It’s true that indoor pollution sources lead to indoor air quality problems. But what many homeowners and building managers, and facility managers may not recognize is just how critical ongoing preventative maintenance is in terms of supporting indoor air quality.Our point is this: there’s a lot that can work against your efforts to have great indoor air quality.
It could be particulate pollution. It might be debris from outside. It can be pets that contribute to the problem. It might be food debris from indoors. It might tiny particles from people entering and leaving a building. It might even be skin cells, as gross as that may sound!
The reality is that when people (and animals!) are living or working in space, preventative maintenance is critical not just for comfort, but for helping your indoor air quality (and your health), for maximum efficiency, and for extending the life of your system.
Why Preventative Maintenance for Your HVAC?
Take a look at this photo we recently took while servicing a unit.
As you can see, it’s an example of the kind of build-up that can occur without ongoing, continual and consistent preventative HVAC maintenance.
Regular cleaning is critical in preventing this sort of build-up, and while in theory many building owners and facility managers know this, we find that sometimes preventative maintenance can sometimes be an afterthought.
Research shows that as much as 20 percent of the time, HVAC systems are not cleaned as often as they should be (1). The result: poorer efficiency, it’s harder on your system, and it also means reduced indoor air quality. Of course no building manager or homeowner wants any of those things, so let’s take a closer look at preventative maintenance, and why it’s so critical!
Why Ongoing & Regular HVAC Preventative Maintenance Really Matters
Why does preventative maintenance really matter—and what are a few misconceptions about how often it should happen? And what else can be done to help make sure preventative maintenance happens, when it should?
Here we take a look at what every facility manager and homeowners needs to know about regular maintenance to combat all the air pollutants and allergens that are common in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee:
Preventative Maintenance is Key for HVAC Equipment Efficiency
First, let’s look at two key factors you need to be aware of for the “why” of ongoing HVAC maintenance.
Preventative maintenance means longevity for your HVAC equipment
We all know that the data you see when you get a new unit is impressive, or even the data or stats you’re looking to hit when you first purchase equipment and get your system running.
Ever wonder why you aren’t hitting those same stats months later?
The reason you aren’t seeing the same performance, in short, is likely because the equipment isn’t properly maintained. If it’s not properly maintained, the efficiency majorly suffers due to what’s often called “white fuzz”—or the electrolysis that happens as a result of weather, climate conditions, leaves, and visible white fuzz from trees and surrounding landscaping, too (1).
In many cases, building owners think that two tune-ups a year are enough to combat all these sources of white fuzz, but the reality is that often times, more preventative maintenance visits are needed. The consequences of ignoring this advice: equipment that doesn’t run well or even worse—a system that breaks down due to the lack of equipment maintenance (1).
The same can happen with homeowners, that’s why we’ll work with you to determine the ideal number of tune-ups per year. Typically that’s two, but if not, we’ll be sure to tell you what’s best for the longevity of your system.
Preventative maintenance results in greater efficiency
Greater efficiency brings great savings. A lot of times people think about how they save hundreds in their home, and that’s a huge deal, plus you are reducing your chance of repair expenses.
With commercial units, the potential for savings can also be substantial thanks to ongoing, regular, and on-time preventative maintenance.
Just how great can the savings be when your system is properly maintained? One recent study showed that across 10 units, when coils were cleaned on-time, the units showed an average of 47 percent reduction electricity usage required to run (1). The study also showed the energy savings from proper coil cleaning was about 17 percent on average (1). It’s not necessarily a surprise, but it shows just how major the savings can be.
All in all, we like to explain how the savings comes in multiple forms: one, you are saving because your system is running more optimally and efficiently; and two, you are saving because there is no malfunction or downtime or preventable repair issues you need to handle.
Overcoming Common Barriers to HVAC Preventative Maintenance
There are several barriers to making sure preventative maintenance gets accomplished to protect your equipment and to protect the health of your family members or tenants. Some people simply don’t recognize just how critical this is for your safety, your comfort, and your wallet.
So what do you do if people in your own family (or your building manager) is/are unaware or don’t care—at least they don’t care enough yet?
Sometimes it can be a lack of education or knowledge on how important this regular maintenance is; if someone who is making the decision isn’t aware of the importance of maintenance that happens more than twice per year, it’s not going to be prioritized.
That’s where facility managers or homeowners can do their best to education others about all the short- and long-term benefits of regular, frequent tune-ups (1).
Enroll in Greater Comfort’s HVAC Preventative Maintenance Program
Greater Comfort is your go-to resource for dependable HVAC services, support, and regular maintenance. From install to repair—and from maintenance to innovative solutions—we’re here to help you with all your commercial and residential heating and cooling needs. Enroll in our Preventative Maintenance Program and you’ll save—plus you won’t have to worry that your regular, ongoing maintenance gets done.
To enroll in our preventative maintenance program, contact us today at greatercomfort.com or call 859-491-4915.
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