Have you ever wondered how your building is cooled in the summer and heated throughout the winter? The answer is more than likely using a fan coil unit (FCU). Fan coil units can be found in over 60% of residential high-rise buildings throughout Ontario.
What is a Fan Coil Unit?
Vertical fan coil units are a type of HVAC system found in high-rise residential buildings. The system consists of a fan and a coil (containing hot or cold water) to heat, cool, and ventilate the suite. The building’s make up air unit draws in fresh air from outside, pressurizing the corridors which pushes air into suites. Fan coil units draw in air from the suite, condition it, and then supply it back into the suite. The thermostat found in your suite controls all these features. Vertical fan coil units began being installed in condominiums specifically in the 1970’s and still make up a significant portion of the high-rise residential HVAC industry today.
Does my suite have a fan coil unit?
Fan coil units make up roughly 60% of the HVAC systems found in high-rise residential buildings located in Toronto and the GTA. Your vertical fan coil unit can be found behind the access panel in the wall within your suite.
Your fan coil unit is one of the only pieces of equipment in your building and suite that is in constant operation. This means like other household appliances the lifespan of this piece of equipment will eventually reach its limit. The average lifespan of a vertical fan coil unit is 20 years. As the components of your fan coil unit near and surpass 20 years and continue to work round the clock they will naturally age, degrade, and eventually fail. Aging and or problematic fan coil units should be regularly assessed by a certified HVAC professional to prevent potential issues such as:
If so, please contact Certified Clean Air Corp to provide you with a free fan coil unit assessment.
Mon - Fri : 9:00 AM - 8:00PM
© 2021 All Rights Reserved