dark shadows are abundant and hiding from a potential victim is easy.
Crime tends to avoid bright spaces, so lighting parking areas is critical for customer safety. It may also make your business, whether a store, restaurant, or hotel, more attractive to consumers.
Additionally, proper lighting helps reduce accidents resulting from tripping, slipping, or falling. Walkways, stairways, and other paths of egress should be well lit, allowing walkers to see clearly between poles or posts.
Modern pole and post lighting solutions can use directional lighting, which is more efficient and can reduce unwanted glare from nearby glass.
Pole or post lighting doesn't need to be boring or feel "too industrial." Decorative poles, posts, and lamp heads can make your space more attractive and safer. With hundreds of styles and colors to choose from, you can transform a walkway or parking area and create an intentional mood and tone for users.
From rustic and traditional, to sleek and modern, the Cooper Mechanical Services team can help you select the right style at the right price.
LED lighting offers superior lighting and uses less energy than traditional halide or high-intensity discharge lamps. The great news is that you don't need to completely tear out old lighting to take advantage of modern LED pole lighting technology. Retrofit kits are an easy way to update your lighting infrastructure and see savings right away.
Cooper Mechanical Services is a South Carolina unlimited license electrical contractor. We work on customer lighting projects of all sizes. If you'd like to learn more about our lighting, electrical, HVAC, or refrigeration services, give us a call or use our contact form on our website.
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Fixing residential heating and air conditioning problems can get expensive. With South Carolina's heat and humidity, not having air conditioning for late spring and summer really isn't a pleasant option. Here are some key steps you can take to get the most out of your unit and to preserve the life of your AC system.
A Clean & Service agreement covers two scheduled visits where an HVAC professional with thoroughly inspect, test, and chemically clean your HVAC unit. You visit the dentist every 6 months and change your auto oil every 5,000 miles, why should HVAC be any different.
A Clean & Service includes chemical cleaning of all condenser coils, evaporator coils, and drain pans. Additionally, we'll test refrigerant pressures, thermostats, and inspect all electrical components. It's a great way to identify and solve problems early before they snowball into expensive repairs.
One easy way to extend the life of your HVAC system is to change air filters on a regular basis. Don't overwork your unit as the result of clogged air flow from dirty filters. Identifying which filter is right for your home (hint: we actually recommend the cheapest ones for most users) and setting a filter reminder notification on your phone or calendar is a good way to keep your HVAC happy.
You can preserve the health of your HVAC unit simply by learning what sounds and sights are normal. Water or ice build up and loud noises can be signals that there's a problem. Inspect and call Cooper if you are concerned that something isn't right before issues escalate.
Late winter and early spring is mild in Myrtle Beach, and you may find yourself needing neither heat nor air conditioning. This is a great time to set your thermostat and test your system to see how quickly and efficiently it responds. This is another way to identify possible problems early, which almost always can save you frustration and money. No one wants to discover a problem later in the spring when temperatures start to get hot.
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The cold weather has snapped and temperatures in Myrtle Beach are rising into the 70s. Spring 2018 is around the corner and there is evidence of it all along the greater Grand Strand. Service vehicles are out in the beach communities getting homes, hotels, and rentals ready for the influx of visitors that starts with Spring Break season in late March and early April.
Our area attracts between 14 and 18 million visitors each year. The hotel and hospitality industry is the backbone of Myrtle Beach's economy, and with record hot Spring and Summer temperatures likely, hotel HVAC systems need to be ready to go. We recommend signing up for a Clean & Service agreement, which includes a detailed inspection, before the summer visitors arrive.
Efficient HVAC systems are essential to every business in the Myrtle Beach hospitality industry. Guest comfort and satisfaction is the lifeblood of the hotel business, and employees and guests expect heating and air conditioning to work quickly.
Hotels either use PTAC or packaged terminal units or mini-split units. Cooper Mechanical Services has decades of experience servicing both types, and scheduled clean and service is imperative for both to work at their best.
