Commercial HVAC system designs are very specific to the needs of your property. The type of building and operations will determine the HVAC system size and requirements. These systems have to meet specifications for things like temperature, humidity, ventilation, pressure, and smoke extraction.

Because of this, commercial HVAC maintenance recommendations are not one-size-fits-all. But maintaining your system is important. Depending on how many people occupy the building, any system downtime can be a big ordeal. And the cost of repairs can be high for such a large system. Regular maintenance can reduce both of these possibilities by catching problems before they become major repairs. It will also extend the life of your system, keeping it running efficiently and saving you money.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that you can reduce costs by 12 – 18% if you follow a preventive maintenance plan instead of a reactive one. 

Commercial HVAC System Maintenance Frequency

As a general rule, most commercial HVAC systems need to be checked twice a year. Once in the spring and once in the fall, when the weather is changing.

A professional HVAC technician will have a standard preventative maintenance checklist that he follows. There will also be things the technician will look for that are specific to your system model.

Commercial HVAC System Maintenance Checklist

There are a number of things your commercial HVAC technician will look at:

• Air filters. You can replace these yourself, but your technician can clean or replace them if needed.
• Refrigerant levels. Ensures there aren’t any leaks in your system so it can cool effectively.
• Electrical components. Corrosion (or rodents) can damage the electrical components and the wiring, creating a safety hazard.
• Ductwork. Leaks and blockages can make the system less efficient or effective.
• Moving Parts. Motors, belts, and fans can all cause unexpected breakdowns if they’re not inspected periodically.
• Thermostat. A properly calibrated thermostat will make sure the temperature stays consistent.
• Condensate pumps. These need to have proper drainage in order to avoid property damage.
• Coils. Clean condenser and evaporator coils will keep the system running efficiently and quietly.
• General safety. Your HVAC technician will let you know if there are any safety issues you need to address with your system.

Commercial HVAC System Self-Maintenance

In between professional maintenance visits, it’s important to do monthly inspections yourself:

• Evaporator and condenser coils. If there’s any mold, dust, or dirt on these, it needs to be cleaned as soon as possible. Don’t wait until your next maintenance visit – call your HVAC professional to come take care of it.
• Area around your HVAC system. Sometimes furniture or other items get placed too close to indoor units. This can negatively affect the performance of the system and make it hard to get to. Make sure outdoor units don’t have leaves, grass, or other things nearby that could blow into the coils.
• Boilers. Check that the water levels, pressures, and temperatures are all correct. Be sure to blow down your boilers regularly to keep them operating properly.
• Air filters. Change these at least twice a year to keep them functioning effectively.

How We Can Help

Our technicians understand the specialized needs of commercial HVAC systems. If you’re ready to set up a regular maintenance plan for your system, give us a call. We’ll help you keep your system running efficiently for as long as it can.