Preventing Commercial HVAC Summer Outages and Overheating

Throughout the year, your commercial HVAC system undergoes different sets of challenges posed by each season. From the frigid cold of the winter to the sweltering summer heat, it’s important for your HVAC system to adapt to the changing conditions that challenge the durability and performance of your heating and cooling equipment throughout the year.

As with many other types of commercial equipment, HVAC systems for commercial buildings may be running at reduced efficiency and performance levels due to the heat of the summer months—often without any noticeable symptoms and obvious give-aways.

As such, it’s important for building and facilities managers to arrange for specific maintenance and inspection tasks to be performed in the summer months to keep commercial HVAC equipment running smoothly even in the hottest temperatures.

The Importance of Commercial HVAC Summer Maintenance

By properly maintaining your commercial HVAC during the summer months, you ensure that building occupants are kept cool and comfortable while also preventing overheating of mission-critical equipment, such as computers and server racks.

For data centers in particular, keeping the temperature of commercial spaces is essential to preventing heat-sensitive or heat-prone equipment from overheating. In the summer months, the issue of overheating is exacerbated by high outdoor temperatures that permeate through fixtures by sunlight.

With proper seasonal maintenance, however, commercial HVAC equipment will be able to perform at more intense levels to effectively cool a space while remaining energy and cost efficient.

Common Elements of Commercial HVAC Summer Maintenance

Each company is different, and the same goes for the commercial buildings in which these businesses operate. When crafting a preventive seasonal maintenance plan for your commercial heating and cooling equipment, working with a licensed HVAC technician will provide you with the knowledge and expertise necessary to make more informed decisions about your equipment.

Upon performing a thorough inspection of your heating and cooling equipment, an HVAC technician will be able to advise you on the appropriate short-term and long-term maintenance tasks that should be performed this summer, which may include the following common components:

• Condenser and evaporator coil cleanings
• Treatment of outside air
• Cleaning of drain lines and drain pans
• Replacing filter and belts
• Cleaning of water strainers
• Setting up programmable thermostats or time clocks that automatically control temperature settings and save energy.
• Testing redundancy systems, particularly in computer rooms
• Performing a full-system tune-up, if necessary
• Establishing of both long-term and ongoing seasonal maintenance plans

In some instances, temporarily mixing return air with intake air may be an effective option for alleviating stress on the condenser, keeping the compressor online and improving cooling efficiency during extreme heat waves. Keep in mind, however, that this task should be completed by a licensed HVAC technician, and the system should be returned to its original state following periods of extreme heat.

Trusting Donnelly Mechanical for Your Summer HVAC Maintenance Needs

Professional maintenance makes a world of a difference in the performance and lifespan of your commercial HVAC equipment. Want to lower your energy bills and increase energy efficiency for your company? Contact the Donnelly team today to find out whether commercial HVAC maintenance is the solution for you.