How to decide if your air curtain should assist with insect control or climate control
The addition of an air curtain is a great benefit to any business. With an effective means to control temperatures and fight insects, it is no wonder why the popularity of air curtains is ever increasing. Depending on the type of business you run and the needs you may face, the type of air curtain you will best benefit from may vary.
One of the first steps to selecting an air curtain is deciding which application best fits your business. Are you looking mainly for climate control or for insect control? These are the two main functions provided by an air curtain and knowing your main goals will help you and your sales consultant determine exactly which type of air curtain is best suited to fit that specific need.
Air Curtains for Insect Control
The use of an air curtain for insect control is highly beneficial and just as successful. The way it works is simple: a strong force of engineered air is drawn from the interior air and released from the air curtain, which is placed above the threshold of your entry, in a downward motion. That force of air is too strong for the majority of flying insects to pass through. It is said that of all the insects that approach an air curtain, less than .01-percent will find a point of successful entry.
Did you know?
The California Health and Safety Code has mandated air curtains for more than 15 years on back doors and receiving doors of all food-service establishments. This is not limited to just restaurants but also to hotels, convenient stores and any other facility that serves or packages food.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also encourages the use of air curtains for meat and poultry establishments.
Who can benefit from insect control?
While most companies don’t want flying insects in their workspace, there is definitely a group who would benefit greater than the average business establishment.
- Fast Food Companies
- Sport Stadium Concessions
- Restaurant Receiving Doors
- Food Service Warehouses
Climate Control
The second function available in air curtains is used in helping business owners gain a full grasp of climate control on their interior spaces.
The way it works is similar to the way an air curtain designed for insect control will work, however the force of air is not as strong. Air curtains are known to greatly assist in maintaining a controlled interior environment by pulling interior air through the air curtain and releasing it into a strong force of air from the threshold of a door, forcing the outside air and its contaminants to stay where they belong – outside of your establishment.
Adequately maintaining interior temperatures is highly valuable to employees, customers and your bottom line. When interior air is forced to constantly battle outside air, this forces your air conditioner or heater to work in overdrive, thus resulting in higher energy usage and costs. Air curtains stop the transfer or air, be it hot or cold, to keep your desired temperature steady throughout your interior space. A steady temperature leads to lower energy usage and lower costs.
When the desired temperature is maintained throughout your business, it also helps keep your employees, customers and visitors warm and comfortable by using an air curtain to keep the outdoor air from invading your interior space.
Who can benefit from climate controlled air curtains?
Air curtains used for climate control are relatively quiet and can often even be hidden.
- Warehouses
- Building Lobbies
- Restaurants
- Coffee Houses
- Hospitals
Know the Difference
When deciding on an air curtain for your facility, it is important to know your needs but it is also equally important to be versed in the capabilities of the air curtain you are considering. Air curtains are highly beneficial but they come in a range of options, applications and functions – it’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of purchase.
- Insect control curtains will require a stronger force of air than a curtain used to maintain climate control. Flying insects can be harder to fight off forcing a stronger application of air to be necessary.
- An air curtain used for climate control will not release a force strong enough to fight off as many insects as one made specifically for that task. However, these are often fairly quite devices that can be added to a variety of thresholds without being noticed.
The truth is, no matter your place of business, the use of an air curtain is always beneficial. Fighting mother nature to her pesky insects is only the beginning of the long list of benefits air curtains can provide for your business.
Have you decided which type of air curtain will best fit your needs? If you are looking to fight off flying insects or to maintain better temperature control in your place of business, the experts at Air Door Distributors are ready to assist you in determining the appropriate air curtain for your specific business and its needs, whatever they may be. Call today at 866-402-1642 or fill our contact form.