How Much Can Your Calgary Business Save With Reznor Make-Up Air Units?
Commercial kitchens, manufacturing facilities, and businesses with exhaust systems lose thousands in heat every month. A properly designed Reznor make-up air unit recovers that lost heat while improving air quality and meeting building codes.
Here’s how much you could actually save—and how quickly it pays for itself.
Here’s how much you could actually save—and how quickly it pays for itself.
What Are Make-Up Air Units? (Non-Technical Explanation)
The Problem They Solve
When you have a commercial kitchen with powerful exhaust fans, or a manufacturing facility with air quality requirements, you’re pulling conditioned air out of the building constantly.
That air was heated (or cooled) at great cost. When it leaves through exhaust, that heat is literally going into the atmosphere—and wasted money leaves with it.
Additionally, when you’re pulling air OUT of the building, you’re creating negative pressure. That negative pressure pulls unconditioned air in through cracks, doors, and other openings—and that unconditioned air has to be heated again.
The Result:
That air was heated (or cooled) at great cost. When it leaves through exhaust, that heat is literally going into the atmosphere—and wasted money leaves with it.
Additionally, when you’re pulling air OUT of the building, you’re creating negative pressure. That negative pressure pulls unconditioned air in through cracks, doors, and other openings—and that unconditioned air has to be heated again.
The Result:
- Heat loss through exhaust: 10-20% of total heating cost
- Infiltration of cold air: Another 5-10% heating cost
- Uncontrolled air leakage: Creates hot/cold spots and comfort complaints
- Code violations: Many jurisdictions now REQUIRE make-up air systems
How Reznor Make-Up Air Units Work
A make-up air unit (MAU) captures fresh outside air, conditions it (heats it to the proper temperature), and delivers it to the facility in a controlled manner.
The Process:
The Process:
- Fresh Air Intake: Outside air is drawn in through roof-mounted intake
- Filtration: Air passes through filter removing dust and contaminants
- Conditioning: Reznor heating system warms outside air to desired temperature
- Delivery: Warm fresh air is ducted to facility strategically
- Balance: Controlled fresh air replaces exhaust, eliminating negative pressure
- Safety: Integrated controls prevent overpressurization
- Controlled air balance (no negative pressure)
- Heated fresh air (comfort maintained)
- Improved indoor air quality
- Compliance with building codes
- Lower heating costs
Why Your Commercial Kitchen Needs Reznor Make-Up Air
Building Code Compliance
Most modern building codes require make-up air in commercial kitchens. Specifically:
- Alberta Building Code: Requires replacement air equal to exhaust volume
- Health Department: Requires outdoor air replacement
- Fire Code: Often mandates balanced ventilation
- Insurance Requirements: Some policies require make-up air systems
- Failed health inspections
- Insurance claim denials if damage occurs
- Forced system shutdown by building inspector
- Employee safety issues (poor air quality)
- Potential fines
Energy Efficiency & Cost Savings
A properly designed make-up air system can reduce heating costs by 20-40%:
- Exhaust Heat Recovery: Capture and reuse heat from exhausted air
- Controlled Infiltration: Eliminate uncontrolled air leakage
- Thermostat Stability: Improved HVAC efficiency when pressure balanced
- Operational Savings: Lower monthly heating bills immediately
Air Quality Improvements
Fresh air replacement creates multiple benefits:
- Better Employee Comfort: Adequate oxygen levels, reduced stuffiness
- Kitchen Performance: Proper air movement prevents heat/smoke buildup
- Odor Control: Continuous fresh air removes cooking odors
- Health & Safety: Reduced heat stress on kitchen staff
- Food Safety: Proper ventilation helps maintain food safety standards
How Reznor Systems Work (Simple Overview)
System Components
- Fresh Air Intake Hood
- Mounted on roof, above other exhausts
- Sized properly to prevent sucking in exhaust
- Weather protection and bird guards
- Usually 12-18 inches above facility roof
- Supply Ductwork
- Insulated to prevent heat loss
- Sized for proper air velocity
- Routed to kitchen area for distribution
- Dampers for control
- Reznor Heating Unit
- Warms incoming air to 65-75°F (adjustable)
- Gas-fired or electric options
- Modulating control (heats only as much as needed)
- Safety controls and interlocks
- Control System
- Senses kitchen exhaust operation
- Activates make-up air automatically
- Maintains proper pressure
- Interfaces with kitchen exhaust system