Whether the condenser is a part of a window unit (PTAC) or installed outside or on the roof of the hotel (split unit), it's important that a certified HVAC technician inspect and clean the unit so you get the most life out of these units.
Regular service visits keep your air conditioning and heating system clean which can extend the life expectancy of your equipment. During the HVAC service, a Cooper professional will do the following:
Chemically treat and clean all evaporator and condenser coils
Clean drain pans and drain lines
Check thermostat operations
Inspect electrical components
Test all safety controls
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Remodeling your kitchen is a popular option for extending your enjoyment of your home. Kitchen renovations are also show to positively influence the value and marketability of your home should you choose to sell. Whether a full makeover or a more minor change, a critical step of any kitchen remodel is creating an electrical wiring plan.
Cooper Mechanical Services offer comprehensive residential electrical and lighting services to the Myrtle Beach area. Whether you are upgrading with new appliances or retrofitting kitchen lighting, our experts can help design and execute a smart and safe electrical and lighting plan.
An electrical plan for your kitchen renovation takes the following things in to consideration:
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As a full-service HVAC and electrical contractor in Myrtle Beach, we tackle all kinds of commercial jobs that require special equipment. Cooper Mechanical Services has a bucket truck so we can accomplish all types of jobs safely and efficiently. Sometimes call a cherry picker, these types of heavy equipment are known more formally as aerial work platforms. When it comes to electrical, lighting, or security installation, our bucket truck gives us access to areas previously inaccessible.
The Cooper Mechanical Services team uses the aerial work platform for a variety of projects at a height. Some of our work includes planning, installation, and maintenance or repair of the following:
Cooper Mechanical Services invests in the equipment that allow us to do projects of all sizes safely and efficiently. Our bucket truck, or aerial work platform, allows us to work on all kinds of projects from parking lots and decks to bridges and hotels.
Have a job at a height? Call Cooper to learn more about the scope of our work and what we can offer.
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Cooper Mechanical Services is known along the Grand Strand as a mechanical contractor specializing in HVAC and electrical, but one of our lesser known services is critical to Myrtle Beach's service industries. A stairwell pressurization test is a required component of building code and annual inspection designed to ensure safe stairwell evacuation in the case of an emergency. The National Fire Protection Association provides guidelines for stairwell pressurization systems to keep smoke and flames clear of stairwells so people can exit quickly and safely. The full code for all smoke control systems can be found in the NFPA 92 standards.
Stairwell pressurization is used in multi-floor commercial spaces all over Myrtle Beach. Hotels, hospitals, schools, and other buildings use air supply fans and stairwell pressurization systems to keep stair exits safe during a fire.
For example, let's assume there's a fire in a Myrtle Beach high-rise hotel that starts on the third floor. When the building's fire alarm system activates, guests on all floors will quickly exit the building, typically using the hotel stairwells.
What will happen to the smoke covering the 3rd floor when the stairwell doors are opened? If the stairwell is of equal or lesser pressure than the hallway, the smoke will quickly fill the stairwell. This makes safe exit difficult.
As a response, a stairwell pressurization system and supply fans create greater pressure in the stairwell than the inside of the building. The higher pressure "pushes" smoke back into the lesser pressurized hallway, allowing the stairway to be free of smoke.
Stairwell pressurization also make heavy stairwell doors easy to open. If not correctly pressurized, door can become hard to open.
NFPA 92 states that stairwells should be inspected and tested so they meet design objectives. Simply having a stairwell air supply fan is not enough. You need to know that the stairwell is properly pressurized in the event of a fire.
At Cooper, we know building code. Our professional team has decades of experience working with multi-floor commercial spaces. We routinely conduct pressurization tests for hotels, restaurants, schools, and medical facilities to ensure that pressurization systems work and meet required standards.
To learn more about stairwell pressurization tests or to schedule a time for our team to come out, please contact us today.
