Heating
6 Commercial HVAC Maintenance Tips
Maintaining the HVAC system in your commercial facility is a sizable ongoing task. Review our HVAC maintenance tips below to break down what tasks need to be completed, and how often they should be reviewed. We recommend creating a schedule so routine maintenance like replacing filters, removing debris, and maintaining condensate pans are checked regularly throughout the year. The key to maintaining your commercial HVAC systems is routine maintenance, as well as using the right commercial maintenance gear and cleaning chemicals needed for the job.
1. Check & Replace Filters
Check and replace your air filters on a routine basis. Clogged filters are the primary cause of HVAC system failures. You can prevent this by checking your HVAC system’s filters every 1 to 3 months, depending on the condition/type of facility you maintain. Dirty, clogged filters cause a mirage of problems:
- Clogged filters can result in more stress on the blower fan, causing it to have to work harder to push air. This leads to higher energy bills and a decrease in the life span of your HVAC system.
- Dirty filters allow pollutants to travel through the air. This can adversely affect employees and/or patrons with allergies. The dirt and dust that pass through will also find its way onto surfaces in your facility, creating the need for more frequent surface cleaning.
- Clogged filters can also cause systems to overheat or freeze up if air from the furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner cannot travel out of the system.
2. Keep Evaporator Coils Clean
Keep the evaporator coils on your units clean to prevent build up. Evaporator coils help draw the heat out of air before it circulates into the facility. Mold and dirt can build-up on the coils and cause them to become clogged or frozen, especially during the peak of the summer heat. Keeping evaporator coils clean from mold and dirt build-up will extend the life of the unit, and prevent major repairs in the future.
Recommended product:
Use a professional grade coil cleaner to clean your evaporator coils. Zenacoil 18 oz Aerosol Coil Cleaner (Part #79470) has a no-rinse formula, which makes for easy cleaning.
3. Remove Debris
Remove the debris from your outdoor HVAC units to protect your units from damage. Dirt, leaves, twigs, and garbage can create blockages and attract more build up if not removed. This is especially true for HVAC units located on large, flat roofs or near trees and other vegetation. Outdoor units must be routinely checked, with a most vigilant eye in the late Summer and early Fall months when the seasons change and trees lose their leaves. Build up causes a restriction in air flow. The lower the air flow, the harder your unit has to work. You can turn off the unit to clear the unit of debris, then clean it with a hose to wash away any debris around the unit. The coil cleaner listed above can be used to remove dirt that is clinging to the unit.
4. Clean & Straighten Fins
Clean and straighten fins on your outdoor HVAC units to enable proper airflow. Fins provide airflow to the unit and help direct heat away as well. These can get clogged and bent over time and this will constrict air flow to the system, causing it to work harder.
Recommended product:
Our Multi-Fin Tool Kit (Part #34815) to help clean and straighten fins. The interchangeable heads are designed to fit units with fin spacing of 4–24 fins per inch. It is important to use the proper tool to straighten HVAC fins because they are sharp and easy to bend.
5. Use Condensate Tablets and Treatments
Using condensate tablets or treatments help maintain condensate drain pans. Untreated condensate water quickly becomes covered in algae, which in turn can create unwanted odors and overflow/water damage because of clogged drain lines.
Recommended Products:
• Pro-treat Condensation Economy Drain Pan Treatment Tablets (Part #79802) 200 count
• Flow-Plus Condensate Pan Treatment Mini Tablets (Part #79805) 25 count
• Flow-Plus Condensate Pan Treatment (Part #79804) 10-ounce tub
6. Schedule Routine Maintenance
Scheduled routine maintenance is vital to ensuring HVAC systems continue to operate in their highest capacities. Some areas that can be focused on are:
- Monitoring the system controls to ensure they are working properly, and recalibrating them as needed.
- Checking the air ducts to make sure there is not any hazardous build up occurring over time.
- Reviewing all moving parts within the HVAC system, and completing preventative maintenance to increase longevity of building systems.
Related HVAC Maintenance Products
Condensate Big Shot Drain Gun (Part #39132)
This SWOOSH® Drain Gun by Diversitech blows out drain lines instantly. It features a new, larger 20-gram SWOOSH CO2 cartridge that delivers 800 PSI of oil free air to clear the line, with 25% more capacity. Each unit comes equipped with a tapered fitting to work on 3/8 inch – 3/4 inch drain openings. The flexible hose assembly maneuvers through cabinets, coils, and hard to reach drains. This drain gun helps to reduce labor costs and time on service calls.
Drain Gun CO² Cartridges (Part #39172) 12 Pack
For HVAC repair parts or questions, call and speak to one of our repair parts specialists. 800-442-6622 M-F 8:00AM – 4:00PM EST. We are happy to assist you!