- Emergency shutdowns
- Delivery Registers/Dampers
- Distribute fresh air throughout kitchen
- Adjustable for comfort
- Prevents drafts and stratification
How Temperature Control Works
Variable Heating:
- When exhaust running high: System provides more heated fresh air
- When exhaust low: System reduces fresh air heat
- Always maintains positive pressure (slightly more in than out)
- Thermostat control (usually 70°F setpoint)
- Demand-based (heats only when needed)
- Schedule-based (operation matches kitchen hours)
- Integration with kitchen exhaust (linked operation)
- Manual override (for special situations)
Cost Analysis by Business Type
Restaurant / Commercial Kitchen
Typical Scenario:
- 1,500 sq ft kitchen
- Commercial hood with 2,000 CFM exhaust capacity
- Operating 60 hours per week
- Location: Calgary (average -25°C winter low)
Current Situation (Without Make-Up Air):
- Monthly heating cost (winter): $1,200
- Monthly heating cost (summer): $200
- Annual heating cost: $7,800
- Problem: Cold drafts, code violations, high bills
With Reznor Make-Up Air Unit:
- Monthly heating cost (winter): $920
- Monthly heating cost (summer): $150
- Annual heating cost: $6,200
- Annual Savings: $1,600
- Monthly Savings: $130
Installation:
- Equipment: $6,000-8,000
- Installation: $2,000-3,000
- Total System Cost: $8,000-11,000
- Payback Period: 5-7 years
- 10-Year Savings: $16,000+ plus code compliance
Additional Benefits:
- ✓ Code compliance (no fines)
- ✓ Better employee comfort
- ✓ Improved kitchen air quality
- ✓ Insurance coverage maintained
- ✓ Potential health inspection bonuses
Manufacturing Facility
Typical Scenario:
- 8,000 sq ft facility with fume hood or industrial ventilation
- 5,000 CFM exhaust capacity
- Operating 40 hours per week
- Location: Calgary
- Monthly heating cost (winter): $2,400
- Monthly heating cost (summer): $300
- Annual heating cost: $15,600
- Problem: Negative pressure, product quality issues, air quality
- Monthly heating cost (winter): $1,680
- Monthly heating cost (summer): $210
- Annual heating cost: $11,000
- Annual Savings: $4,600
- Monthly Savings: $380
- Equipment: $8,000-12,000
- Installation: $3,000-5,000
- Ductwork: $2,000-4,000
- Total System Cost: $13,000-21,000
- Payback Period: 2.8-4.6 years
- 10-Year Savings: $46,000+ plus productivity gains
- ✓ Improved employee comfort
- ✓ Reduced air quality complaints
- ✓ Better HVAC system performance
- ✓ Reduced negative pressure issues
- ✓ Compliance with air quality regulations
Commercial Bakery
Typical Scenario:
- 2,500 sq ft facility
- Oven exhaust: 1,500 CFM
- Operating 50 hours per week (early mornings)
- Location: Calgary
- Monthly heating cost (winter): $900
- Monthly heating cost (summer): $150
- Annual heating cost: $5,800
- Problem: Oven performance reduced by negative pressure, high heating bills
- Monthly heating cost (winter): $600
- Monthly heating cost (summer): $100
- Annual heating cost: $4,000
- Annual Savings: $1,800
- Monthly Savings: $150
- Equipment: $5,000-7,000
- Installation: $1,500-2,500
- Total System Cost: $6,500-9,500
- Payback Period: 3.6-5.3 years
- 10-Year Savings: $18,000+ plus improved product
- ✓ Better oven performance
- ✓ Improved product quality (consistent conditions)
- ✓ Employee comfort (especially early morning)
- ✓ Faster baking times (better air circulation)
Interactive Cost Savings Calculator
[Insert HTML code from Implementation Guide – interactive calculator]
How to Use:
- Enter your current monthly heating cost
- Select your business type
- Enter your facility size
- Click “Calculate My Savings”
- Current annual heating cost
- Expected annual savings
- Typical installation cost
- Payback period in months
- 5-year and 10-year savings projections
Real Calgary Case Studies
Case Study #1: Downtown Restaurant & Bar
The Situation:
Financial:
- 2,000 sq ft with full kitchen (hood + makeup air space)
- Private dining room with separate HVAC
- Winter heating costs: $1,400/month
- Code violation: No make-up air system
- Problem: Cold spots near kitchen, staff complaints, inspection failures
- Reznor demand-controlled make-up air unit
- Sized for 1,800 CFM to match hood exhaust
- Integrated with existing kitchen hood
- Smart thermostat control (maintains 70°F)
| Metric | Before | After | Change |
| Winter Heating Cost | $1,400/mo | $1,050/mo | -$350/mo (-25%) |
| Summer Cooling Load | Reduced negative pressure | Minimal | Improved |
| Code Compliance | Violation | Pass | ✓ |
| Customer Comfort | Cold spots | Even temperature | ✓ |
| Staff Feedback | Hot in kitchen | Comfortable | ✓ |
- System cost: $9,500
- Annual savings: $4,200 (heating + cooling benefits)
- Payback period: 2.3 years
