Whether it’s summer or winter, your HVAC system is a vital part of running your business, helping to keep employees warm or cool depending on the season, filter the air and regulate the temperature of the office so workers aren’t chilly and sweaty within the space of a few hours. Does all this seem like a lot? That’s because your air conditioning systems are putting in an incredibly productive shift to help you out, using a lot of energy and potentially costing a lot to run.
Why You Should Monitor your HVAC System
The best way to make sure you’re getting the most out of your HVAC system is to make sure that it is maintained regularly. This will help it to run as efficiently as possible without the need for frequent repairs. Repair work can cost your business a lot of money, both in terms of spending money on repairs and the loss of revenue a faulty air conditioning system could lead to. No heat or cool air leads to poor working conditions and could even be unsafe at the heights of the different seasons. You can’t expect your employees to work when it’s minus 5 degrees outside and there’s no heating. Or if the office is like an oven in the middle of a heatwave with no cool air to help out. So with a few regular checks, you can reduce your expenditure and keep operating costs as low as possible, ensuring your HVAC system can run all year long without suffering an avoidable breakdown.
Keep reading for a few air conditioning maintenance tips that will make sure your HVAC system is as cost-effective and efficient as possible.
Create a Maintenance Schedule
The best way to make sure you are regularly checking your HVAC system is to create a maintenance schedule. This can consist of all the tasks you need to complete when checking your air conditioning, easily scheduled into your calendar so you don’t forget about them. It’s very easy for maintenance to slip through the cracks and be forgotten about, but having it in your diary means you’ll never have to worry about forgetting ever again.
Another method is to schedule preventative commercial HVAC maintenance once a year with Mitchell’s. This is the best way if you run a business with a very busy schedule, maximising your time to run your business while leaving the work to professionals instead. We are experts in HVAC repair and maintenance, so will be able to professionally inspect and service your system and complete any necessary maintenance tasks that may be difficult to complete without an intimate and expert knowledge of air conditioning systems.
Inspect Regularly
There can be quite a few different signs that there is a problem with your system. So when creating your maintenance schedule, make sure you make time to do an inspection yourself regularly to look for any problematic signs. Look out for performance issues such as a puddle of water near your unit. If you hear any strange noises coming from your HVAC system, such as rattling, thumping, grinding or buzzing as these can be signs there is an issue with your system. Anything that seems out of the norm is probably a sign of an issue, so when spotting these you should immediately get in touch with a professional to look at your system, isolate the issue and make the necessary repairs your HVAC system needs.
Check The Thermostat
The thermostat attached to your HVAC system is a gateway into seeing if your air conditioning may be suffering from any other issues. A quick and easy check to make sure it is working is to check if the thermostat temperature matches the temperature in the room. Simply get a thermometer and check the room temperature, then compare this with the thermostat. If they match, there shouldn’t be any major problems. But if they don’t match, you should get in touch with an HVAC professional like Mitchell’s to help you solve the issue.
If you have a large office and the heat/cold air is pumped out of multiple locations, make sure you check the thermometer in a few different spots. This can tell you if key areas aren’t receiving the benefits of the HVAC system, or could be an indication there is a problem with the flow of the system around the entire office.
Inspect and Replace The Air Filter
The function of the air filter is designed to filter and clean the air inside your commercial HVAC system before letting it enter the workplace. It traps things like dust, pollen, debris, dirt and other harmful particles that could cause injury to your workers if they got inside, especially those with respiratory problems like asthma or allergies. But over time these contaminants build up in the filter and restrict airflow. The less clean your filter is, the more likely contaminants won’t be stopped by it and will get into your office, causing your employees harm. It can even lead to mould or viruses inside your office.
It also can affect the costs of working your system. The clogged filter makes it harder for air to pass through, so the air conditioning has to work harder to clean and push the air through. This puts a lot of extra stress on your system, leading to an increased chance of system breakdown and a higher energy bill from the extra effort needed.
You can combat this by making sure your filter is clean, which will help your HVAC system clean the air efficiently. Inspect your filter at least once a month to make sure it’s not clogged with debris. If it is, you can attempt to manually clean it, but it is always best to hire a professional who knows how to clean and change filters depending on what type of system you have. They can make sure the filter is cleaned or replaced and get your system working at peak efficiency in no time at all.
The Outdoor Unit
It’s not just the system inside that should be inspected, the outside unit is just as important to the running of your HVAC system. It can normally be found on the roof or attached to a wall. Because it is outside, a lot of natural debris could land on it. It’s best to clear off any leaves, twigs or other debris and cut back any plants, bushes or branches so that they’re at least three feet away from the unit. This will ensure the airflow is not blocked, increasing the efficiency. For any issues inside the outdoor unit, make sure to get a professional to look at it. The outdoor system is often more complex than the unit you’ll find inside, so it is better to be left to someone with expert knowledge.
A New HVAC System
HVAC systems are becoming better and more energy-efficient as time goes on. So if your unit is old or not running properly, it’s likely your technology is outdated. This will end up costing you a lot more in energy bills as they struggle to keep up with the demand. So consider replacing an older model with a modern energy-efficient design that will save you money and increase the energy efficiency of your building. Newer models are also much better for the environment, reducing your businesses carbon footprint while saving you money on your bills.
Choose Mitchell’s for Air Conditioning Services
If you’re looking for air conditioning maintenance and servicing in Gloucester and the surrounding area, Mitchell’s is on hand to perform all the installation and maintenance needed to ensure your system is running efficiently and smoothly. This leaves you with the peace of mind to focus on running your business without the worry of expensive bills or faulty HVAC units.
We are also pleased to offer an array of business services, from pipework to IT systems, making us a go-to client for many businesses to get their buildings running at peak efficiency. So give us a call now on 01452 302206 to book scheduled HVAC maintenance or visit our website to explore the full range of what Mitchell’s can offer your business.