The HVAC systems in commercial buildings require constant maintenance of HVAC systems that will keep the air in your office comfortable and healthy. We feel that HVAC systems shouldn’t be a nuisance, but rather an important part of any business. Your employees can feel confident that their physical comfort matters to the company.
Moreover, the best way to avoid high energy bills is to re-evaluate your HVAC system once a year and perform regular maintenance tasks according to the schedule outlined in this checklist.
HVAC Maintenance Checklist
A well-maintained system can help extend the life of your equipment and keep you from having to worry about unexpected repairs. The following checklist will help ensure that your HVAC systems are operating at their peak performance.
- Remove all dust from the system – Dust and debris are some of the leading causes of breakdowns in HVAC systems. Dust can build up on fans, coils and other mechanical parts, reducing their efficiency. The professionals at triad mechanical services opine cleaning air filters once per month, or according to manufacturer guidelines to prevent this from happening. Dirty air filters can reduce airflow by 5-15 percent, which forces your HVAC system to work harder to cool a space and increase energy bills.
- Clean condenser coils – The condenser coils are responsible for “radiating heat away from the refrigerant” that enters the compressor. If these coils are dirty or dusty, they won’t be able to properly cool refrigerant, which can cause your unit to shut down unexpectedly.
- Lubricate all moving parts – This includes the bearings and motors of your blower, outdoor fan, and outdoor motor (if applicable).
- Check all belts for tightness and wear – If they’re loose or otherwise damaged, have them replaced immediately — this will reduce energy consumption and prevent other issues in the future.
- Inspect the evaporator coil – When the weather gets cold outside, check that your condensate drain is not frozen. If it’s frozen, remove the ice. This prevents water damage in your home and helps your HVAC system operate more efficiently.
- Condenser unit fan- The outside unit is responsible for releasing heat from your home, which means that its job is to get hot. If the fins of the coil are bent, it will restrict airflow and cause the syste m to work harder to cool your building. You can straighten them with a fin comb or by carefully using a butter knife or screwdriver.
- Check amperage draw on all motors – Units that aren’t running as efficiently as they should be will draw more amps than normal to run. You may notice this by looking at the amperage draw on the motor or by listening for a high-pitched whine when it is running.
Conclusion
Many people use air conditioning, but few know how difficult it is to keep a system working smoothly. HVAC systems need to be properly maintained or they can be the cause of a great deal of problems in the commercial building they are located in. If the system is not maintained, it can be forced to shut down and turn off. Cleaning is just as important as keeping them cool in order to get them to function efficiently.
