How to Eliminate Cold Drafts in Commercial Buildings

Commercial buildings like hotels, offices, stores, and other high-volume centers experience a lot of foot traffic. This means that people are constantly entering and exiting, and in the winter, this can cause serious HVAC problems. When doors repeatedly open and close, it allows cold air to rush in from outside and heated air to escape. This results in staggering heat losses and harsh cold drafts inside commercial buildings.

The two main causes of cold air drafts are pressure and suction. Wind blowing against a building creates a difference in pressure between the outside and inside air. This pressure difference creates a suction effect that pulls warm air to cold areas. So, any openings will consistently let out warm air, and cold air will fill its place, which is what we feel as a draft.

Cold drafts are a large problem in the HVAC industry, and heating experts place a huge focus on counteracting them. Weatherproofing and sealing windows and doors is a major part of making sure a heating system is efficient. But in some cases, such as in commercial buildings, weather stripping only goes so far.

When cold drafts enter a building, it has a greater effect than just making the entranceway chilly. Consistent cold air permeating a space lowers the overall temperature, forcing the general HVAC system to work harder. This leads to higher heating costs and energy losses as the heater draws on more power to compensate for temperature drops.

For commercial buildings, sealing openings and gaps is not a practical solution against uncontrollable foot traffic. Instead of stopping cold drafts from coming in, compensating for the temperature difference is a more manageable task. However, this can mean investing more in heating and electricity, so energy efficiency is essential to keep costs low.

All commercial buildings should consider an investment in locational and directional heaters. They provide a heat source separate from the central air system that can individually cater to a specific space. Forced air heating is the best defense against cold drafts because it directly counteracts the suction effect they create.

Electric forced air heaters are the best choice for maintaining energy efficiency. They don’t waste fuel like gas furnaces do, have much longer lifespans, and are more cost effective. Unlike gentle heating, fan-forced wall heaters provide powerful enough heat to counteract cold drafts rushing in.

If there is not adequate floor or wall space, electric ceiling heaters are the next best alternative. Not only are they great options for entranceways, but also conference rooms, waiting areas, bathrooms, and lobbies.

Specialized heaters can also have an automatic delay or motion sensor to respond directly to drafts as they happen. The automatic delay feature will allow residual heat to discharge from the heater body even after it shuts off. This saves on energy costs and prolongs the life of the heater.

Some heaters also have integrated thermostats for even more adjustable and selective heating. For the best anti-draft heating, consider an electric furnace or heater that has some of these specialized features.

The pros of electric forced air heating are hard to ignore. On top of the primary function of eliminating cold drafts, they also save money and are more environmentally friendly. They use the latest technology to ensure maintenance needs are minor. Most fan-forced electric heaters also have thermal overheat protectors and tamper-proof plugs to ensure safe operation.

One of the cons of forced air heating systems is that if the power goes out, so does your electric heater. Connecting to the main electric circuit in your building makes your heating system more accessible and easier to operate. However, it risks all the same things that any other electrical appliance does, such as shortages and failures.

But overall, electric forced air heating is one of the best ways to combat the effects of cold drafts. Especially in high-volume commercial buildings, investing in an efficient, localized heat source makes a huge difference.