The cold weather might not be here yet – but commercial property managers in Southern Ontario know it’s coming. Once the temperatures drop, their HVAC system will be working hard to keep interior spaces warm and comfortable.
Optimizing your HVAC system now is a good idea to ensure it runs smoothly and efficiently throughout the winter months. The best way to accomplish this is with the help of a qualified commercial HVAC contractor who has the equipment and know-how to maintain these systems properly.
Here are some of the steps your HVAC technician will take to prepare your HVAC system for winter and reduce emergency service calls.
Change The Air Filters In Your HVAC System
Over the course of several months, your air filters will become clogged with dust and dirt from the airflow. If left unchanged, a clogged filter will affect the efficiency of your system to heat the indoor space properly due to reduced airflow. Also, if you’re still using MERV-8 filters, consider upgrading to MERV-13. MERV-13 filters can trap 85 percent of particles from 1.0 to 3.0 microns in size, ensuring your building occupants get the cleanest, freshest air possible.
Inspect The Air Ducts
Dust that has built up in your ducts can also decrease proper airflow, affecting the comfort of the interior workspace. Having your ducts professionally cleaned will keep the warm air flowing through the air vents and into the workspace. It’s also essential to check for leaks in the ductwork to ensure all areas of the business that need heat receive it.
Set The Relative Humidity Of Your HVAC Systme
Hot air continually blowing indoors will cause dryness in the workspace, potentially leading to dry eyes and skin, sore throats, and illness. Your HVAC contractor will inspect your humidifiers and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) to help you maintain a healthy humidity level between 40 and 60 percent. This strategy will keep the office comfortable and minimize the transmission of airborne pathogens that can spread disease.
Program Automated Heating Schedules
Your HVAC service provider can program your system to run at a lower temperature when building occupancy is low, usually overnight or on the weekends. It can also be programmed to raise the temperature an hour or so before people are expected to enter the building so it’s nice and warm when they arrive.
Recalibrate Thermostats
Thermostat readings can drift after not being used for a whole season. Your HVAC maintenance team will ensure all systems are in sync and calibrated to the appropriate temperature settings.
Clean Debris From Outdoor Units And Vents
Outdoor and rooftop units and air vents will also be inspected and cleared of any dust, dirt, debris, branches, or other objects that can damage system components or affect airflow efficiency.
Inspect The Cooling System
It might seem counterintuitive to check your cooling system as winter approaches, but it’s better to do it now than scramble when the heat and humidity return. While your HVAC team is on-site, you can ask them to inspect and prepare it for a season on standby.
Inspect The Boiler In Your HVAC System
The boiler is the heart of your HVAC system. That’s why your HVAC technician will inspect and test its control system for different loads, shutoff valves for leaks, and interlocks for proper operation. They’ll also check the boiler’s interior to investigate for localized overheating, erosion, and corrosion
Heating Equipment Inspections And Calibration
Your technician will look closely at your HVAC equipment, such as the compressor, condenser, coils, and blowers, for wear and tear and make recommendations if repair or replacement is needed for optimum performance over the winter. The parts are also recalibrated for maximum energy efficiency.
Discuss Possible System Upgrades
Commercial HVAC systems have an average lifespan of about 15 years, depending on how well they’ve been maintained over their lifetime. If your system is approaching that age, your HVAC technician may recommend upgrading or replacing the entire system.
Replacing your HVAC system might seem like a daunting proposition, but the investment will pay off over the short term with savings in system servicing, parts replacement, and higher-than-normal energy bills.
Book Your HVAC Maintenance Visit Today
The key to keeping your HVAC system running efficiently, extending the life of your equipment, and reducing your energy bills is to have it maintained by qualified HVAC professionals on a regular basis, not just when the seasons change.
Springbank Mechanical Systems makes HVAC efficiency easy with cost-effective maintenance programs designed for your specific needs. Our programs cover everything you need to ensure reliable system performance and the best air quality possible for your building occupants, including:
- A full annual inspection of hot water or steam boilers, including all relief and make-up water valves
- Regular cleaning of cooling towers or closed-circuit coolers to prevent mineral buildup and increase system efficiency
- Regular cleaning of steam humidifiers to remove mineral deposits
- Replacement of the steam-generating cylinders
- Complete scheduled inspection of water-cooled heat pumps, with replacement, if necessary
Our fully qualified technicians specialize in maintaining, servicing, or replacing all brands, types, sizes, and configurations of commercial HVAC equipment, with an exceptional customer service experience every time.
As always, contact us anytime to discuss how Springbank makes commercial HVAC maintenance easier and more cost-efficient for your commercial properties.
Gregg Little, Paul DeThomasis, and Hugo Lopes are co-owners of Springbank Mechanical Systems. You can reach them at 905-569-8990 or via email at gregg@springbank.com, paul@springbank.com, or hugo@springbank.com.