Reading Time: 4 minutes It’s summer, and it’s hot! More than ever, the efficiency, quality, and cost of your HVAC system matters! As one of Base4’s senior MEP engineers, Hoang Le understands and engineers for the right system for your hotel. Here are his thoughts, and some links to helpful notes on this subject. Your hotel’s heating, ventilation, and

Reading Time: 3 minutes Hotel Water Softener Basics In previous newsletters, I shared the basics of tank and tankless hot water systems. Today, I discuss one last and often overlooked component of the hotel water system – Water Softeners. What Does A Water Softener Do? A water softener is a tank system that removes the ions (i.e., usually calcium and magnesium) from

Reading Time: 3 minutes Hot Water Systems – Designing for Safe Water There are an estimated 8,000 to 18,000 cases a year of Legionella Disease in the United States. Legionella bacteria, the cause of Legionnaires’ Disease, is commonly found in water.  If your hotel’s domestic hot water system is not properly designed and maintained, Legionella can find a way

Reading Time: 3 minutes Does My Hotel Need a Generator? Hospitality leaders must prioritize the safety and comfort of their guests!  One important consideration is your provision of an uninterrupted power supply. Guests expect hotel power will be functioning, regardless of natural disasters or other unforeseen electrical malfunctions. During unanticipated power outages, maintaining a reliable power source is vital

Reading Time: 4 minutes Room noise is the number one complaint from hotel guests. Guestroom HVAC systems can cause high levels of guestroom noise. So, today I present one very important⁠—yet often overlooked⁠—product difference between PTACs, VTACs, and VRF: guestroom noise. There are two primary causes of noise: 1. Sound from the Unit This is the most obvious noise

Reading Time: 5 minutes Expanding on my previous article and about HVAC systems (PTAC, VTAC, and VRF), here I discuss the basics of each HVAC system including their installation and basic operations. PTAC 1. The Basics PTAC stands for packaged terminal air conditioner. These are single, commercial grade, self-contained, and combination air-conditioner/heat pump units—designed for heating and cooling of

Reading Time: 3 minutes Hotel owners estimate that hotel guestroom energy consumption accounts for approximately 40% to 80% of total building energy use. This is a very high percentage of a hotel’s operating budget, so guestroom HVAC systems should not be taken lightly. As hotel architects and engineers, the Base4 team often fields questions about what HVAC system is