- 10-year savings: $42,000
Case Study #2: Manufacturing - Metal Fabrication
The Situation:
Financial:
- 6,500 sq ft facility with welding station
- CNC machines generate heat, fume hood for ventilation
- Current heating cost: $2,200/month (winter)
- Problem: Negative pressure, product quality consistency issues, employee air quality complaints
- Requirement: Alberta Building Code now requires make-up air
- Reznor modulating make-up air unit
- 4,500 CFM capacity to match fume hood
- Integrated pressure control
- Scheduled operation (matching machine shop hours)
| Metric | Before | After | Change |
| Winter Heating | $2,200/mo | $1,500/mo | -$700/mo (-32%) |
| Negative Pressure | Constant | Eliminated | ✓ |
| Air Quality | Poor | Good | ✓ |
| Product Consistency | Variable | Improved | ✓ |
| Employee Comfort | Complaints | Resolved | ✓ |
- System cost: $18,000
- Annual savings: $8,400
- Payback period: 2.1 years
- 10-year savings: $84,000
- Bonus productivity value: 5-10% improvement in production efficiency
ROI Calculator Examples
Example 1: Small Restaurant
- Current annual heating: $10,800
- With make-up air system: $8,400
- Annual savings: $2,400
- System cost: $9,000
- Payback: 3.75 years
- 10-year savings: $24,000
- Current annual heating: $7,200
- With make-up air system: $5,400
- Annual savings: $1,800
- System cost: $8,000
- Payback: 4.4 years
- 10-year savings: $18,000
- Current annual heating: $26,400
- With make-up air system: $18,000
- Annual savings: $8,400
- System cost: $18,000
- Payback: 2.1 years
- 10-year savings: $84,000
Financing Options
Option 1: Pay Cash
- Best: No interest, immediate ownership
- Timing: Implement immediately
- Tax benefit: Possible depreciation
Option 2: HVAC Equipment Finance
- Typical rate: 0-7.99% APR
- Terms: 36-60 months
- Monthly payment example: $200-350/month
- Advantage: Monthly payment often less than monthly savings
Option 3: Energy Savings Performance Contract
- How it works: Contractor finances system
- Payment: Made from energy savings
- Risk: None (if savings don’t materialize, you don’t pay full amount)
- Timeline: Usually 5-7 years to full ownership
Option 4: Building Retrofit Grant
- Alberta provincial programs (may have incentives)
- Government rebates for energy efficiency
- Equipment cost reductions possible
- Check Energy Efficiency Alberta website
Installation & Timeline
Pre-Installation (1-2 Weeks)
- Consultation and site assessment
- Equipment selection and sizing
- Proposal and cost estimate
- Code compliance verification
- Obtain building permits if needed
Installation (2-4 Days)
- Rooftop intake installation
- Supply ductwork installation
- Main heating unit installation
- Control system integration
- Testing and commissioning
Post-Installation (1 Week)
- System operation training
- Maintenance instruction
- Fine-tuning thermostat and controls
- First week monitoring
- Adjustment as needed for comfort
Maintenance & Operating Costs
Annual Maintenance
- Filter replacements: $200-300
- Professional inspection: $200-300
- Seasonal adjustments: $100-150
- Annual cost: $500-750
Monthly Operating Cost
- Energy cost: $50-150 depending on season
- Maintenance reserve: $40-60/month
- Total monthly: $90-210
Lifespan & Replacement
- Expected system life: 15-20 years
- Major component replacement: 10-15 years (heat exchanger, etc.)
- Blower motor: 12-18 years
- Controls: 10-15 years
Related Reznor Articles
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FAQ: Reznor Make-Up Air Units
Q: Do I really need a make-up air system?
Check your local building code. Alberta Building Code now typically requires make-up air in commercial kitchens and facilities with significant exhaust. Health departments also frequently mandate it.
Q: How much can I save?
Typical savings are 20-35% on heating costs for facilities with significant exhaust. Actual savings depend on your current heating cost and system design. Our free calculator gives exact projections for your situation.
Q: What's the payback period?
Typically 2-5 years depending on your facility and current heating costs. After payback, it’s pure savings.
Q: Can I install this myself?
No. Make-up air systems require proper sizing, code compliance, and integration with existing HVAC. Professional installation is essential.
Q: What size system do I need?
System must equal or exceed your exhaust volume (measured in CFM). Oversizing wastes energy; undersizing creates negative pressure. Professional assessment required.
Q: How do I know if it's working properly?
You should feel positive pressure in your facility (doors don’t open hard, no cold drafts), your heating bills should decrease, and you should notice improved air quality.