Spring HVAC Maintenance Checklist for Commercial Buildings

The return of spring means that it’s time to perform seasonal maintenance on your commercial HVAC system. Your spring HVAC maintenance checklist should include professional inspections, repairs and adjustments that ensure your air conditioner or heat pump will function properly at its highest level of efficiency throughout the upcoming cooling season.

Here is a proposed spring HVAC maintenance checklist for your commercial facility, along with some information on why these particular maintenance tasks are so important.

Benefits of Commercial HVAC Maintenance

Commercial HVAC systems must consistently and reliably provide heating and cooling for a relatively large space without experiencing much downtime. By completing a spring HVAC maintenance checklist and enlisting the services of a knowledgeable HVAC professional, you can ensure your cooling equipment works when it’s needed most. You’ll see immediate benefits, such as:

• Improved equipment efficiency, which can reduce the amount of energy used to keep your indoor space comfortable. Regular maintenance can decrease energy consumption by 25 percent or more.
• Better reliability with up to 75 percent fewer breakdowns and a 30 percent reduction in system downtime.
• Reduction of typical equipment and maintenance costs by as much as 20 percent.
• Better indoor air quality and comfort, better-balanced humidity levels and a reduction of airborne particulates and contaminants.

Spring HVAC Maintenance Checklist

• Change air filters: Air filters can remove a variety of particulates and airborne contaminants, such as dust, dirt, mold, pollen, fibers and other microscopic materials that can make your indoor air uncomfortable to breathe for both employees and customers. Filters should also be checked between maintenance appointments and changed if they look dirty.
• Clean up around outdoor condenser units: The outdoor cabinet containing the condenser unit and other important components should be kept clean and free of debris that may block vents and reduce airflow. Make sure to remove any grass, leaves, mud, sticks, litter and other materials from your coil and vents. Then, straighten any bent coils and clean your cabinet with water and a mild detergent.
• Clean indoor components: The indoor components of your cooling system should also be cleaned. This cleaning should include your system’s blower fans, evaporator coils and control panels. Moving parts, such as fans, should be lubricated to ensure smooth movement.
• Check refrigerant: Your cooling system needs the right amount of refrigerant to properly capture and release heat. Your HVAC technician should check the amount of refrigerant in your system, known as the charge, and add refrigerant to manufacturer-specified operational levels. If there are any signs of a refrigerant leak, the leak should be tracked down and repaired before the equipment is put into service for the season.
• Inspect and calibrate controls: All system controls should be checked to ensure they’re working properly and that the equipment turns on and off like it should. Thermostats should be calibrated to ensure they take correct temperature readings.
• Check electrical connections: Electrical connections should be cleaned and tightened to ensure continued operation. Even small vibrations in your HVAC system can be enough to eventually cause connections to loosen. If loose connections aren’t found in time, they can potentially cause damage or prevent your equipment from working properly. A service call for a detached wire or connection that could have been fixed during maintenance is a waste of time and resources.
• Check and clear drain lines: Condensate drains should be checked to make sure they’re clear of obstructions and that moisture can flow away freely. It may be necessary to apply an algaecide to prevent algae growth from blocking the drains.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about Plumbing, HVACR, Fire Protection, and Alarm Systems in Mechanical, Commercial, and Residential settings. For more information on using a spring HVAC maintenance checklist, and to view projects we’ve worked on, visit our website!