7 Commercial HVAC Repair Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

As winter continues in full swing, people rely on their HVAC systems to keep their household warm. Snowstorms across the country have made this more of a necessity for many people.

These problems don’t only affect people’s homes, either. Office buildings also require a functional HVAC system to keep their employees warm throughout the winter days. At times like these, office workers pay more attention to their HVAC systems than ever.

Sometimes, people devote a little too much energy towards their systems by trying to repair common HVAC problems alone. This approach often results in commercial HVAC repair mistakes.

Fortunately, we’ve got the expertise on how to avoid many of these mistakes! Check out our guide below to learn seven common HVAC repair mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Not Scheduling Regular HVAC Maintenance Appointments

The first step to maintaining your HVAC system is scheduling regular HVAC maintenance appointments. Usually, you can do this through either an HVAC repair company or the company that installed your system.

Hiring these services helps prevent problems from festering in your system. These expert professionals identify problems before they’ve fully formed and nip them in the bud. Schedule your appointment before it’s too late!

2. Neglecting Your Air Filter

The most common cause of HVAC problems is the air filter. Despite being a small feature, it can have devastating consequences to your system if left unattended.

Let’s start with the basics. Offices should replace their air filters at least every three months. Depending on your brand and filter sizes, you may need to change them every month.

Air filters do what their name implies. They allow the air in your system to circulate while also catching small particles in the air. These particles include things like dust and pollen.

However, if the filter becomes full, it can no longer filter the air efficiently. As a result, your system must work harder. This extra work leads to faster wear and tear. To avoid this problem, all you have to do is replace your filters at the right time!

Some offices may have lifetime filters instead of paper filters. In these cases, the office must ensure it washes the filters regularly.

3. Commercial HVAC Repair Mistakes With Mold

Many people believe that mold is a product of dirtiness. So long as your office remains clean, mold won’t grow, right?

In reality, mold growth has nothing to do with cleanliness and everything to do with humidity. Mold and mildew can develop anywhere if there’s enough moisture in the air.

Unfortunately, this often means that your vents are prime real estate for mold spurs. Check your vents for black spots on the inside or outside surfaces. If you see any, call a professional service immediately.

However, you can also prevent mold growth by scheduling regular maintenance appointments. Part of these appointments involves searching your ventilation for mold.

4. Having an Air Conditioner in the Wrong Size

This problem often affects residential and commercial HVAC systems alike. Sometimes, an installation company may install an air conditioner that’s too small in a new office building.

If the HVAC system is too small, it can’t keep up with your office building’s needs. As a result, your office may face challenges in keeping the temperature in your facility stable.

Occasionally, offices sometimes realize they have too large of an HVAC system. In these cases, the system may use too much energy for the building’s needs.

In either case, there’s a simple remedy. All you have to do is call an HVAC repair company to replace the system.

But, what if your company is building a new location? How can you ensure that this new facility has the appropriate size of an HVAC system?

In these cases, companies can measure the space for their system. Then, they can use those measurements to find the correct HVAC system size.

5. Ignoring Warning Signs

Sometimes, people like to play dumb when their HVAC system starts demonstrating problems. Most often, this is because of cost concerns. People worry that they’ll have to pay exorbitant amounts of money to repair the issue.

However, this mindset ends up causing worse financial problems. The longer you wait to repair issues, the more expensive they’ll become.

So, if you want to save money, don’t hesitate! Call a repair service as soon as problems occur in your HVAC unit. Doing so can save you money and create a more comfortable work environment.

6. Ignoring Furnace Problems

If you work in a colder climate, your office building may use a furnace. If so, ask yourself: has the furnace seemed talkative lately?

When you first start a furnace, it naturally makes sounds. However, those should last for a few seconds. If they continue for longer stretches, it indicates a problem.

For example, you may notice that your furnace makes scraping noises. That sound is usually the dry HVAC bearings scraping the system’s motor. You can ensure repairs cost more if you leave these sounds unattended.

7. Leaving the System on 24/7

It’s tempting to leave your A/C running all day. Doing so seems convenient and prevents the office temperature from changing too much after hours.

However, doing this causes the system to work harder. Over time, it wears the HVAC unit down and leads to repair costs.

Instead, install a unit timer in your building to turn off the system after hours. The timer can also determine when the system reactivates. This way, you can ensure the office is always temperate when you return to work.

This approach has other benefits as well. Its biggest advantage is how much it can save your business in energy bills.

Start Your HVAC Maintenance Today

These seven commercial HVAC repair mistakes are among the most common in the country. Armed with this knowledge, you can now ensure you don’t make these errors in your building.

So, don’t hesitate! Get started by scheduling maintenance checks for your building. These checks will inform you of how your system is performing and what repairs may become necessary.

We hope this article was helpful! If so, check out our other content today.