As temperatures rise during the summer, keeping your commercial air conditioning system running efficiently becomes crucial. A malfunctioning air conditioning system causes discomfort for employees and customers and can lead to reduced productivity and potentially costly repairs.
In this guide, we will provide some essential tips for maintaining your commercial air conditioning system and ensuring it runs smoothly throughout the summer.
How to Keep Your Commercial Air Conditioning Running
With just a little bit of TLC every now and then, you can keep your commercial air conditioning running smoothly and efficiently all year. These tips will help you keep your building cool without major disruptions:
1. Replace the Air Filter
The air filter in your commercial air conditioning filters and cleans the air that enters your space by trapping debris, dust, dirt, and other harmful particles. It becomes dirty and clogged with time, making it difficult for air to pass through.
The restricted airflow forces your HVAC system to work harder to cool the space properly. Failure to clean and replace it regularly and the additional strain will lead to high energy costs, overheating of the system, and, if nothing is done, eventual system failure.
Replacing an air filter is a simple task you can do yourself. Depending on how often the space uses the HVAC system, you may need to inspect it once every four weeks to ensure it isn’t clogged with debris and dirt. If it is, consider replacing it immediately. Even if you clean it regularly, and it isn’t clogged up, you will still need to replace it about every three to six months or according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
2. Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat
Before summer starts, check your thermostat to ensure it’s working properly. A bad thermostat spells doom for various reasons, from uneven or inadequate cooling to short cycling. To know if your thermostat is working properly, check to see if the temperature settings match the actual temperature in the room using a thermometer.
A difference of more than one degree indicates that the thermostat isn’t giving an accurate reading and needs a replacement. When replacing your thermostat, consider a programmable one to be able to control the temperature and closely monitor energy efficiency costs remotely.
Upgrading to a programmable thermostat can help save energy and money by adjusting the temperature when the building is not occupied. This ensures that the system is not running unnecessarily, which can also help extend the lifespan of your air conditioning system.
3. Clean the Condenser Unit
The condenser unit, usually attached to a wall outside your property or located on the roof of the building, transfers heat from your indoor space to the outdoors. Lack of proper maintenance will place stress on the unit, resulting in your conditioner losing its ability to produce cool air, which leads to higher utility bills and increased damage.
Remove any dirt and debris that has accumulated around the condenser unit. If the unit requires maintenance, get a professional technician to clean the evaporator coils to avoid damaging the unit, as it tends to be susceptible to even the slightest errors.
4. Schedule Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance is crucial to keep your commercial air conditioning system running smoothly. Hire a professional HVAC technician to inspect and service your system at least once a year to ensure it runs efficiently and to catch any potential problems before they get out of control.
Don’t Let Your A/C Fade Away
Maintaining a commercial HVAC system on your own can be time and energy-consuming. Making the right choice in who you trust to ensure your A/C doesn’t shut down in the heat of summer will save you money and offer you peace of mind.
Strategic Grounds is an all-service commercial area maintenance company for businesses nationwide. Contact us today to schedule preventative maintenance on your A/C and to learn more about our services.
