It can be difficult to find the right HVAC service company for your commercial needs. Many contractors only service residential customers. It can be difficult to find a contractor that provides commercial service.
There are some differences in commercial air conditioners. While servicing an AC is similar for both residential and business units, there are still some important differences. Here are three important things to consider when looking for an air conditioner service company for commercial units.
1. Cleaning must be included in the maintenance plan.
The contractor must offer regular maintenance plans for commercial clients. That’s essential. You should then make sure the maintenance plan also includes an annual cleaning of your system’s condenser.
When we inspect the coils of commercial units, we find many issues. The AC has either not been serviced recently, or the contractor that came to clean the AC did not do so.
It’s bad to have a dirty AC coil. When you notice that it is hot in the room, you will be doing your daily business. When you put your hand underneath the AC vent, it will feel as if the air is the same temperature inside the room.
The coil is dirty and the heat that’s stored in the refrigerant can’t escape. The heat from inside must be removed for the AC to function. Any annual AC unit maintenance checklist should include coil cleaning.
Air filters are also important to clean. Is asking for trouble if you don’t change your air filters according to manufacturer specifications. A dirty air filter can starve the system of air, causing the coil to freeze up. This frozen coil could lead to a parts failure in the worst case scenario.
It’s possible to change the filter on your own, but you should have a HVAC professional check it at least once a year.
2. Check the belts. Do they check the belts?
Commercial AC units have a high number of belts that are broken or worn out. Ask your contractor if you are not sure if they check the integrity of fan belts. The contractor should definitely be checking.
We can only assume that the broken belts are a result of poor maintenance or an inspection done by a previous contractor. It’s important for business owners to know that AC units are prone to failure.
3. A comprehensive operational inspection
Ask a potential commercial AC contractor what their inspection protocol is for commercial air conditioners. They should do at least the following when they visit for maintenance:
- Test and clean the condensate drainage line
- Replace or clean the filters
- Increase airflow to compensate for temperature increase
- Clean the coil of the condenser
- Verify proper airflow
- Check the total static pressure (if necessary)
- Check the primary and secondary drains
- Check the AC cycles
- Check that the thermostat is functioning properly
- Monitor voltage and Amperage Draw
- Inspect all blower components
- Check AC operating pressures
- Ensure proper refrigerant charge
- Check electrical connections for tightness and tighten as necessary
A technician of Jays Air Conditioning can only tell you that your air conditioner works well if they do all the above. Ask your contractor if they perform all of these steps during an inspection.
