It can be common for some businesses to get HVAC installed but then fail to keep up with the necessary maintenance. Often, they don’t realize or take seriously the advice about the need to properly maintain it, which leads to new problems later.
Complex systems like these require maintenance, improvements, and replacements to ensure they stay running correctly.
Here are 6 tips on what to focus on to properly maintain an HVAC system and keep it more reliable.
1. Don’t Use Low-Quality Supplies
Inferior replacement parts can cause more frequent breakdowns and poor system functioning while they’re still operational.
It’s necessary to use an effective supplier that can obtain reputable parts that won’t let the business down. Callouts for repairs are expensive, so bad parts are costlier than some business owners realize.
Sourcing parts from McCombs Supply avoids these types of headaches. They support the needs of any business that requires quality HVAC-R replacement parts, such as transformers, switches, thermocouples, and compressors, to keep everything running smoothly.
2. Replace Air Filters on a Schedule
Switching out air filters periodically, not on a schedule, causes problems in several ways.
Replacing an air filter before it needs to be done wastes money and time doing so. It artificially increases the cost of maintaining the HVAC system and reflects poorly on the team performing the work.
Waiting until people feel that the air quality has become ‘stuffy’ and then arranging an order for replacement air filters is moving too slowly. By this time, the filters should have already been changed weeks ago. Staff are unnecessarily breathing in air quality below the standard that should be accepted.
Put air filters on a schedule for a predictable replacement cost to ensure good performance.
3. Keep the Area Cleaner
Outdoor HVAC units, like ones on the roof, attract all manner of debris, dirt, leaves in autumn, and other detritus.
Sometimes, these items can find their way inside the HVAC unit and begin to clog it up. In the worst case, they can make it so dirty that it breaks down until cleaned out.
It’s also possible that debris can clog up filters and stop airflow necessary to keep the system cool enough to perform properly too.
Cleaning the area around the HVAC installation and once turned off, giving the interior the once over to remove dust and any build-up is well worth it. It reduces the instances of overheating, excessive wear on the equipment, and potential breakdowns.
4. Ignition or Pilot Light Solutions
The burners required to provide the heating feature in an HVAC system can suffer from the pilot light not igniting reliably. As a result, the furnace won’t fire up and reach the optimal temperature as expected. This can result in delayed healing, a furnace no longer functioning, or a problem with short cycling too.
There are a variety of potential causes for this happening. It could simply be a gas supply issue with a faulty gas cable, a bad valve playing up, or a gas supply issue. When these are resolved, the pilot light may return to normal functioning.
It can also be due to components relating specifically to the ignition being the culprit. These might be the thermocouple part or perhaps the hot surface ignitor can become faulty. In both cases, they will need a complete replacement rather than a repair.
All these issues should be addressed by a qualified technician due to work with gas, heating, and electricity.
5. Refrigerant Leaks
Refrigerant is familiar to homeowners with a refrigerator because they rely on this substance to keep the storage cold enough. It is also why when moving a fridge into position, it’s advised to wait a few hours for the refrigerant to settle. HVAC systems also rely on this chemical to perform a similar function.
A leak can happen where refrigerant escapes. It can then coat the fittings, coils, and any holes where fittings usually go. The coils can become damaged if any refrigerant leaks aren’t spotted during regular maintenance and cleaned up.
A technician can open up HVAC units to look for coolant leaks. This will determine whether an HVAC callout will be required or not.
6. Drainpipe Clogging
HVAC units generate condensation during normal operations. This moisture is expected to travel down to the drainage system and be removed from the area.
However, when the drains below or the drainpipes become clogged up, then the condensation can begin to pool up near the HVAC units. If this continues without fixing the clogging issue, it could cause a moisture problem with the units, especially the ones situated outdoors that need to remove moisture quickly.
By looking out for these six potential headaches, a breakdown or poor operations with an HVAC system can be avoided. This requires regular inspections, and periodic maintenance to resolve initial signs of a problem to prevent a complete failure of the system.
