7 Steps to Prepare Your Commercial HVAC System for Summer

Blog > 7 Steps to Prepare Your Commercial HVAC System for Summer

Based on recent weather history, July is the warmest month of summer in Kansas City, with temperatures as high as 90°F. While this comes as good news after some chilly winter months, it could cause extra work for your HVAC system, particularly the condenser motors. Here are a few tips you should consider to prepare your commercial HVAC system for summer (and save money on your energy bills). These tips can also help aid in maintaining any property you own or manage from afar.

Schedule basic maintenance

Getting your HVAC system checked for any maintenance issues is the first thing you should do to ensure it’s ready for summer. You could either outsource a maintenance crew from a reputable HVAC company or simply schedule pre-summer maintenance with your in-house HVAC technicians.

Change the AC filters

Depending on manufacturer recommendations as well as the air pollution in your area, you should change the air filters of your commercial HVAC system at least three to four times a year, or every quarter. “In some cases, especially if you have a building with indoor air quality challenges , such as manufacturing plants or pet boarding facilities, or if your building is in an area with high outside air issues – especially cottonwood trees, you may need to change the air filters every thirty days. This way, you’ll be better prepared for the high levels of dust particles and humidity that often occur during the summer season. This is the simplest thing you can do to prepare your system for summer, as it doesn’t require expertise or expert knowledge about HVAC systems.

Clean the condensation lines

Reducing energy consumption is the main goal if you want to lower your energy bill through summer. One of the causes of excessive energy consumption for your AC in summer is a clogged condensation pipe, i.e. the pipe that carries water condensation away from your AC. If this is clogged, the water can back up into the system and potentially become a messy problem. You can make sure it’s not clogged by checking if the pipe is draining properly.

Clean the condenser coils

Another way to maintain your AC unit is to clean the condenser coils. Heat exchange happens in the condenser coils – this is when the heat inside your building is pumped out by absorbing the heat in the moving coolant inside the coils. Any debris, rust, or leaks can significantly reduce the efficiency of the heat exchange. Make sure to clean thoroughly behind the grills and fan blades. You may need a specialised refrigerator coil brush to clean the coils.

Declutter the rest of the condenser

When you’re done cleaning the condenser coils, you might then need to declutter the rest of the condenser module. Remove any debris or leaves out of the bases. You may also find weeds and vines in the system – make sure to dispose of these as they’re potential fire hazards.

Install a programmable thermostat

A thermostat controls the temperature of an air conditioning unit – and, therefore, it also controls the power consumption. A programmable thermostat can be set to a specific temperature range and also includes a timer, so you can program when and how many hours the unit will operate per day. For example, you can program it to automatically shut down the AC after eight hours of operation. AC systems usually don’t operate their motors for several hours straight. A programmable thermostat can be integrated with a centralized air conditioning system and with the other components of your commercial HVAC system.

Check the HVAC ducts

If you have centralized HVAC ducts for your building, make sure you check them all. If you’re managing a large store or building, you need to be systematic in checking for damaged ducts that might need to be repaired or replaced. It’s always a good idea to assign inspectors for different sectors of the building to ensure none get missed. It’s also possible for debris to accumulate in some of the duct works. Make sure that there are no obstacles like these that can impede the efficient operations of your commercial HVAC system.

If you’re in the Kansas City metro area and would like to chat about your commercial HVAC system, contact us today for your customized quote.

Founded in 2004, DMC Service, Inc. is proud of our decades-plus service to the Kansas City Metro and beyond. Based out of Olathe, we are a 100% woman-owned business with Karen Crnkovich at the helm as President and “Chief Hand-Shaker.” Karen leads the DMC Service team with unwavering passion and enthusiasm to fulfill our purpose: To keep people comfortable, safe and healthy.