HVAC Maintenance:
Everything You Need to Know

What Makes Up Your HVAC System?

HVAC systems contain components that are on the interior and exterior of your building. Together, they ensure a comfortable space.

Here is an example of a standard HVAC system:

• Thermostat: It allows you to control the temperature, either manually or programmed automatically to adjust on a timer. When the temperature drops below a set point in heating mode, the thermostat turns on the heat source. When the temperature rises above a set point, it turns on the A/C and the fan in your air handling unit.
• Air Handling Unit: The air handling unit circulates air across a heating or cooling coil. Also, it can be a “furnace” that internally heats the air with gas or electric heat. The unit is designed to deliver heated or cooled air to the various supply ducts throughout your building.
• Vents: Vents consist two styles, “return air” or “supply air.” Return air vents pull cold air back to your air handling unit. Your air handler then heats or cools the air. Then, the heated or cooled air transfers to the facility through the supply vents.
• Evaporator Coil: The evaporator coil is responsible for absorbing heat from inside your facility and connects to your outdoor condensing unit. This keeps your facility cool and drastically reduces the humidity inside your structure.
• Condensing Unit: This unit is outside your facility and filled with refrigerant gas. The unit’s responsibilities include condensing the refrigerant gas back to a liquid.
• Refrigerant Lines: These are responsible for transferring refrigerant from the condensing unit to the evaporator coil.

A version of these pieces makes up nearly every HVAC system. It is also important to make sure you keep spare parts on hand in case of an emergency. Keeping parts stocked will save you valuable downtime, service costs, and labor to fix your HVAC unit.

How Can You Be Prepared for an HVAC Shutdown?

If the stress on your HVAC becomes too high, your equipment will shut down. It will cost you money to repair it and even more to replace it. Setting an action plan in place will help limit the catastrophic effects of an unexpected plant shutdown. However, if you execute a proper shutdown plan, your plant has much better odds of remaining safe and efficient in the long run.

While the word “shutdown” strikes fear in most people, they’re not all bad. They can be necessary to implement the required equipment changes to ensure you facility can run on all cylinders in the future. Many shutdowns occur for simple cleaning, inspection, and repair. Nonetheless, shutdowns boil down to three processes: plan, execute, and analyze.

• Plan: Your plan needs to be in place before you can begin working on your plant. Here is where you plan out what replacements, repairs, and upgrades you need. Once duties are delegated and discussed, your team can begin working on improving your equipment.
• Execute: Time is ticking. Time is ticking. The execution process requires that you complete your plan with speed and a critical eye to not overlook things.
• Analyze: Here is when you examine the changes made and ensure they line up with the original plan. In many cases, reports are created to make record-keeping easier.

HVAC Parts to Keep on Hand

For HVAC shutdowns, following the steps above will surely help you. Another solution to help you lower costs is to keep spare parts around your shop. Below is a list of what you can keep in stock to limit further expenses!

Selecting The Correct HVAC System

On average, a well-serviced HVAC will last 20-25 years. Having a critical eye when selecting your HVAC system will help you in the long run. Here are a few things you need to do when selecting an HVAC system:

• Compare different HVAC systems. Asking questions about the average lifespan of a particular system or unit can help you determine which one to select. For example, if a unit is projected to outlive a cheaper system by 15 years, you may want to invest more now. You don’t want to worry about preventative costs down the road.
• Analyze the designs of various HVAC systems. While low installation cost may be appealing, be sure to factor in the equipments’ lifetime utility. If you need help with the design of your HVAC, contact our designers. Your HVAC system is an investment, not a cost. We all think of investments for the long haul, and your HVAC equipment should be no different!

What Preventative Measures Can You Take To Help Your HVAC?

Now that you can effectively select the HVAC system, it’s time to understand how to maintain your equipment. Regular maintenance and tracking the performance of your equipment will keep you ahead of a disaster. Preventative maintenance is the best thing you can do to save money and conserve energy. Here are a few tips to help the performance of your HVAC:

• Keep your lines clear of any obstruction. A clogged drainage line can cause a build-up that can produce mildew or mold, along with substantial equipment damage.
• Make sure your gas-fired equipment is burning correctly to prevent damage to the equipment, inefficient operation, and health hazards to your employees.
• Programming your thermostat can help your efficiency as well. A thermostat set for optimal energy saving will surely set your facility performance up for excellence.

For our entire list, download the HVAC Preventative Maintenance checklist today!

FAQs On All Things HVAC

HVAC systems are complicated pieces of equipment that are vital to your facility. However, they are rather simple to fix if your problems are minor. Here are just a few that are at the top of our list:

When should I replace my air filter?

It’s best practice to replace your air filters at a minimum of four times a year or as the seasons’ change. Check your filters once a month, for a year, to see how the seasonal changes affect your filters. If it’s cooling season and your air conditioner is freezing, check your air filters. You could be restricting airflow.

What is the best way to heat/cool my home?

All HVAC systems aren’t the same. Heating and cooling methods depend significantly on the location of your home. If you live in a moderate climate like Northern California, you can take advantage of free cooling most of the year. However, if you’re in the Midwest, you need equipment that’s capable of utilizing outside air to cool your facility. Ensure that outdoor air conditions are acceptable for pulling outside air into the facility. Mini-split systems are cost and energy-efficient but aren’t the most appealing because the indoor (evaporator) units hang on walls. If your budget allows for it, central air systems, coupled with radiant heating or cooling, provide a 40% reduction in operating costs. This is because forced air systems have to heat the entire area before a thermostat reaches its set point. Radiant systems heat or cool the objects within the space and achieve this at lower temperatures.

How often should I have my equipment serviced?

It depends on the age, type, and location of your building’s equipment. It’s best practice to service your machine at least four times a year or as the seasons’ change. You may find that some pieces of equipment need to be serviced more frequently than others.

Check out some other questions we get so you can save yourself some time!

Looking for additional way on how you can improve heating efficiency in your building? Click here.