As business owners are keenly aware, few things in life are a “once and done”. Instead, even the most robust systems require ongoing maintenance and occasional repairs to function correctly. Commercial HVAC systems are no exception to this rule. Business owners have several key maintenance activities to complete regularly to ensure that their system works properly. If you neglect your system’s regular maintenance, several negative consequences can ensue.
As you continue reading, you’ll learn about those consequences and how to avoid them. We’ll introduce the standard preventive maintenance techniques that you can apply within your business to ensure your system remains at peak performance. Lastly, we’ll present a helpful guide regarding what to do in an emergency.
The Impact of Poor Maintenance on HVAC Systems
An HVAC system is a complicated series of machines. If any part malfunctions, then there are significant results that can cost you money and render the entire system inoperable until you repair it. There are several common consequences of improper maintenance:
- Decreased Air Quality – While this is the most innocuous result, it still produces an atmosphere that is uncomfortable for your workers and any visitors. If your business centers around retail or the service industry, you can potentially scare away your clients. Air quality is especially important for those with respiratory conditions such as asthma, or compromised immune systems who are sensitive to mold and bacteria.
- No Temperature Control – Sometimes, your system can blow air, but it doesn’t alter the temperature at all. As a result, your building will be too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Whether your furnace or air conditioner condenser is on the fritz, you can quickly find yourself in need of an HVAC technician.
- Inefficient Operation – You’ll feel this issue in your bank account as your HVAC system uses too much energy and fails to produce the results you want. It’s the worst of both worlds as your customers will be uncomfortable while your decreased revenue gets shunted more and more to your utility bills.
- System Failure – Sometimes, the need for maintenance becomes so urgent that the system stops working entirely. When this situation arises, there’s no choice but to contact a technician for service.
Regular, Preventive Maintenance for Commercial HVAC Systems
Despite the potential severity of the problems listed above, there are easy ways to prevent them from happening to your business. Commercial HVAC systems have a routine maintenance checklist that empowers you to stay on top of system performance and catch problems before they worsen. Common maintenance techniques include:
- Changing Air Filters – These filters are essential for preventing systemic issues due to air particles making it into your HVAC system. Generally, these filters will do the job admirably for a month, but if you push it longer than that, they may negatively impact system performance.
- Duct Cleaning – Businesses must turn to an outside contractor to assist with this service, but it only needs to be conducted every year or two. Ducts will accumulate dust, bacterial buildup, and incidental particles will enter the system through regular operation. Cleaning your ducts ensures that this buildup never progresses to the point that it affects your HVAC central units or clogs airflow.
- Efficiency Checks – Periodically, you should have a staff member examine your vents (air output) and registers (air intake). Over time, dust can accumulate on these terminals, causing unsightly obstructions which overtax your system as it struggles to control the temperature with decreased airflow. With regular cleaning, you can test the temperature to ensure that each vent is expelling adequately cooled or heated air.
How to Effectively Maintain These Systems in Emergency Situations
It’s always problematic when your system stops working correctly. Many acute mechanical issues could prompt it, or it could be a result of long-term systemic maintenance failures. The only way to protect your business in such cases is to contact an HVAC contractor to visit your business and conduct an immediate repair. Depending on the extent of the issue, this visit may be costly and time-consuming. The best way to protect yourself and your budget is to identify a trustworthy contractor before the problem arises and rely on that relationship in your emergencies. We recommend finding a good contractor for your regular duct cleanings so that you use someone already familiar with your system when the need arises.
Getting the Most for Your Business out of Commercial HVAC Systems
The key to well-functioning commercial HVAC systems is routine maintenance. When you enact a maintenance checklist in your workplace, your employees can help you stave off common issues. Build a relationship with a reliable contractor to help you when emergencies arise. If you take these two simple approaches, your business will be ready for any occurrence and you’ll always keep both customers and employees comfortable.