Making your facility a comfortable place for your customers and employees is critical to the smooth operation of your business.  Due to this, your commercial HVAC system’s efficiency is held in high regard.

HVAC systems and equipment within them can take a beating depending on the hours of operation and the weather. Systematic HVAC maintenance checks on a regular cadence become very important so that your systems run efficiently.

Common HVAC Issues for Commercial Spaces

We’ve compiled a list of the most common HVAC problems that can be prevented from becoming a business-halting system failure if caught and fixed early.

Compressor Issues

The most common problems within this category are leaks and scrambled compressors. There may be oil around service ports, valves, solder connections, or compression fittings that indicates refrigerant leakage.

The queue emitted by a scrambled compressor is not visual, but rather audible. You can hear the hum of a locked rotor or the repeated starting and stopping of a compressor to detect a problem with the refrigerant charge.

Condenser Issues

The condenser coils can be visually detected if they are clogged or dirty, and this can result in reduced air flow.  Dirt, salt, and chemicals can corrode coil fins, causing restriction and poor heat transfer. Insufficient air flow caused by condenser fan problems can eventually lead to failure.  Symptoms of a fan problem include bearing noise, short cycling, excessive blade vibration, deteriorated wiring, and incorrect fan speed or direction.

Evaporator Issues

The air filter primarily protects the evaporator coil.  In dirty or poorly fit air filters, air is allowed to bypass the filter, causing the evaporator to become dirty.

Heating and Control Issues

Burners and electrical connections are the two most common problem areas for heating and controls.

• Electrical problems can occur when connections overheat.  A discoloration usually results from this.  Failing contractors may cause an audible sound or sloppy wiring.
• A buildup of soot and rust particles in the heat exchanger can compromise the burner’s efficiency.  Other issues could include flame roll-out and pilot failure.

HVAC Maintenance Tips

Schedule two HVAC tune-ups per year, one for the air conditioning and one for the heating. An HVAC installation company’s technicians will thoroughly service, inspect, and troubleshoot the system during these checkups to prevent breakdowns and keep it working efficiently.

You can also do a few DIY maintenance tasks. For one, changing your HVAC filter every 30 days will improve the air quality inside your facility and use less energy. When changing the filter, inspect the system monthly to detect potential problems. Make sure the thermostat, the unit inside, the unit outside, and the registers and returns are all in good working order. If you see something amiss, call a technician right away.

Keeping your indoor HVAC unit clean improves air quality and safety. The more stuff you have lying around, the more surface area there is to collect dust that makes its way into the vent system. Also, clutter reduces air circulation in the immediate area, which makes the system less efficient.

Lastly, regulate your facility’s temperature. Keep your HVAC at a comfortable temperature and avoid running it too much while you’re away. Consider installing a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature throughout the day. 

A well-maintained HVAC system saves you money on energy bills and keeps you from having to replace or repair it in the future. With these tips, you can find the most common issues your system will face and correct them before it’s too late.

Enhance the Comfort of Your Commercial Space

At 24 Seven HVAC, we provide quality and service you can trust. Our experienced team of technicians provide expertise in our commercial HVAC services in business all over Syracuse, NY.