Commercial air conditioning systems run all-year-round working both day and night working hard to provide cool and clean air. What a lot of people don’t realize is that the average lifespan of commercial air conditioning systems is usually 12 to 15 years when properly maintained.
This article looks at 5 easy ways you can extend the life of your HVAC system ensuring that it operates efficiently and continues to work at optimal performance throughout its life expectancy.
It is normal as your HVAC equipment ages, it will suffer reduced energy efficiency. This results in your energy bills slowly increasing over time. Air-con technology today is constantly improving and the latest systems are more efficient than ever before, however, they are costly. So remember if you look after and are good for your existing AC system, it will be good for you.
Regardless of the age, model, or size of your AC unit, you can follow this simple guide to help extend the life of your Air Conditioning unit. Our goal here at ADK is to help save you money in the long-term with expensive and costly repairs or even full system replacements.
Schedule an A/C Check-Up
Air conditioning systems are in fact not high maintenance, but that doesn’t mean maintenance checks should be neglected. At ADK, we advise you to arrange at least 2 planned preventative maintenance checks a year.
Throughout our many years of experience we have learned that by taking certain planned preventive measures such as correcting a minor fan motor problem, costly repairs and replacement of parts can often be avoided. Our engineers at ADK can also help improve your unit’s energy efficiency in the long-term, saving you money over the years.
By undertaking some basic housekeeping tasks and signing up for a PPM contract you can protect your business and ensure that you are always getting the best performance out of your commercial air conditioning units.
For optimum performance throughout the year, it is advised to have regular service and maintenance checks especially prior to the hot summer months. This type of planned preventative maintenance will ensure you avoid a costly Air Conditioning repair or replacement.
Clean your AC Unit Regularly
Due to the nature of Air Conditioning Systems and how they operate, AC Units are prone to collecting dust, debris, and bacteria. Therefore it is important to regularly clean your Air Conditioning unit.
Whilst upon inspection, your HVAC engineer may change worn parts and air filters, there are still other areas that require attention. With all commercial air conditioning systems, it is essential that coils, condensers, and vents are cleaned monthly and replaced every 3 – 6 months to ensure maximum efficiency of your AC units.
Over time the condensate drain can become clogged up with dirt and other debris resulting in water leaking from your AC unit. Leaking AC systems can result in further damage to your AC unit and workplace so it is vital to keep an eye on the state of the condensate drain.
Secondly, the AC’s filter will become filthy resulting in reduced airflow across the condenser coils thus reducing the unit’s cooling ability. Blocked and dirty condenser coils prevent heat from escaping which can cause the compressor to become strained and overheat if left unchecked.
When there are too much dirt and debris on the evaporator coil it won’t transfer heat and lead to overheating issues and a potential blowout. Therefore it is better to maintain your Air conditioning units in advance to avoid a costly repair job or even a new unit.
Stick To The ‘AUTO’ Fan Setting
This advisory is simple to follow and can have a dramatic impact on the life cycle of your AC systems. Nowadays most Air Conditioning systems have two fan settings: “auto” which instructs the fan to run only when the system is actively heating or cooling, and “on” which instructs the fan to run constantly. Some systems have dual-speed fans, which allow for a slower, more energy-efficient fan setting between heating and cooling cycles.
Now, there are some benefits to using the “on” setting, for example, it helps trap more dust, and in large working environments with people who have respiratory sensitivities or allergies, it can help make it easier to breathe.
However the major disadvantage is that it forces the system to work much harder, and that shaves time off of its life. Using the “on” setting can also lead to your AC filters getting dirty faster, so if you don’t change them regularly, you could cause the unit to overheat causing further damage to the system.
Install a SMART AC Thermostat
Due to recent developments in air-con technology, we now have the option of programmable thermostats which can save businesses hundreds of pounds each year just by adjusting the temp schedule based on operating hours of the business. Some models can even learn your HVAC habits and schedule so they can make energy-saving adjustments without any programming at all.
Other smart controls can optimize your heating and cooling requirements using WiFi Thermostats, timing automation, and demand/occupancy sensors which means your HVAC system is only on when it needs to be, thus reducing energy consumption and waste.
Smart thermostats are especially beneficial for large business premises where energy waste can be high. Programmable thermostats will save you money as they adjust the temperature automatically and minimize your HVAC use when the building is empty.
The right model of a programmable thermostat can be tailored to the schedule of your business. Contact ADK today if you are looking to install Smart thermostats for your business and cut your rising energy costs.
Clean and Clear Your AC Ducts
Our final step is to ensure that the ducts are clean and clear of any debris. The ductwork is where the air travels to and from your air conditioner, therefore ductwork that is clogged up with debris, dust, and other contaminants will restrict the flow of air, making your unit work unnecessarily hard. Which in turn means you will be using a lot more energy than you should be and this will increase your monthly expenses.
Although you may not fancy undertaking the challenge of cleaning your ductwork on your own, you can contact our expert HVAC engineers here at ADK, who are specialists in air conditioning installation, maintenance, and repairs.
Costly breakdowns and repairs occur more often when air conditioning units are not looked after properly. Remember, if your air conditioner is working harder than it needs to be, it can not only cause problems and increased energy costs but can also cause further, more serious issues at a later date. However, if you keep the above tips in mind, you should be able to maintain your air conditioning unit, ensuring that you get the highest level of efficiency while keeping those costs down as low as possible.
At ADK, planned preventative maintenance visits can be arranged with clients tailored to their personal requirements within a timescale to suit their business needs and budgets. Tailoring our works for minimal disruption to your schedule, we’ll ensure that your refrigeration unit is maintained and that your cooling system is always working to the best of its capabilities, as efficiently as possible.
For more information about our Air Conditioning services, please get in touch with us today or call 0208 831 8900 and we’ll be more than happy to help you with anything you need. Alternatively, you can contact us to request an engineer and a free site survey.