Whether you have a single-level small business or an entire industrial plant, you’re going to be relying on your HVAC system to provide conditioned air for your employees, customers, products, and other assets. Before the cold winter months hit Madison, WI, there are some necessary maintenance tasks that you’ll want to ensure get done.
Schedule Professional Service
One of the most important tasks that you will need to get done to prepare your commercial HVAC system for winter is to schedule professional maintenance service. You want to have one of our HVAC technicians inspect and service your unit. This will ensure that it’s working at peak efficiency and alert you to any potential problems the unit may have. This way, you can get those problems addressed before the cold weather sets in. Any minor issues that are spotted can get fixed before they turn into major, catastrophic equipment shutdowns.
Change Your Air Filter
It’s a good idea to replace the air filter inside your HVAC system before winter arrives. Anytime your air filter gets clogged with debris, it restricts the airflow throughout your system. This, in turn, makes your HVAC system work much harder to heat your space. You’ll want to make it a habit to change out the air filter on your system every couple of months to ensure that it’s not reducing the efficiency of your system. Most filters last somewhere between 30 and 90 days. Commercial filters may last a little longer.
Program Your Thermostat
In the fall, consider reprogramming your thermostats. If you don’t have programmable thermostats, then it’s time to upgrade. These can allow you to set different desired temperatures depending on the day or time. This will allow your building to maximize its energy savings while keeping everybody comfortable throughout the day.
If you want to take it a step further, you may want to invest in smart thermostats. These will give you the ability to control the thermostat settings from any mobile device. If you have multiple thermostats, this can be helpful to control your entire building from one location.
Order Your Fuel
If your HVAC system relies on fuel, like propane or heating oil, then you likely have a storage tank at your facility. Before wintertime, you will want to have your tank refilled. You may even want to set up automatic deliveries to ensure you never run out during the cold winter months.
Check Air Vents for Blockages
With a lot of different employees throughout your building, it’s not uncommon for them to close air vents or put obstructions in front of them. Your HVAC system is designed to work with all the vents in the open position. You’ll want to have someone visually inspect all the return and supply vents for the various rooms throughout your building on a periodic basis. Make sure that all the vents are open and that there are no obstructions in front of the vents, such as furniture or even plants.
Seal Up Air Leaks
As your entire building settles over time, this can result in air gaps opening on your exterior walls. Even small air gaps can allow unwanted cold air into your building and cause your employees to turn up their thermostats. To prevent your heating system from overworking, it’s a good idea to address any of these air gaps.
You should have staff members run their hands around doors and windows to see if they feel any difference in temperature. If they notice a difference, the area should be sealed up with caulking or weather stripping. Additionally, if there are air leaks at the outlets or light switches on the exterior walls, you’ll want to have foam inserts installed behind the cover plate. By taking care of all these air leaks, it will prevent cold air from seeping in during the winter months in Madison.
Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
If you rely on a fuel-burning commercial heating system, your building may experience some harmful exhaust fumes. While these are normally vented to the outdoors, these harmful fumes can end up accumulating indoors if your heating system malfunctions. This can be quite dangerous for your employees and customers.
Now is the perfect time to check all your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to verify that they’re working correctly. Make sure that all the batteries are fresh and that there are units on each floor of your building. Furthermore, you want to ensure that you have a fire extinguisher located near the HVAC unit in case a fire does develop.
Cleaning and Sealing Ductwork
All the ductwork that runs throughout your facility can develop leaks and gaps over time. These areas leave your system susceptible to pulling in dust and debris. They also allow your heated air to escape, causing your HVAC system to run overtime to compensate for the heat loss.
A great investment to consider is having your ductwork properly sealed by one of our professionals. This will help to remove any unwanted leaks to ensure that no air escapes and no dirty air makes its way inside. Additionally, it’s a good idea to invest in duct cleaning services where excess dust and debris are removed from the inside of your ducting. This goes a long way toward enhancing indoor air quality.
Test Run Your Unit
Once you’ve got your entire heating system prepared for wintertime, you’ll want to go through a test run. You’ll want to set your thermostats to at least 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the ambient temperature. Ensure that your system kicks on and walk around each supply vent to ensure that adequate heat is coming from it. You’ll want to listen for any odd noises coming from your system or any weird smells, as they can alert you to a problem.
Seal Up AC Components
If your heating system runs on separate components from your cooling system, you’ll need to take the time to properly seal up all your air conditioning components for winter. Be sure to put covers on your outdoor condenser units so that they remain free from debris and excessive moisture. Just ensure the covers you use have mesh to allow the unit to breathe so moisture doesn’t get trapped inside them. Any moisture that gets trapped inside your cooling units can end up leading to rust.
Consider Getting an Energy Audit
Because the cost of heating your entire commercial property can be quite costly, it only makes sense to try to reduce that cost. Getting an energy audit from an HVAC technician is an awesome way to discover where the most detrimental heat loss is in your building. This way, you can address that heat loss to help save yourself on energy bills throughout the winter months.
Expert Commercial HVAC Service
Southport Home Services offers expert commercial HVAC services to the whole Madison community. We can also assist with all your heating, plumbing, cooling, and indoor air quality needs. Contact our friendly staff today to schedule a service consultation with one of our HVAC technicians.
