How to Maintain and Repair an HVAC system

In commercial buildings in New Jersey and across the world, HVAC systems are the largest energy consumers. The best way to conserve energy is to keep up on regular HVAC maintenance and to schedule repairs when they’re needed – and this doesn’t only conserve energy and cut costs. It improves the performance of your system and increases its lifespan as well.

Here are five ways that you can keep up on your commercial HVAC maintenance:

1. Change the air filters.

Substances like dust, dirt, and other debris can block your air filters, and dirty air filters can restrict air flow and force your system to work harder than it should – which means using more energy.

We recommend changing your filters either every three months or when they are visibly dirty.

1. Inspect your system.

It’s common for building managers to neglect system checks until it’s too late. We recommend giving your system a once-over while things are still in good condition in order to look for any small issues that could become larger.

All you have to do is visually check the major and minor components of your system and look for signs that something may be amiss – like disconnected pipes, rust, leaks, or dirty refrigerant lines.

1. Recalibrate your system twice a year.

We recommend that property owners recalibrate their commercial HVAC systems and adjust thermostat settings before winter and before summer in order to prepare for temperature shifts.

You can also recalibrate if you’ve had an area of the building reduced or seen a change in shift patterns.

1. Clean and check drainage lines.

HVAC systems create water vapor that needs to be funneled out in order to prevent structural damage. In most cases, this condensation is sent through drainage lines and collected in an exterior tray which then evaporates into the air.

Over time, bacteria, algae, and mold are attracted to this tray, and this can lead to a blockage in the system – which is why it should be emptied regularly. Regular emptying also prevents the tray from overflowing and causing damage.

1. Clean the AC evaporator and condenser coils.

The evaporator and condenser coils are exposed to the unclean air that circulates while the system is operating. Over time, dirt, fungi, and mold can be deposited on them, which affects their efficiency. For this reason, it’s essential to clean the coils at least once a year using commercial coil cleaners and pressurized air.

CK Control Temp

In this list, we included a handful of tasks that your maintenance staff can carry out, but there are plenty of other duties that only a professional HVAC technician like those of us at CK Control Temp should handle.

Get in touch with us to schedule a maintenance appointment for your commercial HVAC system today.