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Light-emitting diode, or LED, is a popular lighting technology. LED offers long-lasting and energy saving illumination that has quickly become an industry standard in commercial lighting. Cooper Mechanical Services is the an unlimited electrical contractor in Myrtle Beach offering LED lighting and other commercial and industrial-grade lighting services.
LED lighting can use up to 75% less energy and last up to 25 times longer. The cost-savings and durability are key reasons to build with LED or convert to LED. It is also possible to integrate an LED retrofit to convert from wasteful and inefficient incandescent or halogen lights. In industrial and commercial spaces, LEDs are used both indoor and outdoor for both general lighting as well as directed, task lighting.
The light source for LED is minuscule (think a fleck of pepper), and white light is produced by a mix of red, green, and blue LEDS.
The biggest difference between incandescent or halogen and LED is that LED emits light in a specific direction. Instead of moving light 360 degrees, LEDs direct light efficiently to the area it is needed, limiting wasted light. Other lighting technologies refract light to a specific direction, which is less efficient.
Additionally, LED are more cooler light sources. LEDs emit very little heat, which compared to incandescent or compact florescent which emit 80-90% of energy as heat, is much more efficient. By emitting less heat, LEDs are a safer option as well.
There are a variety of commercial and industrial uses of LED for Myrtle Beach businesses. Directional and task lighting is useful for:
LED is an energy-efficient lighting solution for many Myrtle Beach businesses. Whether you are looking to design and install LED in a new commercial space, or retrofit and upgrade an existing lighting solution, Cooper Mechanical Services brings experience and professionalism to the job.
The Cooper team brings experienced electricians to commercial projects of all sizes. Get in touch so we can learn more about your project and how we can bring lighting that is functional and energy efficient.
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Condensation (water droplets) around the ductwork of your HVAC system is a sign that excessive moisture in your home is not being properly evacuated. In South Carolina, ducts can be found in the the attics and walls of homes on slabs, and even underneath homes that are raised for a crawl space. You may see some of the ductwork near your air handler in a place like a garage, but for the most part ducts are hidden. Since most homeowner's aren't regularly crawling in the attic and checking ducts, moisture and insulation problems are using manifested in other ways.
There are a number of ways you may come to learn that condensation is collecting around your HVAC ductwork.
Water drops and puddles around vents: Unevaporated moisture condenses to water droplets that may collect around vents or drip to form puddles below ceiling vents.
Wet Walls or Ceilings: Excessive moisture may also drip off ducts and collect in drywall. Your first sign of an HVAC moisture problem could be a water mark on a wall or ceiling.
Mold: In the right conditions, excessive condensation can prompt mold growth that you may see on walls, ceilings, and areas near ducts or vents.
Any of these signs should prompt you to either do a self-inspection of the ducts, or to call an HVAC professional.
Why is water collecting around my HVAC ducts in the first place? In order to solve the problem, you'll need to find the source of the excess moisture. Here are some common causes of condensation around ductwork.
Attic Ventilation: Condensation forms when there's a difference in temperature between the duct and the air around it. This is common in poorly ventilated areas like attics and crawl spaces. To keep these spaces from getting too hot and stuff, reduce indoor humidity and make sure there is proper venting to the outdoors.
Bad Duct Seals: Bad seals or leaks in ducts causes the warmer temperature around the duct to mix with the cooler air in the duct. Not only will this result in less efficiency from your HVAC as it works harder to maintain a cool indoor temperature, but it can also lead to condensation, which can drip from the bad seal.
Poor Duct Insulation: If your ductwork insulation is old and worn, exposed ductwork can be prone to condensation for the same reasons above: warm temperatures around the ducts meeting the cold ductwork. Duct insulation can be easily replaced.
If you see signs of water around your HVAC ducts, ignoring it may just compound what is generally an easy fix. In most cases, repairs are routine and fairly easy: repairing bad seals to replacing insulation. If left unchecked, dripping condensation can damage wood and drywall. It also creates an opportunity for indoor mold to grow, which can be bad for your family's health.
