To function properly, all business appliances need preventative maintenance, and your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is no different. Commercial HVAC preventative maintenance helps you avoid costly repairs, save on utility bills, and keep your staff and patrons comfortable.  

In this article, we will examine what commercial HVAC maintenance involves and share a checklist of what your HVAC team should take care of and a few operational things you can probably take care of yourself.  Keep reading to discover how you can save time, money, and stress while keeping your HVAC equipment in top shape. 

What is commercial HVAC preventative maintenance?

Commercial HVAC systems are complex machines with dozens of different parts and functions that work year-round to maintain a good indoor atmosphere at businesses, from temperature to humidity levels. Because of this complexity and the hard work these machines perform, there are ample opportunities for pieces to wear down, break, or stop performing optimally.  

Commercial HVAC preventative maintenance is the regular servicing of these units to keep them in the best working condition by cleaning them, changing older parts, testing various functions, and making any adjustments before any serious issues occur.  

Commercial HVAC services included with preventative maintenance

At a minimum, you should perform preventative maintenance on your HVAC system twice a year, specifically once in the spring for your cooling units and once in the fall for your heating units. An expert should be able to come perform commercial HVAC services including tune-ups, cleanings, repairs when needed, and more.

They’ll be able to proactively identify potential problems ahead of time and find solutions to keep your HVACs not only functioning, but working at their highest level to keep comfortable air temperatures without wasting energy and keep the atmosphere as filtered and clean as possible.  

Benefits of commercial HVAC preventative maintenance:

Increased lifespan.

One broken part can impact the rest of your system, potentially causing your HVAC to reach the end of its life early. But following a regular maintenance plan will help you detect critical issues before they impact other parts.

Plus, even when there aren’t broken parts, things like dirty filters can cause the unit to work harder than necessary. Wasted energy increases your overall energy consumption and your system’s workload—and reduces longevity.

Better air quality.

Your HVAC system does more than keep you warm or cool. Ventilation is a key part of an HVAC’s job, and when running at its peak, a commercial HVAC should be able to create a clean and healthy facility. Without proper maintenance, your units won’t do this job as well, increasing the number of airborne pollutants in your building. 

  Budderfly HVAC Replace Program Project Site from Budderfly, Inc. on Vimeo.

Clean air is more pleasant to breathe, and it keeps employees and patrons with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory issues safe. As the recent pandemic showed, better circulation also decreases the spread of airborne pathogens.

Safety.

Keeping your HVAC system running smoothly is as much about safety as comfort.  Poor maintenance is one of the leading causes of carbon monoxide leaks in the United States. Carbon monoxide poisoning is obviously a serious issue, and according to the CDC, it hospitalizes 14,000 Americans each year. Maintaining your HVAC helps protect your employees and your patrons.

Energy-efficiency.

Clogged filters, worn down belts, broken parts, debris and more can all cause your HVAC to work harder to make up for these issues. That translates into more energy consumed by the machine, which can significantly increase your monthly utility bills and your carbon emissions. Regular commercial HVAC maintenance will ensure your machine is as energy efficient as possible, helping you save money and helping the environment.  

Cost savings.

Utility bills aren’t the only way you’ll save. Better maintenance means fewer system breakdowns that require costly repairs and interrupt business operations. Calling a professional to perform commercial HVAC service takes out the stress of maintenance and helps your business’s HVAC system avoid expensive disasters or business downtime. 

Your HVAC Preventative Maintenance Checklist is Made Even Easier When You Work With an Energy Efficiency Partner.

Though you should check your HVAC twice a year at minimum, it can be a challenge to know what to look for and how to do it properly. In the following checklist, we’ll share what an energy efficiency partner looks for when taking care of your cooling equipment in spring and heating equipment in fall. We’ll also list what both your heating and cooling system need all year round. 

Getting More Out of Your HVAC With Professional Preventative Maintenance

Working with an energy-as-a-service partner for your HVAC maintenance saves you time and money. Equipped with deep HVAC preventative maintenance expertise and tools you may not have on-site, they have experience at all types of facilities and will make sure maintenance is done right the first time.

Throughout the year, your HVAC maintenance team takes care of the following: 

Spring & Fall

• Testing your air conditioners before you need them to make sure they’re running properly (spring).
• Testing your furnaces before you need them to make sure they’re running properly (fall).
• Checking your evaporator drain and clearing out clogs if necessary.
• Making sure the concrete slab your unit sits on is still level.
• Cleaning your furnace’s heat pump before winter starts.
• Checking ducts for any blockage.
• Lubricating any moving parts before the unit is needed for the season.
• Programming your thermostat to the right temperature for the season.
• Tightening electrical connections.
• Checking and adjusting your HVAC dampers.
• Checking for leaks in your gas connections.
• Testing your furnace’s motor rampage before winter.
• Testing your air conditioner’s discharge pressure before the cooling seasons.
• Testing your furnace’s safety shut-off before the heating season.
• Doing a safety check on your entire furnace before you start using it.

Anytime

• Turning off outdoor units and hose them down if they’re dirty.
• Clearing ice build-up from your condenser coils. 
• Clearing blockage in ducts.
• Checking your defrost control board.
• Safely cleaning rooftop units and performing needed health checks.
• Measuring and refilling refrigerant as needed. 
• Replacing your furnace’s evaporator pad when necessary.
• Regularly checking all safety controls on all units.
• Replacing heating or cooling units when needed.

The good news is, there are a few things you can do yourself, anytime, like:

Do This Yourself Anytime

• Clean your air filters every month.
• Check whether you have 1-month or 90-day filters and replace them accordingly
• Remove dust and debris from your unit whenever you see it.
• Plant or trim back foliage so it's at least 18 in (45 cm) away from any outdoor unit.

Prevent Future Problems with Energy-Efficient HVAC.

Regular maintenance can extend the life of your HVAC unit, but it will eventually wear down beyond repair. Most HVAC systems are only built to last for 15 to 20 years. When it’s time to replace your system, upgrade to an energy-efficient model with Budderfly at no upfront cost.

Energy-efficient HVAC units last longer and use less energy, so they don’t need nearly as much maintenance. Plus, with your preventative maintenance agreement, HVAC maintenance is performed regularly to keep your machinery in premium condition. Our expert team will make sure every unit performs to its maximum efficiency.

Ready to optimize your HVAC system today?  Contact our energy experts to learn more about our preventative maintenance services and HVAC solutions today.