Keeping church temperatures right takes work

Keeping church members happy when it comes to heating and cooling can often be as challenging as making sure they’re not disgruntled with the latest style of worship.
   
“It is a given that if you are attending a church and taking care of the comfort systems that you will hear all of the complaints about the temperature on Sunday,” said Grady Sewell, owner of Sewell Service Company in Pinson.
   
Sewell maintains the heating and cooling systems of Clayridge Baptist Church in Clay, where he is a member. “Many a Sunday, I have been given that ‘it-is-too-hot-or-cold-in-here’ look, but it’s also nice to know that they count on me for their comfort,” he said.
   
Sewell said there are several steps churches can take to prevent temperature control problems:
   
–Change filters regularly.
   
–Limit access to the thermostat by members.
  
–Maintain door and window insulation.
   
–Cover windows that allow direct sunlight.
   
–Do not let systems sit idle for long periods between uses.
   
–Have systems cleaned and inspected yearly by a professional.
   
Sewell said there are many technical and design considerations that have to be considered when designing a heating and cooling system for a church. He said the primary consideration is usage and noise.
   
“Church systems, by their nature, have to be extra quiet while still having the ability to move large volumes of air,” he said. “Just imagine how disruptive a noisy system could be during worship by wreaking havoc with the sound system and drowning out speakers.”
   
Hot and cool spots — which lead some to complain they are cold, while others are too warm — are practically inescapable in a large building, according to Sewell. He said these areas are often created by external factors such as sunlight through windows, poor weather-stripping or bad airflow.
  
“The best way to avoid problem areas is to allow the air flow in a system to move on a continuous basis by setting the thermostat fan switch to the “on” position, allowing the system to exchange the building air on a continuous basis,” he said. “This process also gives better filtration and a cleaner building.
   
“It is commonly said among heating and cooling professionals that if there are two people in a room there are at least three opinions as to what the temperature should be,” he said. “Perhaps, it’s just another reason to look forward to heaven — the temperature there will be just right for everyone.”