Cost-Effective Tips for Maintaining Your Commercial Air Conditioning System 

Maintaining the internal climate in your commercial space is crucial for employee wellness and customer satisfaction. It means keeping energy costs low by minimizing usage and addressing small problems before they escalate into expensive repairs. Here are a few cost-effective tips for maintaining your commercial air conditioning system. Air filters should be changed regularly, and the condenser and evaporator coils should be kept clean.

Clean the Condenser and Evaporator Coils

When commercial air conditioners are well-maintained, they work more efficiently to cool a space. Regular maintenance checks should include air filter changes and condenser and evaporator coil cleaning. Air filters remove debris from air passing through commercial HVAC units and help to maintain proper airflow. Dirty air filters can reduce efficiency and cause commercial air conditioning repair.

Commercial rooftop HVAC units have a condenser coil outside and an evaporator coil inside the unit’s containment. Heat transfer is inhibited when these coils are dirty – caused by dirt, grass, leaves, pollen, animal hair, and other debris. An unclean coil can result in a 37% increase in energy usage. Clean coils reduce energy costs, improve indoor air quality, and extend the lifespan of the commercial HVAC system.

Schedule Regular Maintenance

In a commercial setting, avoiding air conditioning problems is a priority. Commercial HVAC systems require significant maintenance to prevent expensive malfunctions requiring replacements or repairs. Regularly maintaining your system lowers energy costs and increases its lifespan. Maintenance tasks like changing filters, cleaning vents and ductwork, and checking thermostat settings can greatly reduce the risk of unexpected failure and costly repair bills.

The maintenance required depends on several factors, such as the type of system, environmental conditions, and usage. A general rule of thumb is to schedule seasonal maintenance twice a year. For heavy-use environments, quarterly or even monthly maintenance might be appropriate. Regular lubrication is also important, as well as inspecting and sealing ductwork.

Change Your Filters Regularly

Commercial air conditioning systems have complex internal climate management units and ductwork carrying conditioned air throughout the building. Regularly changing your filters is one of the best ways to keep this system running well and avoid costly repairs. Your commercial air filter is designed to catch and deny dust, dirt, microbiology, and other contaminants that can damage your ductwork or recirculate into your workspaces. Over time, though, this filter will clog and require additional strain to pull air through, which increases your energy costs and decreases efficiency.

The best way to avoid this problem is to schedule regular filter changes every one to three months. It will ensure your employees stay comfortable and productive in a healthy working environment. It will prolong the life of your commercial AC equipment and enhance the quality of the air indoors.

Change the Thermostat Settings

Commercial air conditioning systems are a big part of most businesses’ energy bills. They can account for up to a fifth of the total electrical consumption of a building. That’s why taking all the necessary steps to lower those expenses is so important.

One of the most important things is to keep the thermostat settings low. Constantly changing the temperature will cause the system to start and stop, continuously decreasing efficiency. Also, make sure the thermostat is properly located. The ideal location is away from drafts, sunlight, and the edges of windows. It should be easy to read and be conveniently located for programming. A programmable thermostat can reduce costs by automatically adjusting the temperature when no one is around.

Turn It Off When Not Needed

Performing routine commercial HVAC maintenance ensures that your unit is running at its optimal level. It helps reduce energy costs and waste. Dirty air filters and coils cause the system to work overtime to move cool air through ducts and vents. HVAC professionals will recommend sealing heating and cooling ducts to prevent leaks and to increase efficiency.

Oversized commercial HVAC systems are expensive and use excess energy to operate. A professional will help size a system based on the building’s square footage, occupants, climatic conditions, and window placement. Educating your occupants not to change the thermostat settings on hot days will also help cut commercial HVAC energy costs. A higher temperature setting does not cool a room faster; it adds to the power bill.