Summer is quickly coming to an end. Before you know it, the fall season will be here, which can only mean one thing; winter is right around the corner. And while the holidays snowmen, and hot chocolate may still seem far away, fall is the perfect time to start preparing your commercial building for the harsh, frigid winter season.
Is your heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system ready for the cold weather? As a property manager or building owner, it is better to find out now than after winter has begun, especially when you consider that heating demands account for 33% of the overall energy consumption of most commercial buildings. Ensuring that your HVAC system is working efficiently can greatly impact your bottom line. But how do you go about preparing your HVAC system for winter?
Fall HVAC Preventive Maintenance Tips
- Is it Time to replace your HVAC System? Before you do anything, consider the age of your heating system. If it is more than 10 years old, it may be time to contemplate replacement. A lot of gas furnaces installed more than 10 years ago are only about 50-60% efficient. Today’s gas furnaces boast efficiency ratings as high as 97%.
- Replace or Clean Air Filters: Dirty air filters restrict air flow and hamper the efficiency of your entire HVAC system. So if you haven’t changed or cleaned your air filters in a while, now is the perfect time to fix that. This should ideally be done every month.
- Adjust the Supply Registers: Remember, hot air rises and cold air falls. So when the weather begins to cool, it is important to open a few of the supply registers on the first floor and close a few on the second floor. This will help your system heat your commercial buildingmore efficiently.
- Calibrate Thermostats: If the calibrations are not correct, your heating system will not be as efficient as it could be.
- Invest in a Programmable Thermostat: A programmable thermostat allows you to better manipulate the heating and cooling of your office building. You may need to re-program the thermostat for different temperatures for different times of the day And using such a thermostat could end up cutting your heating costs anywhere from 20% to 75%.
- Check the Furnace: Before starting your furnace for the first time this winter, have it professionally inspected and cleaned. This will not only ensure that your furnace operates safely, but also efficiently.
- Professional HVAC Inspection: Most importantly, you should have your HVAC system inspected twice a year by a professional contractor. This will help identify any potential problems and ensure your system is working as efficiently as possible. Ideally, these inspections should take place in the fall and spring, when HVAC demand is lowest. Technicians will check for reliable, efficient and safe operation of all HVAC equipment, including checking filters, inspecting belts, motors, electrical switches, contacts, safety switches, refrigerant levels, and gas pressure.
- HVAC Maintenance Agreements: Taking advantage of a HVAC maintenance agreement is a great way to keep your system running at peak efficiency. Not only will such an agreement ensure that your seasonal checkups are done on schedule, but having an HVAC maintenance agreement means you will receive priority service in the event of equipment failure or other problems. An HVAC maintenance agreement will provide you with peace of mind while also saving you money in the long term. Now that is a win-win.
Don’t get left in the cold; call Crockett Facilities Services today!
We can provide you with peace of mind, save you money in the long term, and protect your capital investment. Contact Crockett Facilities Services for a cost-effective customized preventive maintenance plan for your commercial building. Find out why property managers and building owners trust us to manage their essential HVAC equipment. Call 301.262.2771 or click here.
Crockett Facilities Services, Inc. (CFSI), headquartered in Bowie, Maryland, provides value-added building operation and maintenance services to commercial and governmentclients throughout eight states, including Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina Established in 2000, CFSI is a woman-owned, MDOT MBE contractor The companywas just named on the 50 Fastest Growing Companies in the greater Washington, DC area by the Washington Business Journal, as well as a Top Ten Mechanical Contractor.