HVAC Maintenance: Important Steps to Take

For any commercial business, facility costs make up a massive amount of yearly spending. Aside from rent or mortgage costs, energy expenses are the biggest contributor. In fact, the total energy costs of U.S. industrial facilities exceed $400 billion each year. As such, facilities are constantly looking for ways to lower their energy bill. One of the best ways to do this is by properly maintaining your HVAC system to ensure it is in tip-top shape. 

HVAC systems are among the biggest energy consumers in the average commercial warehouse/facility. While implementing automated systems can significantly reduce energy consumption, maintaining your systems through regular HVAC maintenance can be a cheaper way to impact the amount of energy your equipment uses. This blog will cover four steps you can take to maintain your HVAC system and ensure it continues to run at a top level for as long as possible.

Preventative Maintenance

Like any machine or device, good HVAC maintenance begins with addressing problems before they arise. Preventative maintenance should be carried out in the spring for cooling systems, the fall for hearing systems, and done by a professional technician. This will help identify any potential problems and also serve as a boost for your HVAC systems, allowing them to run more efficiently. There are many steps to take to address existing issues and prevent future problems.

For outdoor components, the coil and cabinet of your HVAC systems should be inspected and thoroughly cleaned. Facilities should also ensure drain pans and condensate lines are clear, the compressor is inspected, fan motor and blades are checked and lubricated, the control box and its associated electrical components are inspected, and the refrigerant levels are recharged if necessary. For indoor components, the blower assembly should be checked and cleaned, belts should be lubricated or replaced, any pans and lines should be cleaned, the ignition system is cleaned, safety controls are tested, heat exchanger is inspected, and so on.

Check and Change Air Filters

HVAC air filters should be checked every three to four weeks to make sure they are not clogged, and changed every three to six months or as needed. It is important that the maintenance staff do this, as clogged filters restrict airflow through the HVAC system thereby hindering performance and increasing energy consumption. Clean air filters can lower energy consumption significantly, sometimes by up to 15%.

Program Thermostats

Thermostats should be programmed at the beginning of each heating and cooling season, as well as when temperatures reach the point of systems not being needed regularly. At these times, the maintenance team should ensure the thermostats are set for optimal energy savings. This can be done manually or through an automation system. Even if you have programmed them in the past, checking thermostats again to ensure they remain suited to your needs is always a good idea.

Periodic Inspections

These should be carried out monthly, or as needed, and involve checking the thermostat operation as well as the drip pan and drain lines. If the thermostat is not running properly, the HVAC system could be running more frequently than needed, therefore increasing energy consumptions. When a thermostat is on the fritz, it should be repaired or replaced. Checking the drainage lines is equally important, as clogs can cause moisture to build up and lead to mold, mildew growth, and damage. Check the drip pan and drain lines for obstructions and remove any you find.

Proper maintenance of your HVAC system can save significant money on heating and cooling while helping the facility run more efficiently. For HVAC components of all types and much more, look no further than ASAP Industrials, a trusted supplier of parts for a wide range of industries. We are an online distributor of aircraft parts as well as parts pertaining to the aerospace, civil aviation, defense, electronics, and IT hardware markets. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, call us at 1-714-705-4780 or email us at sales@asapindustrials.com.

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1. jacob miller
2. Posted on January 20, 2021
hvac and refrigeration

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