July 23, 2020 How to Maintain Heating and Cooling Equipment

A look at some tips to help in the maintenance of heating and cooling systems.

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is a good home/building appliance especially with the extreme temperatures during summer and winter. You’re also looking to elongate life and reduce frequent breakdowns which may affect its performance.

Some valuable aspects that affects the need and frequency of maintenance may include your place of residence, and the size, usage and condition of the HVAC system.

Huge buildings like hospitals, residential apartments need a more frequent and thorough maintenance schedule for their HVAC systems.

Below are some tips to help in the maintenance of the system:

1. Replace Filters Regularly

The heating and cooling system also affect the internal air quality of the buildings. Filters should, therefore, be changed more frequently on a schedule of every 4-5 months. This helps to deal with accumulated dust, debris, and the healing of the filtering characteristics.

Filters that aren’t working optimally also consume a lot of energy, as the HVAC system struggles to cool or heat the air with added resistance.

2. Inspect the Air Ducts and the Openings

These openings directly affect the quality of air inside the buildings. Inspection at this point should be done at least twice a year. Make sure any water, dust, and mold collected around the opening are removed. Dust and mold can cause respiratory problems or allergies to your guests or residents.

Hence, the entire duct should also be cleaned to remove all the dust found in it. This can be done every two years. While the process can be laborious, the exercise ensures the system performance is top quality.

3. Maintain Fan, Bearings, and Belts

The fan blade should be cleaned and assessed for any problems. Additionally, the fans and items like shafts, and wheels should also be inspected and maintained.

The lubrication of fans and bearings also needs to be taken into consideration. Instances of inadequate lubrication may result in noises, vibrations, and heat emissions from bearings. This being a technical area, can be done in liaison with experts like Professional Heating & Cooling or other trusted companies—this may include replacements and other recommendations for routine check-ups.

Belts should also be checked to ensure they aren’t too tight or loose. Alignment can be done at this stage to avoid wear and tear.

Extreme tightness causes too much load is applied to the fan systems which can cause a sudden breakdown.

4. Maintain Other HVAC Accessories

Additional parts and accessories are also required to be performing in their best state, to ensure your heating and cooling system works optimally.

This is the maintenance checklist to use:

• Evaporator Coils and Condensers: This part is very susceptible to dirt, and mold. It’s also at risk as it’s in constant contact with water. Its position doesn’t benefit from filtering thus the need for frequent cleaning. A reliable cleaning product that can eliminate dirt, microbes, and fungi should be used to enhance its performance.

This should be done more frequently because of the growth of molds and other micro-organisms affect the air quality in buildings.

• Refrigerant: Ensure the charge is well-maintained and functioning properly.
• Look at the controls to see if they’re functioning well. The batteries also need to be in good condition.
• Electrical System: Check for signs of loose connections, worn-out wires, or the need to replace any element. This is also important to avoid the overall electrical hitch or over-consumption of electricity.
• HVAC Cabinet: The cabinets should be checked to ensure they’re well locked and with fully functional screws. Any worn out part should be replaced and all foreign objects like dead rodents removed.
• Thermostats: Thermostat offers system interphase and thus there’s a need for routine maintenance.

The above parts and support systems ensure the system functions properly. It can be ensured with help of qualified technicians.

When looking for a technician conducting you should show due diligence. Social media reviews on sites like Facebook and other independent online reviews can help gauge their suitability.

5. Maintenance Preceding Winter

During summer or spring, the temperatures are generally hot, the HVAC is required as it provides a cooling effect. As winter starts the night and mornings turn chilly, thus the need to adjust your heating and cooling system to the new requirements.

Caution should be taken because a sudden adjustment can lead to break down or reduced life of the HVAC system.

Below are the sub-elements of the maintenance schedule: –

• Adjustment of Fans: They should be turned to assume a clockwise position, to avoid pushing the warm air down.
• Thermostat: Any sudden change in temperature can cause some damage in the internal elements. Hence, the adjustment to preferred temperatures should be phased to allow the system to adapt.
• Heating Elements: Inspect the elements and the heat exchanger to ensure they’re functional. Any damages could lead to carbon monoxide leaks in the homes or buildings.
• Gas Leaks: If there are gas furnaces, they should be checked for any leaks.
• Energy-Saving Tip: Setting a fixed temperature like 68 degrees can help heat the house while awake. Whereas, the thermostat can be changed to lower temperatures while you’re away and during the night. This conserve the consumption rate of power in your home.
• Filters: The filters should also be replaced more frequently.

6. Spring/Summer Maintenance Tips or Schedule

Summer and spring present an environment occasioned by dust, debris, and a lot of outdoor and indoor activities that affect air quality. The excess heat also needs to be monitored for a better home or building experience.

Below are the maintenance tips to be applied: –

• Filters: At the beginning of the season, change the filters, this helps them work optimally. They should also be changed every 1-2 months, to ensure they’re in the best state to trap dust, and mold that can cause allergies to residents.
• Coils and Condensers: Cleaning and inspection should be done to keep them performing optimally.
• Replace an Old System: It may also be the best time to replace your unit, if it’s older than 8 years.
• Optimal Condition of Thermostat: The thermostat will be used more regularly this season, ensure it working well
• Belts and Pulleys: Worn-out pulleys and belts should be replaced at this time.

Conclusion

Varying seasons may require you to check your heating and cooling equipment of home. Hence, maintenance of the HVAC equipment should be done frequently. Items such as thermostats, coils, air ducts, filters require regular check-up. In addition to cooling and heating effect, they also affect the air quality inside your buildings.

When transitioning into a season like winter, the equipment should be fine-tuned to help save energy and prevent possible breakdowns. In hot season, filters are required to be changed more frequently due to the increased activities.

Overall equipment maintenance is a balancing act that is needed to elongate life, enhance performance, and achieve power efficiency.

Louie Nelson

As a blogger, Louie Nelson loves to educate his readers by publishing a wide variety of topics – from home management, parenthood to business startups. Louie aims to help his readers make the most out of their lives by providing high-quality content to them.

Subscribe to Industry Today