Seasonal Maintenance Tips for Commercial Heating Systems

Seasonal Maintenance Tips for Commercial Heating Systems

Why is seasonal maintenance essential for your commercial heating system? Imagine that it’s a blustery, cold day in Chicago. It’s the busiest day of the year for your shopping mall as holidays are just around the corner. Your renters unlock their doors and find burst pipes, ruined merchandise, and freezing temperatures inside the store.

There’s no way the variety of stores can open on schedule. Customers aren’t going to stick around when it’s as cold inside as it is outside. Plus, there are no functioning bathrooms. Restaurants and food court options can’t prepare meals. You must close until the mall’s commercial HVAC system is repaired.

Every day that the mall remains closed, you lose money. The public goes to your competition, and they might not return. Your renters are furious and looking for new locations. You can’t afford this loss, and emergency repairs cost more due to the urgency. Seasonal maintenance could have spared you this frustration and financial loss.

Pre-Season Checks

Start your seasonal maintenance plan with some fall checks. You want your heating system ready to go when the cold weather hits. Generally, tackle these tasks in September or October. If you notice anything, it’s beneficial to have a commercial heating and cooling expert inspect your system and perform any necessary repairs or adjustments.

• Filter replacement – Inspect and replace your filter if it is hard to see through or if it has collected a lot of dust, hair, and other contaminants. A dirty filter restricts airflow, which drives up your heating costs. Choose the right MERV rating when purchasing and installing new filters.
• Outdoor unit or vent inspection – Check any outdoor vents or units to ensure they’re free of blockages such as bird nests, mice, overgrown shrubs, tree branches, or weeds.

It’s also worthwhile to schedule an HVAC cleaning and inspection before the heating season starts. A licensed technician will perform:

• Blower and motor inspections – Check alignment and belt tension as needed, and ensure all moveable parts are lubricated.
• Burner and coil cleaning – Remove build-up and soot to maximize heat transfer.
• Combustion analysis – Ensure the air-to-fuel ratio is appropriate and that the flue pipe is venting dangerous fumes, such as carbon monoxide.
• Heat exchanger inspection: Visually inspect the heat exchanger for cracks.
• Ignition system test: Check the pilot light and flame quality. Ensure flame sensors and spark igniters work correctly.
• Thermostat calibration – Verify that the temperature achieved through heating matches the thermostat setting in the room. Address uneven heating.

Mid-Season Checks

Winter is here, and your heating season is working 24/7. Make sure you’re monitoring cycles and energy bills. If anything changes, call an HVAC technician. Watch for unexpected increases in heating fuel or electricity bills. 

Listen to your system when it starts up, runs, and cycles off. Are there new sounds? Do you hear squeals or rattles? If your system doesn’t sound the same, call a commercial HVAC service provider.

Keep checking air filters. A heavily used HVAC system might need monthly filter changes. Your maintenance team needs to replace filters as often as necessary to keep your system working efficiently and correctly.

Climate-Specific Maintenance

Cold, snowy Illinois winters require a few additional checks that an HVAC company doesn’t necessarily perform. Your maintenance team should check that insulation in ceiling spaces, around ducts, and around pipes isn’t torn or missing. 

After a snowstorm, someone in your company needs to check vents, outdoor units, and gas or heating fuel lines for built-up snow, icicles, and other debris that could damage equipment or prevent exhaust fumes from leaving your building.

Consider installing smart thermostats that monitor your building’s temperatures and alert you if an area is too hot or too cold. Innovative technology found in some commercial heating and cooling systems is also intuitive enough to tell you if there’s something wrong and there’s a risk of system failure. 

End-of-Season Checks

As the heating season comes to an end, it’s recommended to have your commercial HVAC system cleaned and prepared if it also provides air conditioning all summer.

If your system only performs heating, an end-of-season check is essential. As your heating system sits unused all summer, components may degrade or rust, especially if your building’s humidity levels are high.

Spring pollen counts are high. The filters in your building capture some of that pollen. Once your heating system is turned off for the summer, replace filters. You don’t want to start winter’s heating season with a dirty filter that blows spring pollen around.

Look at any air ducts for cracks or holes that appeared since your fall cleaning and inspection. If there are issues, you have time to address them before summer’s heat and humidity arrive. It also ensures any problems are addressed before the next heating season.

Even if your system only provides heat, consider an end-of-season inspection. If your older system needs replacement, you have plenty of time over the summer to determine your budget and have a new heating system installed by the professional you select. You’re not limited to the company that can do the work the fastest, which happens when you must rush a heating system replacement in the fall or winter.

Check outdoor or rooftop heating units for any debris left behind as the snow melted. Small branches or gravel could be a problem when your system starts back up in the fall. As new growth appears on shrubs and in landscaped areas, make sure they’re not growing too close to your outdoor HVAC equipment.

Ask About Maintenance Agreements

Seasonal maintenance does take money from your budget, but it saves you from unexpected bills in the future. Maintenance is an investment in the life of your commercial HVAC system. 

When you have your HVAC equipment inspected and cleaned regularly, the technician can identify minor issues. They’re addressed before they lead to costly breakdowns or frustrating equipment failures. A maintenance agreement is a smart way to save money over the life of your HVAC system.

One benefit a maintenance agreement often provides is faster response times. Something’s wrong with your heating system. Instead of waiting for the next available technician, you could be the priority and jump right to the top of the list.

Air Blue Heating and Cooling is your partner for an efficient, trouble-free HVAC system. We offer maintenance plans that ensure your system receives regular care during each season. If anything is wrong, our maintenance plans provide discounts on repair services. Learn more about our HVAC maintenance and schedule seasonal maintenance today.