HVAC Maintenance: Top Measures To Cut Costs
Maintaining your facility probably accounts for a large part of your annual budget spending. Did you know that in the U.S., industrial and commercial facilities spend about $400 billion on energy alone? That may seem like a lot of money, but there are ways to lower these costs. The savings you generate would allow for business development, marketing expansion or other expenditures. If you’re looking for a way to cut costs, look no further than HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) maintenance.
In an average commercial building, HVAC systems are the largest energy consumers. Oftentimes, there are automated systems and other technologies that work to reduce energy usage. However, maintaining your HVAC system significantly affects the amount of energy this equipment utilizes. Below, we provide you with a checklist that encompasses both indoor and outdoor HVAC components. Your facility manager and maintenance department can keep your HVAC systems running more effectively through consistent top measures for hvac maintenance.
COMMERCIAL HVAC PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
You should have your maintenance team perform these assessments in the Spring for cooling systems and in the Fall for heating systems. These checks should be completed by a qualified, commercial HVAC technician. The checklist of preventative measures is designed to help your entire HVAC system run more proficiently throughout the changing seasons. Review this list of top measures for hvac maintenance.
FOR INDOOR COMPONENTS:
- Blower assembly is checked and cleaned.
- Belts are lubricated or replaced.
- Combustion blower housing is cleaned.
- Evaporator coil, drip pan, and condensate lines are correctly cleaned and cleared.
- Burner assembly is inspected and cleaned.
- Ignition system is cleaned.
- Safety controls are tested.
- Heat exchanger is inspected.
- Flue system is checked for dislocations and wear.
- Control box, wiring, and connections are checked and tightened.
- Air filter is replaced or cleaned.
- Duct system is checked.
FOR OUTDOOR COMPONENTS:
- Coil and cabinet are inspected and cleaned.
- Drain pans and condensate lines are cleared of obstructions.
- Compressor is inspected.
- Fan motor and blades are inspected and lubricated.
- Control box, switches, wiring and safety controls are inspected.
- Refrigerant level is measured and recharged if necessary.
HVAC MAINTENANCE MEASURES: INSPECT AND CHANGE AIR FILTERS
Moreover, every 3-4 weeks, your facility manager or maintenance staff need to examine your air filters to ensure the filter has not been clogged. Similarly, the air filters should be changed approximately every 3-6 months in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
It is imperative that your maintenance crew regularly checks air filters and changes them as suggested. Restricted or clogged airflow through your HVAC system deters performance. Therefore, it also increases energy consumption. When the system is being used more frequently, you may need to replace the filters more often. Studies have indicated that running your system with clean air filters reduces energy usage by upwards of 15%.
HVAC MAINTENANCE MEASURES: PROGRAM THOSE THERMOSTATS
In addition to checking and changing air filters, you should also program your facility’s thermostats. You should adjust them at the beginning of both heating and cooling season. This is also when temperatures get to the point of not using the systems regularly.
At the time when you will switch from the heating system to cooling system, or when you won’t be running it as much, your facility manager or maintenance department need to check the thermostat programming to make sure settings are optimized for energy savings. You can do this by manually programming your thermostats or through your building’s automation systems. Once you have done this when the seasons change, it is still vital to recheck to ensure the settings still fit your current needs.
HVAC MAINTENANCE MEASURES: SYSTEM CHECKS
We also suggest that you perform periodic system checks on a monthly basis, or generally as needed. Some smaller facilities may not be need to do checks as often as larger ones. First, you should evaluate thermostat operation. If they are not functioning correctly, your HVAC systems will run more frequently than needed. In turn, this will boost your energy consumption. If you discover that your thermostats are not working correctly, you should have them fixed or replaced.
Additionally, remember to check drip pan and drain lines recurrently. Clogs in your HVAC systems’ drainage lines can cause moisture to back up into your building. Ultimately, this can cause mold and mildew growth, as well as potential other damages. Have your maintenance staff correctly empty the drip pan and drain lines and remove any obstructions that have developed over time.
OUR TEAM CAN ASSIST YOU
After almost 46 years, we are your restoration services expert. Not only are we there for fire and water damage, but our team of certified professionals can handle any HVAC maintenance issues. GRS has served the Gulf Coast’s residential, commercial and industrial indoor air quality needs since 1974. We are NADCA certified and comply with the NADCA code of ethics.
At Guarantee Restoration Services, we understand that preventative measures only take you so far if you have not addressed issues or performed regular maintenance over time. Even in businesses or homes where the air filter is changed regularly, dust and particles can gather in the system and ducts, which results in decreased air quality and system performance.
We are here to help you. For more information about our air duct cleaning services, give us a call at 1-800-349-HELP (4357) or email info@guaranteerestoration.net. Our team is available 24/7, which isn’t just a number, it’s a GUARANTEE.
