Air Doors Control Climate and Energy Costs

Walk into a store, supermarket or warehouse on a cold day and you might feel a blast of air. On one side is the cold, and as you enter the building you can feel a defining line where the warm air begins. The space in the middle keeps the cold from going in and the heat from going out. Or on a hot day, it keeps the heat out and the cold in. This is all done by an air door, otherwise known as an air curtain.

Air doors are useful for a wide range of purposes. Read on to learn more about air doors, why they’re practical and what features you should look for when purchasing one for your business.

What is an air curtain?

An air curtain is a special type of fan that’s used to keep an area or room temperature controlled and protected from contamination. Working on the same principle as a double window pane, the air curtain acts as an insulator to create a barrier between two different areas.

How does an air curtain work?

Mounted on the heated/air-conditioned side of the doorway, the air door takes in conditioned air and forces it down to the floor to create an invisible barrier. Depending on weather conditions, the blast of air is forced either straight down, or in the case of strong wind conditions, at a slightly outward angle.

Air doors do more than just control climate. They are also an effective way to keep flying insects, dust, and fumes, out of an environment.

For this reason, air curtains are commonly used in commercial spaces such as stores, warehouses, garages or workshops that demand both climate control and protection from contamination. For example, an auto body shop may use an air curtain to keep pests, dust and debris out of the workspace to prevent contamination while painting. Hospitals and schools may also use air curtains to keep areas climate controlled and contaminant-free.

In addition, air doors are an energy loss solution for nearly any heavily traveled business entrance.  They can help to reduce costs and energy associated with heating and cooling. Restaurants, warehouses, drive-up windows, service entry areas, and cold storage areas are just some of the facilities that can benefit from installing air curtains.

Air curtain features

If you’re interested in purchasing an air curtain for your commercial or personal space, there are a few things you need to consider before doing so.

• Heat or unheated? Some air curtains offer heat for ultimate climate control, which can be valuable for commercial spaces in cold climates.
• Size: The larger the size, the larger the barrier. Our air curtains range in size from 26 to 144 inches to accommodate a wide variety of spaces. If you have a large opening that requires an air curtain, you will need a more powerful and larger air curtain than if you had a smaller opening.
• Installation type: Most air curtains are surface mounted, making them visible. However, you may also opt for an option that’s recessed in the ceiling, like the Phantom series.
• Power: We carry 115v, 208-230v and 460v models, as well as single-phase and three-phase options.

Best-selling air curtains

Now that you’re familiar with the different types of features, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for in an air curtain. Here are some of our top sellers:

• The 115v Mars Air Systems LoPro 2 Unheated Air Curtain is available in a wide range of lengths in a sleek, low-profile design. It offers contaminant protection for openings up to 7 feet high and climate control and separation for openings up to 8 feet high. It’s available in either a black or white finish.
• The 115v Mars Air Systems Standard Series (STD2) Unheated Air Curtain works as a climate barrier for spaces of up to 10 feet and offers insect protection for up to 8 feet. While it’s a bit louder than the LoPro series air curtains, this model offers more power.

If you’re tired of watching money and energy flow out the door, an air door could be the answer to your needs. Shop our air curtains today.