Maintaining Commercial HVAC Systems

And while you may spend much of your time focused on technology concerns, customer service and miscellaneous office supplies, you should also know that your commercial HVAC is something that must be accounted for.

The investment that you make in any modern air conditioning and heating system is significant, so why would you not want to get the most for your company’s bottom line?

That is why commercial HVAC maintenance is just as important for your company’s HVAC as it is for your home unit.

Regular service and maintenance not only prolongs the life and performance of your commercial air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump, it also allows you to enjoy optimum efficiency – which can make a huge difference for your bottom line and perhaps allow you to focus your worthy efforts elsewhere.

That is because professional maintenance by a qualified technician checks for and prevents many issues before they can occur. For instance, you wouldn’t leave your home’s air conditioner running for years on end without expecting someone to check up on it once in a while would you?

So, why would you not do the same for a commercial HVAC system?

Just because a commercial system may be made to provide comfort for a larger or more diverse setting than your home unit does not mean that the commercial unit does not require upkeep and a little TLC every now and then. That is why you should – no matter the size, type or age of the system – secure a maintenance contract for your commercial HVAC.

The right technician will know exactly what to look for and what time of year to look for it, allowing you to focus on more pressing matters, while knowing that both employees and customers can focus on the task at hand.

Commerical HVAC maintenance technicians will carry out a precise and varied checklist that includes such aspects as:

• • Changing filters – All HVAC systems have filters that help your unit produce comfortable air that is as healthy as possible to breath. These filters, however, require either replacing or cleaning at least twice a year if not more often. A clogged filter not only cycles dirty air through your business but does so while preventing 100 percent air flow through the system. Therefore, your HVAC unit must work harder, and your employees and customers still won’t feel the comfort that your system is working hard to produce.

• • Cleaning equipment – Several types of units and parts of your HAVC system require cleaning to keep from getting clogged and running at peak efficiency. For instance, the blower assembly of your furnace must be cleaned at least once a year. The unit’s burners and heat exchanger also require consistent cleaning.

• • Checking the furnace flue for obstructions – No, it’s not a wood-burning fireplace, but it is a similar premise. Your furnace has a flue that safely vents the unit of exhaust and combustion byproducts. If it gets clogged, you could have all kinds of problems, including an accidental fire.

• • Lubricating moving parts – Just like your car’s engine needs oil to work without failure, your HVAC unit has moving parts that must be greased in order to keep them from seizing up. And these must be lubricated at least once a year.

• • Safety inspections – When it comes to liability and awareness, you want to be on top of every aspect of your company, correct? Well that should extend to your HVAC, which contains a number of parts that could present hazards to employees or customers if not properly maintained. A professional technician can easily maintain your safety.

• • Measuring leakage of ductwork – It is normal to have some duct leakage, but you should not experience something significant. Unfortunately, many people do – the EPA estimates that most HVAC units leak between 20 and 30 percent. That is far too much and means you are almost burning money. A professionally maintained system should experience only single digit leakage numbers, and a consistent maintenance package will help ensure that you maintain those numbers.

• • Checking thermostat settings – Modern thermostats are extraordinarily smart and intuitive. But that does not mean that should not be calibrated and updated to ensure peak efficiency. A professional will be able to do so at least once a year.

• • Repairs – A maintenance contract allows a technician to catch any damage or malfunctions and repair them before they become major issues that may require replacement of large parts or all of an HVAC unit – a much more expensive proposition.

So, now that you know a little more about what is involved in keeping your system up and running at full speed and efficiency, the question is how often should you expect a technician to provide maintenance?

Just as in home HVAC, you should have your commercial air conditioning and heating examined twice a year. The best to perform these services are the spring and fall – as systems endure the heaviest strain in the summer and winter and should therefore be prepped for each test, every year.

If you do not have a professional technician or HVAC contractor looking after your commercial requirements at least twice a year, then please consider contacting the pros at Conditioned Air Systems. Our NATE certified technicians know what it takes to keep every type of commercial HVAC unit up and running at peak efficiency.

Call Conditioned Air Systems today and let us take any of your HVAC concerns off your hands and get your focus back where it belongs: 770-536-7509.