| |
|
All mechanical equipment with moving parts should be checked on a regular basis, but there is the misconception that this does not apply to HVAC equipment. Preventative Maintenance extends the life of HVAC equipment and ensures that it runs at its peak performance and reduces unplanned heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or process cooling outages which can be costly. Proper routine maintenance is imperative when it is critical to maintain temperature, humidity or other environmental parameters. Equipment not inspected regularly may have dirty filters, loose belts, pitted contactors, etc, that leads to the rapid decline of the unit.
As a technician I heard customers make the following inaccurate statement regarding their equipment.
- "My unit does not have or need a filter."
- "My equipment is still under first year warranty, so I do not need maintenance."
- "It is not dusty in my building so I do not need to change the air filter."
Air filters play a key role in how a HVAC system runs and although a good air filter will help "keep the dust down" in a space, this is not it's only purpose. If a HVAC unit is allowed to operate with a very dirty air filter it will decrease the normal service life of your equipment. Simply put, a dirty air filter lowers the amount of air flow through your unit and in extreme cases low air flow can cause liquid refrigerant to slug through your compressor which will cause bent valves. Liquid slugging also causes the oil to wash out of the compressor. Either of these will result in compressor damage and a costly repair bill. Low air flow also causes the units cooling coil to freeze up (see photo). Unfiltered air allows mud to accumulate in your drain pan and drain lines and may result in water collect and over and in turn, damage to your ceiling and or floor. Low air flow also lowers the cooling capacity of your unit which makes your compressor run longer to cool your office or home. Obviously longer run time will dramatically increase your power bill and decrease the life expectancy of your compressor.
A maintenance good agreement should include filter change that goes along with the routine inspection and cleaning of your units. An experienced service technician should also perform the following during a maintenance visit; clean drain lines and drain pans, measure the amp draw on the compressor and blower motor, check refrigerant pressures, measure temperature drops across the cooling coils, inspect the belts on the air handlers are all important factors that that apply to the specific equipment types. Quality Maintenance Inspections keep your equipment operating at peak capacity and decrease the amount of equipment down time.
Al Newell
Commercial Service Manager
Shumate Mechanical
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Summer time has arrived with a vengeance this year. In June the heat index exceeded 104 degrees a few times. We will likely see these high ambient (outside air) temperatures until the end of August. These temperatures will test and may exceed the limits of your HVAC system, most are designed for a peak ambient temperature of 92 degrees. When the ambient heat index is above 95 degrees your office temperature may rise a few degrees, especially if you are sitting near an exterior wall.
With the right equipment you can test the performance of your HVAC to ensure that it is operating at its design capacity, or you can enlist a qualified HVAC Technician to perform the task.
To do this, you will need to compare the temperature difference of the air coming into a space, with that leaving. Typically, HVAC systems are designed for a 17 to 20 degree temperature drop across the indoor (evaporator) coil.
Measure the air temperature at the return of your system. This is where your system pulls the air from your office and returns it to the indoor unit. This temperature should be fairy close or slightly higher than your office temperature. For example, if your office space is around 74 degrees your return air should be around 76 to 78 degrees.
Next, measure the temperature of the air entering the office space, coming out of your supply diffusers. If your office temperature is 74 degrees your supply air temperate should be 56 to 59 degrees.
If the difference between the supply and return temperature falls between the 17 to 20 degree range, your unit is performing adequately.
Factors that affect the temperature drop include, filter cleanliness, belt tension, refrigerant levels, ambient humidity levels & the condition of the condenser coil.
To eliminate factors that affect your equipment performance, it is extremely important to schedule Preventative Maintenance. Having your HVAC system on a maintenance plan increases system performance, and lowers operating costs & expensive repairs.
Al Newell
Commercial Service Manager
Shumate Mechanical
|
|
|
|
| |
|
As the temperatures changes and building management moves from the heating to the cooling season, checking and changing your set points could save you money.
A typical Commercial heating set point (the temperature at which your heat turns on) is set between 68 and 70 degrees and the cooling set point (the temperature at which your A/C turns on) is set between 74 and 76 degrees. To conserve energy, you can bump your heating set point down a few degrees while at the same time, turning up the cooling set point. With mild spring time (cool and dry) outside temperatures, you may find that the comfort level in your building will change very little.
This is one of the best times of the year to get your equipment serviced, before the summer when your equipment is operating at peak level due to the heat. Your cooling cycle may need to be serviced or inspected to ensure optimum efficient performance because it is not used in the winter months.
Al Newell
Commercial Service Manager
Shumate Mechanical
|
|
|
|
|
