Summer maintenance on a commercial HVAC system.

When caring for your commercial roof, maintenance schedules suggest that you have a full roof inspection twice a year as part of your roof’s preventive maintenance. The best times are before winter and before summer. On most commercial buildings the HVAC equipment is mounted on the roof, so it’s prudent to have the HVAC system inspected during the same time. With temperatures potentially rising above 90-100 degrees, it’s necessary to have a smooth-running HVAC system in the summer for airflow, ventilation and for cooling your workspace. 

Why Is Commercial HVAC Maintenance Important? 

For business owners, the extreme temperatures can have a substantial impact on their bottom line. Having a properly maintained commercial HVAC system can reduce operational costs, improve employee performance and even provide a better experience for customers.

It’s also important to know that a well-maintained HVAC system can improve indoor air quality. It does this by filtering the air that comes in from outside, maintaining the right humidity levels, and facilitating better air circulation. 

If you don’t service your commercial air conditioner regularly, it won’t be able to perform these functions effectively, causing your indoor air to become more polluted. Dirt, dust, pollen, bacteria, and harmful chemicals in the air can make you and your employees more vulnerable to a wide range of respiratory health problems, from runny noses to asthma attacks. As such, you may see an increase in the number of employees calling in sick and missing work. It’s important to be mindful of these things now more than ever, and a tune-up in your HVAC unit is a simple way to avoid costly HVAC repairs over the lifespan of your system. The following are a number of tips on how to get your HVAC units and system ready for the summer season and why it’s so important to do so.

Change The Air Filters

Clogs in the air filter overwork an air conditioning system by restricting airflow, causing you to spend 5 to 10 percent more than you normally would on energy bills. Most HVAC professionals recommend checking these filters once every quarter and changing them if needed. If the filters appear clogged or dirty in any way, you’re better off cleaning them or switching them out for new ones, depending on which type of filter you use. In some cases, you may need to change the filter every month, especially if your commercial HVAC has to trap a lot of particles stirred up by the business during the summer months. For example, manufacturers, pet groomers, cleaning services, and similar businesses will create more airborne contaminants than regular office buildings.

Check The Thermostat

Before the beginning of summer, you should check the thermostat of your commercial HVAC system to make sure it’s working properly. A bad thermostat can cause a variety of problems, from inadequate or uneven cooling to short-cycling which ultimately have an effect on energy efficiency and energy costs

How To Check Your Thermostat

One way to know whether your thermostat is functioning properly is to see if its temperature setting matches the actual temperature in the room. To do this, use a thermometer to measure the room temperature and then compare the reading with the thermostat’s temperature setting. If the difference is more than one degree, it means that the thermostat isn’t giving an accurate reading. In this case, you should speak with an HVAC professional about the problem. If your thermostat is showing the correct temperature, make sure the temperature settings are optimized for both comfort and energy savings.

Clean The Indoor and Outdoor Units

Both indoor and outdoor units should be cleaned as part of summer HVAC maintenance. Dust, dirt, and other accumulations of material should be removed from inside the units. Components, areas around electrical connections, and moving parts should also be cleaned of material that could cause problems. 

Outdoor units should be cleaned of any dirt, mud, grass, leaves, sticks, or other material that has gotten caught in the vents or that has slipped inside the cabinet of the unit. Removing any excess debris from the areas in and around your unit will go a long way to keep up your warranty and maintain overall system performance.

Clean the Condensation Drain

Air conditioners produce a certain amount of moisture as part of the dehumidifying process. Make sure the condensate drain that removes this moisture is clear of any blockages and that the water the A/C produces can flow away easily. If there’s a problem with the refrigerant levels, compressor or evaporator, this function of the system will also be affected. 

Inspect The Ductwork

Ductwork inspection is a major part of your overall commercial HVAC maintenance plan.The ductwork is the network of pipes that carries cooled air from your HVAC cooling system to the indoor areas of your commercial building. Damage to the ducts can produce air leaks that allow cooled air to escape unused, thereby adding to your utility bills.

Inspect the ducts to make sure they are clean inside and out. If there are accumulations of material inside the ducts, call your HVAC services professional and ask about duct cleaning. Make sure that all duct sections fit together tightly and that connections are sealed with mastic, metal tape, or other appropriate material designed specifically for use on the ducts.

Schedule An Appointment with TEMA!

The professionals at TEMA Roofing Services work in the same place as your HVAC equipment, so it only makes sense for them to offer service and repair to your commercial HVAC equipment. TEMA has over 112 years of experience on your side to keep your HVAC system working properly, energy efficient and in the most cost effective way possible. So before costs spiral out of control, let the HVAC experts and technicians at TEMA Roofing Services diagnose your problem and fix it right the first time. TEMA’s HVAC professionals also offer industry leading levels of accessibility with their client portal. You can see progress reports, invoices, photos of the work and also schedule service appointments with their convenient online client portal. Contact us today to see what TEMA Roofing Services can do for you!