Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing (TAB) is a specialized process that ensures your restaurant's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, as well as your kitchen hoods, are working properly. Unlike regular preventative maintenance, which focuses on cleaning and fixing equipment, TAB is all about fine-tuning your systems to achieve the perfect balance of airflow, temperature, and humidity throughout your restaurant. At National TAB Intelligence (NTi), we are your field engineers and boots-on-the-ground experts.

Why is testing, adjusting, and balancing important for your restaurant?

• Comfort: Properly balanced HVAC systems make your restaurant comfortable for your customers and staff. No more complaints about rooms being too hot or too cold!

• Energy Savings: A well-balanced HVAC system uses less energy, which means lower utility bills for your restaurant.

• Equipment Lifespan: Regular TAB helps your HVAC equipment and kitchen hoods run more efficiently and last longer, saving you money on repairs and replacements.

• Health and Safety: Proper airflow helps reduce the risk of mold, mildew, and other air quality issues. It also ensures that kitchen exhaust hoods are working effectively to remove smoke, cooking odors, and grease.

What are the reasons to for testing, adjusting, and balancing?

• Building Pressure Issues: TAB can help identify and correct building pressure problems, such as doors that are hard to open or close, or drafts.

• Humidity/Temperature Issues: TAB can help balance the airflow to address issues like high humidity or uneven temperatures.

• Equipment Replacement: After replacing any HVAC equipment or kitchen hoods, TAB ensures that the new equipment is properly integrated into your existing system.

How does the TAB process work?

• Pre-Inspection: Prior to the TAB technician’s arrival, the store’s preventative maintenance company should ensure the equipment is in proper condition by replacing filters, checking outside air damper operation, and overall cleanliness.

• 1st TAB Visit: NTi completes initial testing to get the pulse of your facility. The goal here is to complete the TAB. Sometimes, however, issues are identified that prevent a successful TAB. NTi will do whatever it can to work around these issues, but sometimes they require significant repairs to fix.

• Report/Remediation: A detailed report with recommendations, data, and pictures is provided to the owner. From there, the recommendations are completed.

• 2nd TAB Visit: Once all issues are resolved, the final TAB is completed. NTi then finetunes your systems to make sure they are working together holistically. The final report is now issued detailing the findings.

How often should TAB be performed?

TAB should be performed when your restaurant first opens, after any major renovations, equipment changes, and scheduled every 1 to 2 years as part of your ongoing maintenance. TAB is not a one and done event. It is a fact of life that buildings eventually fall out of balance. So, if you notice issues with your HVAC or kitchen hood systems, such as uneven temperatures or poor air quality, it may be time for a TAB checkup. NTi is here to see your building through its life cycle and keep your comfort under control.

For more information, visit www.nationaltab.com/test-adjust-balance.