Prepare your Building now for winter!
The ravages of winter can be tough on a commercial HVAC system, furnace, or heat pump.
Prepare your building for winter right now! The ravages of winter can be tough on a commercial HVAC system, furnace, or heat pump. Ice, snow, rough winds, and low temperatures can really wreak havoc on mechanical parts, causing extreme wear and tear, cracked seals and pipes, leaks, frozen pipes, and hundreds of other problems, not the least of which is a complete heating system failure.
Any property owner’s maintenance plan should consider that inspection and winterization in the Fall can protect their HVAC equipment investment and ensure that the building’s occupants have a comfortable environment all winter.
The bottom line is that HVAC systems need to be winterized each Fall by licensed service technicians to ensure they keep working efficiently during the bitterly cold winter. Below are the basic considerations that should be part of the winter maintenance plan to ensure your building and its occupants are comfortable all winter.
Inspect the Entire HVAC System
Any coil, pipe, faucet, hose, or part that comes in contact with water and/or is exposed to outdoor air must be inspected carefully to avoid freezing and failure.
- HVAC controls should be evaluated for proper operation
- Set freeze stats to the correct temperature to protect the coils (a visual inspection should be done periodically throughout the winter to ensure all freeze protection controls are working)
- Winterize or drain cooling towers in not in use.
Inspect All of the Plumbing
Frozen pipes are a nightmare and can cause serious damage to your building when they break.
- Check exposed pipes and exterior pipes for vulnerability to winter freezing, inspect test heat trace to ensure operation.
- Insulate and seal openings around the exposed pipe
Arrange a Heating System Inspection
Cracked heat exchangers can leak carbon dioxide into a building, making this one of the most important parts of your fall inspection. Also,
- Check safety settings and confirm proper operation
- Remove and clean burners
- Make sure that the flames in burners are burning clean
- Check the flues for ventilation
- Calibrate the water pressure gauge
- Check expansion tanks for proper air cushions
- Clean the boiler tubes
To learn more about the importance of winterizing your building safely, please contact us at 202.600.2787 or mford@crockett-facilities.com. Our PM contract customers receive priority service with 24/7 emergency service in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!