This guide looks at the importance of our PPM plans and how to prolong the life cycle of your beloved HVAC systems.
HVAC systems play a key part in most commercial businesses for both its employees and customers. Business owners and facility managers should know the importance of planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and have a plan set in place to ensure a pleasurable atmosphere and environment.
There can be times where business owners neglect their air systems over time as everything appears to be working fine and running smoothly from the outside. However, without properly inspecting the inside minor problems that could have easily been fixed may cause damage in the long term which are beyond repair. A broken / faulty AC system can cause havoc amongst employees, where hot weather can make environments unbearable. Therefore it is important to any business owner to ensure their AC systems are in perfect working order – all year round. Visit our HVAC repairs page if your unit has broken.
Air systems are great, especially when they work efficiently and provide clean and cool airflow to your business or workplace. However over time, just like any mechanical system, there is the potential possibility of a buildup of dirt and debris which can affect your units ability to perform efficiently.
This may lead to an increase in energy usage – as your system begins to overwork in order to perform. In some cases, overheating can often lead to a broken unit that is beyond repair or the costs of repair exceed the cost of a replacement.
What is Planned Preventative Maintenance?
Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM), also referred to as planned maintenance, is a pre-scheduled maintenance routine, set out to ensure that your commercial air conditioning equipment is maintained and working efficiently at regular intervals.
PPM acts as a preventative approach that can be taken to extend the lifespan of your system whereby your units are routinely checked and serviced to prevent such costly issues arising in the first place. Planned maintenance involves the inspection and cleaning of the system to satisfy the manufacturer’s warranty.
Depending on your commercial AC requirements and how many units you have, you may need either a yearly inspection or 2-3 site visits per year. What you may not realize is that, even if you think your systems are in good working order, your units may be over-consuming energy which then leads to increased energy costs over time. So from our experience, it is advised to have your air-con systems regularly inspected and maintained.
Visit our air conditioning maintenance page for more information on our protective PPM plans.
How to inspect your Air Conditioning System / Unit?
Even if it’s fairly new, it is important to regularly inspect your system. Start by checking the filters.
This is easy to do and from our experience, can have a considerable impact on the performance of your commercial air conditioning system. Firstly, check for a dirty filter. If your air filter is clogged up with dirt this will result in the unit becoming less efficient as it increases its energy usage. A dirty filter will obstruct airflow and will be harder to pull air into the system.
By not cleaning or placing the filter regularly, your unit will not perform to its best capacity as it works harder to push out clean cool air and may overheat as a result. When this happens, the quality of air also demises as the filter becomes a source for allergens and contaminations which can be dangerous to your employees and customers’ respiratory health.
The second step is to clean the units condensate drain and pipe. Over time your AC unit will accumulate moisture from the air resulting in water and other byproduct particles to build up and clog the condensate drain. This may result in water leaking from your unit which may damage the unit itself. If you see a build-up of mould and mildew it is important that you call in a maintenance professional to conduct a deep clean as it will require a more vigorous cleaning approach using bleach and water. If you are unsure how to safely clean your unit it is best advised to call in professional air conditioning engineers.
Visit our AC maintenance page to book a fully qualified engineer who can be there within hours.
The third step is to check your AC ducts for any visible tears or rips. Any holes and tears should be sealed up as soon as possible to ensure your air cooling system works efficiently. If you are unable to check your air conditioning system’s ducts yourself, it is advised to arrange a planned maintenance visit with a local air conditioning company. They will be able to provide you with a full system health check, which will save you money in the long-term.
If you identify any issues with your system after following the above steps, just get in touch with us! 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 investment and ensure that you are always getting the best performance out of your commercial air conditioning units.
At ADK, 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 HVAC 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.
And remember, click here if want to know more about our air conditioning maintenance plans.