San Jose thrives in the middle, with commercial HVAC systems adjusting operations across the seasons, especially if extreme weather is a fleeting affair.
Meanwhile, older commercial buildings can pose extra complications, like old ducts, poor airflow, and outdated equipment.
“Learn from the issues; don’t turn them into a problem. It’s important that you take the initiative and maintain constant standards in order for performance to be better.” – Vadim Vechkanov, HVAC expert and co-founder of IRBIS for commercial heating and cooling.
A seasonal commercial HVAC maintenance calendar assists business owners by providing an easy system to arrange professional maintenance, supervise equipment overall performance, and keep day-to-day duties manageable.
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Your busiest weeks should set the service dates
The ideal time for commercial HVAC maintenance is prior to the equipment's peak demand. That can involve many San Jose businesses having both cooling systems in advance of the warmer months of the year and checking on heating equipment before the cooler weather of winter.
Owners of a business should ponder:
- Peak trading periods: Plan for non-disruptive maintenance during non-peak trading periods.
- Employee population: This will impact the indoor cooling and ventilation requirements more as the number of employees increases.
- Hours of operation: Extended hours of operation may lead to extended equipment operating time.
- Prior failures or issues: The machines that have had prior failures or issues should receive special maintenance.
- Season changes: Maintenance should be scheduled during the changing of seasons from winter to summer (or vice versa).
- Preplanning communication and coordination, budgeting, and other such aspects is less cumbersome.
Most owners just don't think about how much this breakdown of the bill comes to the heating and air conditioning system.
Heating and air movement take a bigger share of the bill than most owners assume
30% of energy consumed by commercial buildings is wasted. Unheated rooms and rooms that are too warm can also occur due to poor airflow.
There are a number of maintenance problems that may lead to small business energy costs:
- Dirty filters
- Wrong heat settings
- Outdoor unit clogs
- Poor ventilation
Regular maintenance allows problems to be detected beforehand, instead of creating an expense later on.
A seasonal calendar for a San Jose small business
Due to the fairly mild winter season and hot, dry summers in San Jose, it becomes necessary to maintain a seasonal maintenance checklist.
January-March:
- Check filters and change them if required.
- Watch out for strange sounds from equipment.
- Check indoor vents for any blockages.
- Look for strange peaks in energy bills during winter.
April-June:
- Arrange an inspection of your cooling system by professionals.
- Check whether your thermostats are working well.
- Check your ducts, if any are visible, for any damage.
- Ensure that there is nothing blocking your air vents.
July-September:
- Inspect indoor temperature all through the day.
- Change filters frequently if the load is heavy.
- Keep your outdoor units free from excessive plant growth and other storage things.
- Detect any abnormal rise in energy usage.
- Report any lack of cooling effect or water leakage immediately.
October-December
- Arrange for an inspection of your heating system to be performed by a professional.
- Ensure that your heating controls are inspected before the cold season starts.
- Look at your vents and return air grilles.
- Watch the operation of the equipment in cold weather.
- Think about your maintenance program.
In addition to seasonal maintenance, your employees can ensure proper functioning of the system on a daily basis by performing the following five tasks:
- Filter inspection: See whether there are any dirt particles present in the filter and replace the filter in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Vent obstruction: Inspect whether there is any obstruction in the supply and return vents because of boxes or furniture.
- Thermostat settings: Check whether the temperature settings of the thermostat are correct or not.
- Odd noises: Any odd noises must be reported.
This should be documented in an easy-to-maintain record which includes information about the time at which the problem occurred, observation, and any report to the management.
How IRBIS plans maintenance for commercial clients
When handling commercial properties, such as those in San Jose, IRBIS has learned to research and determine the operating conditions and requirements of an entire building, rather than single units.
Typically, a maintenance visit can consist of a series of events such as:
- Reviewing the building's past
- Checking for airflow
- Checking system components
- Drainage and outdoor equipment inspections
- Testing operation
- Reporting findings
This information can also be used by the business owner to make an informed maintenance schedule and decide when to replace the equipment.
Conclusion
A seasonal maintenance checklist would save these small enterprises from suffering any unforeseen breakdowns and energy costs, and ensure that their HVAC systems function properly throughout the year.
With the help of a professional inspection coupled with staff checks, building comfort can be more organised, allowing building owners to use simple monthly checks.
How does your company currently manage to prepare heaters and air conditioners for the changing season? Leave a comment about what you have learned about maintaining your drawings, or how to maintain them.
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