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In severely cold weather, which adjustment should be made to ensure proper preheating of outside air?

  1. The outdoor damper should be closed

  2. Two separate preheater coils should be installed

  3. Damper must be heated

  4. Preheat coil temperature should be increased

The correct answer is: Two separate preheater coils should be installed

To ensure proper preheating of outside air in severely cold weather, it is essential to focus on effectively warming the air before it enters the main heating or ventilation system. The installation of two separate preheater coils can enhance the system's ability to manage varying outdoor temperatures, as having dual coils allows for increased surface area and more efficient heat exchange. By distributing the load between two coils, the heating system can reduce the risk of freezing and ensure a continuous supply of adequately warmed air for optimal system performance. Using two coils can also provide redundancy; if one coil fails or requires maintenance, the other can still operate, thus maintaining system functionality. This strategy is particularly valuable during extreme cold events, where a single preheating coil might struggle to maintain the required temperature for effective air handling. In contrast, closing the outdoor damper would prevent any outside air from entering the system, which is contrary to proper ventilation practices. Heating the damper itself or increasing the preheat coil temperature are also valid approaches but may not provide the same level of efficiency and reliability as installing two separate coils. Increasing the temperature of a single coil might put additional strain on that component, leading to potential overheating or reduced lifespan of the equipment.