Preventative maintenance is the key to keeping your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit in good condition. Taking care of maintenance should be done before the beginning of every season, but spring is known as one of the best times of the year to take care of it. Here are some commercial HVAC tips for spring that you can follow.
Why Perform Seasonal HVAC Maintenance?
As the seasons change, temperatures rise and fall accordingly. To stay comfortable throughout the year, it’s necessary to switch between the air conditioner and the heater. The only problem is, as one is being used, the other is just sitting there collecting dust. In addition, the heat and cold can also put a lot of strain on your system.
If you’re not careful, you could be unintentionally reducing the lifespan of your HVAC. Thankfully, there’s an easy solution that can make sure your equipment is ready no matter the season. With HVAC fall service, you can prepare your system for the drop in temperature. Performing maintenance in the fall also prepares your system for winter HVAC service. Which is especially important for the cold, snowy, and windy weather that’s typical to Delware.
Conversely, to get your HVAC ready for the summer, it’s best to perform maintenance in the spring. With annual HVAC maintenance, you can maintain the health of your HVAC and prolong its life. To get you started on the right track, here are a few seasonal maintenance steps you can follow:
Evaluate the Condition of Your Commercial HVAC System
The first step to cross off your spring HVAC maintenance checklist is to evaluate your system. Trying to spring forward with an air conditioner or heat pump that doesn’t do its job could cost you extra money in lost efficiency. In general, commercial cooling systems can be expected to last for 10 to 15 years before they become candidates for replacement.
Age, however, is not the defining criteria for HVAC system replacement. If your cooling equipment has been given regular preventive maintenance and it’s in decent condition, it’s likely it can survive another few seasons.
Prep Your Cooling Unit
As we emerge from the cold winter and crawl toward warmer weather, it’s important to remember your a/c unit has been in hibernation all season long. It’s uncertain how your unit has been affected from a prolonged lack of use. It would be a good idea to have a professional come out to check the refrigerant levels, blower systems, electrical connections, and more.
When the cold season comes back around, there are a few things you’re going to want to do in addition to turning it off. During the spring and summer, your A/C unit has likely gotten dirty. Make sure to clean off any leaves, bird droppings, and other debris. It’s also a good idea to perform an occasional check by turning the A/C on and off.
Clean Your Cooling Equipment
Before putting your cooling system into full-time operation, make sure it has been properly cleaned. The professionals should clean internal components like blower fans and cabinets. You can clean supply vents and return registers. The pros can do the same for the outside pieces of the unit by removing any accumulation of dirt, mud, grass, leaves, insect or animal nests, sticks, and other debris. Wash down the outside of the cabinet with plain water and leave the chemical cleaning to a professional.
Change the Air Filters
Check the air filters and change them if they are dirty. If they haven’t been changed since the end of last year’s cooling season, it’s recommended to replace them with new filters. Remember that dirty, clogged filters restrict airflow, which ultimately lowers efficiency and could potentially cause malfunctions or damage.
Test the System
Turn the system on and let it run for a few minutes to test its operation. This should be timed to occur on a day when outdoor temperatures are relatively mild or unseasonably warm. Put the equipment through a standard cycle and make sure it still produces cool air. This doesn’t mean you’re going to be good for the season, but it does indicate no catastrophic failures have occurred since last time it ran.
Call for Repairs
If your system is malfunctioning or broken, repairs are needed before you spring forward. Contact your local trusted HVAC service provider for repairs or for a consultation about system replacement.
Reach Out to an Expert
There are some maintenance tasks you can do yourself and others that are better suited for a professional. As the weather changes, you’re going to want an expert to check on electrical connections, the condensate drain system, exhaust outlets, fuel lines, burners, and more. This can help ensure your unit is operating optimally before switching over to the heater.
Have Preventive Maintenance Performed
While maintenance is the last item on this list, it may well be the most important thing you can do for your HVAC system. Regular maintenance ensures consistent unit performance at the highest possible efficiency. If you need preventive maintenance, call on Service Unlimited. We can fix small problems, make necessary adjustments, inspect the ductwork, and locate areas where potential problems may occur during the cooling season.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about HVAC equipment, design and upgrade options, and climate control systems in institutional, commercial, and industrial settings. Contact us today for more information on what you should do to spring forward with a well-maintained HVAC system.
