Many building owners and property managers spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on HVAC equipment to keep tenants comfortable (and prevent mold and other intrusions), and then think they can sit back and relax and let the equipment do their jobs. No. In fact, this is counterintuitive. Protect your investment by implementing a HVAC maintenance program. This involves inspecting, cleaning, and tuning up the various components of the system, including air filters, condenser coils, evaporator coils, and blower motor.

Air filters are an essential component of the HVAC system, as they remove impurities from the air and improve indoor air quality. Dirty air filters can lead to reduced system airflow, increased energy consumption, worsening indoor air quality (which tenants can often detect), and shortened lifespan of your system. Therefore, it is essential to clean or replace the air filters regularly based on manufacturer’s recommendations and equipment usage. Some years ago, I did a retro-commissioning study and came across several filthy air filters. The facility manager said he was following the manufacturer’s recommendation of changing the filters every 6 months. What he was not aware of (and I pointed out) was across the street from this facility was a different one with outdoor piles of crushed rock and sand. Undoubtedly, winds were kicking up some of this dust into their filters. The facility manager understood and changed his practices to accommodate to change filters every 3 months.

The condenser and evaporator coils also can accumulate dirt and debris, reducing their efficiency and leading to overwork and higher energy bills. Regular cleaning of the coils can help maintain optimal system performance and reduce energy usage. In addition, the blower motor, which circulates the air throughout the system, also requires regular maintenance, such as lubrication, to prevent overheating and ensure optimal performance.

Besides regular cleaning and maintenance, HVAC systems also require periodic tune-ups to ensure optimal performance. During tune-ups, technicians inspect the system for any potential issues, such as leaks or worn-out parts, and make necessary repairs. They also adjust the system to ensure it operates at peak performance and efficiency, which can result in lower energy bills and enhance the longevity of the system, reducing long-term capital costs. This is another item that is often overlooked, but very beneficial.
Therefore, it is to your great benefit to develop a regular program, such as having experienced HVAC technicians inspect your equipment on a regular basis (once or twice per year) and to do your own brief inspections to replace dirty filters and inspect coils more often. Don’t skimp on this or ignore a unit or two because it may be “small”. Remember that regular HVAC maintenance will reduce electricity bills, prevent breakdowns that will impact your tenants or production, improve indoor air quality, and extend the lifespan of the system. Given that HVAC systems are costly investments, regular maintenance that will identify and remediate potential issues before they become major problems, HVAC maintenance is important to your bottomline.

CCES has the experts to direct you to design and implement an HVAC maintenance program to benefit your systems and equipment and operational goals. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.