It's important to have your air conditioning system cleaned and inspected at the the start of the cooling season. However, if you just let it go at that, you might see your energy bills rise along with the outdoor temperature. If your energy budget is feeling the heat, use these tips to keep your cooling system running efficiently.
Mid-summer maintenance
Contact a qualified professional to provide regular maintenance for your air conditioning system. Here are some things to check to ensure your system is running at peak performance.
- Strike the right balance. Adjust dampers and vents to make sure the system is balanced properly.
- Lend an ear. Listen to the system operate for a few minutes and determine the cause of any unusual sounds.
- Keep filters clean. Check air filters regularly and replace according to manufacturer's guidelines.
- Maintain oil pressure and temperature. Examine instrumentation to ensure that the oil pressure and temperature match the manufacturer's specifications.
- Confirm compressor performance. Check for unusual compressor operation, including continuous running or frequent stopping and starting.
- Balance belts. Inspect the tension and alignment of all belts and adjust as needed.
- Examine economizers and dampers. Determine if the air conditioning economizer is working as designed, and repair faulty dampers.
- Look for leaks. Check for and repair refrigerant and oil leaks around equipment seals, pipe joints, valves and other instrumentation. Examine refrigerant levels and adjust if necessary.
- Maintain motors. Check motors and fan belt drives to make sure they're properly lubricated.
Around your facility
Beyond the filter, there are actions you can take improve system efficiency, spot potential problems and increase comfort.
- Reset temperature settings. Check thermostat settings to make sure they are optimized to ensure comfort while saving energy after hours.
- Scrutinize shades. Inspect window treatments and blinds to make sure they're being used correctly to block out solar heat gain, especially in areas with varying occupancy.
- Catch comfort complaints. Listen for comments from staff about comfort issues or hot and cold spots. These could be a sign of costly air conditioning system problems.
- Ensure airflow. Make sure all HVAC vents are open and unblocked by furniture or equipment.
- Monitor for mold. Look for evidence of mold and mildew near windows or in corners of exterior walls. High indoor humidity levels or room air stratification reduce comfort and provide an ideal environment for mold growth.
Staying cool in an emergency
Preparing for the unexpected makes good business sense. Air conditioning is essential to business operations, and system failure reduce comfort and productivity and threaten critical equipment. If you don't have a backup cooling plan, now is the time to create one.
Service providers specialize in renting portable and spot cooling units for emergency backup. Maintain an updated list of suppliers in your area, detailing their service, technical support and product offerings. Establish a permanent account with an individual supplier if cooling is a critical part of your operations.
