Does it ever seem as though no matter where you look, there’s always something making outlandish or exaggerated claims about what their product can accomplish? There are apps pitched as the silver bullet to productivity problems, hardware that only iterates slightly on previous versions, and no end to the amount of marketing puffery that follows. Given that, it’s natural to approach any broad claims no matter the product.
If you operate a restaurant, warehouse, or even an office building, energy costs and equipment wear are always a concern. Perhaps you’ve heard about air curtains, or at least the claims that they can be a big help in saving on energy. Are air curtains as effective as people say they are, and do they actually work as described?
How It’s Supposed to Work: Air Curtain Operation
A quick primer on what an air curtain does is essential to understanding the facts. The claim is simple: air curtains keep conditioned air inside and hot exterior air outside where it should remain, generating savings on energy. The hardware creates this barrier by pulling in air, compressing it to increase its speed, and directing it to the floor in a continuous stream. It’s this invisible “curtain” that keeps air from escaping, as it cannot easily flow through the air stream. What air does move into the stream quickly reaches the floor. Some seeps back inside, while other air exits; the net effect is ideally negligible.
So, do they really work? The answer is a clear “yes” — and the numbers don’t lie. Consider one case study assembled by Berner International, a leading manufacturer of air curtains, which looked at the impact of air curtains positioned over fast food restaurant walk-in coolers. After one week, the restaurants observed a reduction of nearly two hours in the amount of time the refrigerator’s compressor operated. Extrapolated out to a year, this improvement saves more than 100 hours of operational time. Less wear and tear means fewer emergencies when a walk-in breaks, and fewer funds expended on maintenance and repairs.
More importantly, however, the installation translates into real-world savings, too. The reduced operating time works out to an energy savings of approximately $450 each year. Not only do these savings ensure that any investment in an air curtain sees a return without delay, but it also means these units practically pay for themselves in no time at all.
These units perform well when covering doorways for even very large buildings as well. Maintaining a stable indoor climate has typically been the job of vestibules, but air curtains today are recognized as a very viable alternative to additional structural enhancements. In another case study, a large convention center in Chicago chose to install Berner air curtains over all the entrances into the building. With frequent events and long periods when many or all the facility’s doors remain open, climate control was a difficult challenge. With the air curtains in place, interior temperatures easily remained in the correct range — and generated projected annuals savings in excess of $70,000. Based on those numbers, it’s safe to say that air curtains do work to save energy.
Air Curtains Do More Than Control Temperature
There is another important claim to address about air curtain operation — that they can keep out small flying insects, unpleasant odors, and even dust. Thinking about it, this would make sense. The stream of air must be strong enough to reach the ground, but not enough to disrupt those walking inside. While it won’t bother a person, that gentle stream is a rushing river of air to something as small as a mosquito or a fly. Likewise, the air will push down any dust floating inward. What does the evidence say about these claims, though?
Again, real-world efforts prove that the claims are not an exaggeration. Berner supplied air curtains to a restaurant that featured large doors which opened to allow for a free flow of space from the interior dining room to the exterior. Health inspectors noted that too many flying insects were entering the restaurant. After putting air curtains in place, inspectors were satisfied to find that no significant insect activity was still ongoing indoors. As an additional bonus, the restaurant gained the ability to leave the doors open all the time — enticing even more visitors to come and have a meal.
Exploring Air Curtains for Your Purposes
With clear advantages and a host of practical examples showcasing that air curtains really do have the benefits manufacturers claim, these units can make a difference in all kinds of applications. Are you curious about what a curtain could offer your business? At Air Door Distributors, we are your direct link to the leading hardware on the market today. Combined with the advice that you may need to choose the correct size and type of curtain, you’ll find it’s a straightforward path to saving energy, improving comfort, and developing a more hygienic space. To discuss your air curtain requirements with a dedicated professional today, reach out to us by calling us at 866-402-1642 or filling out our online contact form.