Have a question about your HVAC system's ducts? Call Cooper today.
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Whether your converting a screened porch or 3-season room or extending an existing living space, you'll need to integrate heating and cooling for comfortable living. In South Carolina, sunrooms are popular additions and a great way to bring in more natural lighting to your home. If your roof extends over a screened-in porch as is the case in many Myrtle Beach neighborhoods, you're just a few walls away from increased year-round living space.
You'll need to consult and heating and cooling company to determine whether your existing HVAC can handle the additional space. Typically, HVAC units are rating for an ideal square footage. For example, if your unit is rated for 1800-2000 square feet and the addition still keeps you in that range, you're in luck.
An HVAC professional can extend your existing ductwork and add new vents in your sunroom. Ductwork is easily brought in from above or below, but floor, ceiling, or even wall vents can easily be added in places that help with the natural circulation of air in your home.
If the additional space puts you over your HVAC system's recommended square footage, you'll need to consider upgrading your condenser or adding an additional unit for zoned heating and cooling. Trying to heat and cool a space too large for your unit is costly, inefficient, and can easily damage your unit. You wouldn't put a 4 cylinder engine in an F-350, would you?
Spending a little extra for insulated and energy efficient building materials can save you money in the long run. It can also make heating and cooling your sunroom or addition easier, and as a result, make the space more comfortable.
Things like insulated windows and skylights or even UV-resistant blinds and shades can help you keep the heat in during winter and the cool air in during summer. Sunrooms tend to have a lot of glass, which can make a room hot and difficult to heat in the summer. Doing your research on building materials and working with a trusted builder will help you make sure you invest in a room that is comfortable year-round. Believe it or not, glass technology has come a long way.
Cooper has been helping residential and commercial customers with HVAC services since 1989. Let us help you with your next home improvement project so you and your HVAC unit will be comfortable. Call Cooper!
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When we talk to customers, we mention that a full HVAC inspection involves all five senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste. Well, maybe not taste, but the point is that the paying attention to the senses can clue you in to potential issues before they snowball.
Many folks are familiar with a smell associated when the heat kicks on for the first time in a while. That burning, electric smell that lasts for a few moments and then dissipates reminds me of the baseboard heater of my childhood home. It was usually just the furnace burning off the dust that had accumulated during inactivity. It lasted for a moment and was gone. In this case, it was relatively harmless and normal. But when might a smell indicate a larger problem and warrant a professional inspection?
If the electrical odor persists, you should call a professional immediately. One possibility is faulty wiring, which if left unchecked, could lead to an electrical fire. It's also possible that the smell is coming from an overheating mechanical component in your HVAC system. It's best to turn everything off and call a trusted HVAC professional before an electrical hazard occurs or a part of your system burns out.
South Carolina has no shortage of heat and humidity. And with recent hurricanes and flooding, all the moisture has created the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. Mold growth in HVAC ductwork requires professional cleaning. The good news is that your unit isn't at fault. The bad news is that circulating mold spores can be harmful to your health.
This is a serious one. A rotten egg smell usually means there is a natural gas leak. A gas leak could lead to an explosion, so get out of your house and call the fire department. An HVAC professional can identify the source of the leak and repair it, once cleared to do so by safety officials.
It's hard to describe this odor, but you'll notice it. HVAC ducts and vents can be cozy nesting areas for all types of rodents and birds. Animals can clog vents, which in turn makes your HVAC system work harder to maintain indoor room temperatures. If you have an animal decomposing in your HVAC system, you'll either need to remove it yourself or call a pest control company to handle it for you.
Don't ignore the strange smells coming from your HVAC system. They can be an early warning sign of bigger problems to come. Cooper Mechanical Services will inspect your system, diagnose the problem, and fix it quickly. Our family business has been serving the Myrtle Beach area's HVAC, refrigeration, and electrical needs since 1989. To speak with a member of our team, Call Cooper.
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843-626-3689
843-626-3689