How to extend your commercial HVAC’s lifespan
Caring for your commercial HVAC system is crucial if you are to prolong the lifespan of it and avoid costly repairs for your business. Better still, it isn’t just critical failures you can prevent – but also unexpected energy increases.
You may ask yourself, how long does a HVAC system last? Well, not long as long as it should they are not carefully looked after. To make sure you get the most out of the expected 15-20 years, you should be aware of the factors that affect this rate. A neglected HVAC unit will be less energy efficient, using more energy and therefore driving up your energy bills.
You may already be experiencing poor performance, frequent breakdowns and rising energy costs from your unit. All of this points towards it coming to the end of its lifespan.
However, there are steps you can take to extend its life. These solutions will be set out for you in each factor below.
Why is maintenance important for industrial HVAC systems?
It’s primary benefit will be noticing any small issues before they escalate into critical system failures. They will also be ensuring its running at maximum energy efficiency and set up to have a safe and long lifespan.
A professional will check the electrical connections and wiring as well as a check of the refrigerant for possible leaks. They will also clean the condenser and evaporator cools to boost your efficiency.
You can take the following steps outside of the scheduled maintenance:
- Swap out or clean your HVAC air filters between 1-3 months.
- For the outside unit, ensure any debris are cleared from the outside heat pump/AC.
- Upgrade to smart thermostat if you don’t already have one. Many of these can give alerts when a filter needs changing or any errors in the system. A lot of commercial models will now have pin locks so employees or customers can’t tamper with the settings – so you can save money on unexpected energy costs!
How does usage impact the lifespan on my HVAC unit?
A system that is running constantly will encounter wear and tear at a faster rate. This will occur on components such as the blower motor or the compressor.
A solution to this is using automated controls. This puts the system into an occupied or unoccupied mode, so you don’t manually cycle between on and off. Forcing it to start from a complete stop constantly can make the compressor work and give spikes in your energy bills.
How installation affects your HVAC performance
Poor installation can drastically reduce your commercial HVAC life expectancy and performance. Some examples to look out for include:
- Wrong sizes – can lead to short cycling which weaken lifespan of your equipment
- Faulty ductwork – joints that are disconnected of showing physical kinks in then
- Poor zoning – results in less efficiency
The solution to this cannot be completed by the system user unfortunately. Therefore, you must call a commercial HVAC contractor to fix these issues as they are qualified for the engineering calculations and use of specialist equipment for this.
You can seek out help for this or get a quote for commercial HVAC maintenance on the contact us page.
The environments impact on your HVAC system
If your unit is exposed to severe conditions outside, corrosions and clogging will occur at a much quicker rate. This could be caused by
- Extreme temperatures, both hot & cold
- High humidity that puts more strain on the coils and blower motor
- Airborne pollen can clog up the air inlet.
There are steps you can do to limit the damage caused by the environment.
For example, to increase the rooftop unit lifespan, you should clear the area of things like snow to ensure there is sufficient airflow. Even further than this, if your unit is suitable, you can benefit from the use of a top-only mesh guard.
Using a mesh guard will do a great job of ensuring leaves, litter blown from the wind and insects wanting to builds nest inside are all kept out. You should check your unit is safe for this first though by getting in touch with a professional HVAC contractor. BDS Energy will be happy to help you with enquiries like this.
Final Steps
Now that you know what will impact the lifespan and performance, here are three helpful tips for you to come back to and use as HVAC preventive maintenance:
- Clean or replace filters
- Schedule regular maintenance
- Invest in a smart thermostat. This will give you clear insights into your usage, as well as predict when an issue is arising
For further information on HVAC maintenance, or advice on HVAC in the summer months, check out our other blogs.
FAQS
How long do commercial HVAC systems last?
Usually between 15-20 years, depending on the type and usage.
What is the commercial air conditioning lifespan?
It will vary on type. For example. Split systems and heat pumps are typically 10-15 years, whereas rooftop units last longer (15-20 years).
How often should I schedule maintenance for my HVAC?
Twice a year – one time before the summer starts and one time before the winter begins is optimal. Our team of BDS Energy engineers will be happy to assist with this.
How will I know if my HVAC system isn’t working?
There are signs such as insufficient airflow, strange noises or a sudden unexplained increase in energy bills.
How much does a commercial HVAC replacement cost?
Replacements aren’t cheap. A single/multi-split system usually starts at £2,500 where as central HVAC for a large office building can be £30,000+. Therefore, it is important to focus on promoting the longevity of your HVAC through regular maintenance.