How to Properly Maintain a Commercial HVAC System 

When maintained, a commercial HVAC system can last 10-15 years. However, have your employees been complaining about the temperature at work? Do you find yourself sweating during your shift?

It might be time to take a look at your commercial HVAC system. If your filter is dirty or you fail to clean your condenser coils, it can throw off the temperature in your entire building. 

If you don’t invest in ventilation, it can cause mold and mildew to form in your ducts. It’s not a bad idea to schedule inspections and tune-ups as well. 

These aren’t the only ways to keep your system going strong. Check out this guide for a complete list of maintenance steps to live by. 

Change the Filters

When things start feeling stuffy in your office, take a look at your filter. Changing it when it’s dirty is one of the most important HVAC preventative maintenance steps you can do. 

A dirty filter will blow dust right back into your building. It can also force the system to work harder, which will put a huge strain on the AC. After a while, the parts will begin to give out. 

When your system has to work harder, it will also use up more energy. That’s bad news for your electric bill. 

As far as how often you should check your filter, plan for once every three months. 

Reprogram Your Thermostat

There are two times during the year when you’ll need to reprogram your thermostat. Before winter and before summer. 

Doing so will allow your system to adapt to any big temperature changes before they happen. This HVAC maintenance step will net you some big energy savings too. 

Take a Look at the System

As a business owner, you have a lot to worry about. You’ve got to meet with clients, train your employees, talk to vendors, and complete company-wide projects. The last thing on your mind is your commercial HVAC system. 

If you fail to stop and visually inspect your unit every now and again, however, it could result in costly consequences. 

By checking out the system once a week, you’ll be able to catch small problems before they turn into larger ones. A few things that you need to keep an eye out for are rust, disconnected pipes, and leaks. You should also check for vent blockages. 

Invest in Ventilation 

Fresh air is more important to your business than you may think. If your office building isn’t ventilated well enough, it can cause mold and mildew to build up in your commercial building HVAC system. 

After a while, the added contaminants can make both you and your employees sick. It’s a big problem for offices that don’t have a lot of windows to speak of. 

The solution is a ventilator. You can buy a model that clips right to your unit. 

Schedule an Inspection and Tune-Up

No matter how on it you are with your visual inspections, you’re not DUCTZ of Noblesville. There are many things that you’re not going to notice because you’re not a professional. 

That’s why it’s recommended to schedule an annual inspection and tune-up with your local HVAC company. If there are any problems developing with your system, they’ll catch and fix them. 

Clean the Drainage Lines

As your HVAC system runs, it gathers an impressive amount of water vapor. Most systems come with a tray that catches the condensation. 

The problem is that the tray will collect a bunch of debris and bacteria that will clog your system. If the tray is allowed to run over, it can cause major structural damage to the building as well. 

To stop these issues from happening, it will be up to you to empty the drainage lines. 

Keep Your Vents Clear 

The vents inside your HVAC system catch the debris and allergens in the air. If you allow them to get blocked up, they’ll spit all the contaminants right back out. 

It can also damage your system and force you to pay higher repair costs. You can either clean the vents yourself or hire someone to take care of them for you. 

Clean the Condensor and Evaporator Coils

The coils inside your HVAC unit do a huge job. They keep hot air away from the refrigerant. This keeps the air inside of your building cool. 

If you allow the coils to get dirty, it will be harder for them to do what they’ve got to do. Your system will have to work harder to compensate. 

It’s not hard to clean the coils on your outside unit. Hosing them down should do the trick. 

Clean the Heat Pump

Your heat pump acts as an AC and furnace at the same time. Like any other part of your heating and cooling system, it has to be maintained. 

To get started, you’ve got to cut your system off from all water and electric supply. 

You can use a vacuum to clean the filters inside the heat pump. A regular household cleaner and water will take care of the coils. 

Keep Your Commercial HVAC System Going Strong 

To make you and your employees healthy and comfortable in the office building, you need to keep your commercial HVAC system going. If you forget to clean the filter or don’t schedule a tune-up, things will get stuffy pretty fast. 

Your system will have to work harder to do its job. It puts a huge strain on the entire thing.

If you’re not careful, you’ll be without air during the summer or heat during the winter. Don’t let that happen to you! 

For more tips that will help you maintain your commercial building, visit the rest of our blog.