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Maintaining Your HVAC Equipment

Keeping your heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment on a regular maintenance cycle is one of the least-expensive and easiest ways to reduce operating costs and avoid costly repairs. Your manufacturer's guide should recommend a program specific to the equipment, but certain areas should be checked regularly.

Heating Equipment

Furnace/Boiler Maintenance

You could save as much as 5 percent on energy costs by regularly checking and maintaining the efficiency of your boiler or furnace.

  • Frequently check the flue gas composition to determine combustion efficiency. The correct gas composition should be: CO2: 9 percent - 10 percent (gas-fired unit) 11.5 percent - 12.8 percent (using #2 oil) 13.0 percent - 13.8 percent (using #6 oil). No carbon monoxide.
  • You should also examine the flue for hydrocarbon, carbon, and flash buildup.
  • Measure the exhaust gas temperature. An abnormally high stack temperature (more than 150° above steam or water temperature) may indicate too much combustion air or dirty or deteriorated heat exchanger surfaces.
  • Clean the heat exchanger surfaces often.
  • Clean water-handling equipment to eliminate lime and scale buildup.
  • Keep furnace or boiler tubes free of soot, sludge, or flash.
  • Replace automatic blowdown cycle on boilers as needed.
  • Maintain insulation on boiler.
  • Frequently calibrate controls.
  • Check for water leaks.
  • Check for air leaks in combustion chamber.
  • Periodically check the fuel oil temperature.
  • Keep economizer and preheaters clean.
  • Keep fan lubricated per manufacturer's recommendations.
  • Check fan blades.
  • Check fan rotation and alignment.

Electric Heaters

  • Calibrate controls often.
  • Check heat transfer surfaces for obstructions and keep clean.
  • Check fan rotation and alignment.
  • Keep fan lubricated per manufacturer's recommendations.
  • Clean fan blades.

Infrared Heaters

  • Check and adjust beam direction when necessary.
  • Dust reflectors with a soft cloth.

Refrigeration Equipment and Chiller

  • Keep heat exchanger surfaces clean.
  • Check refrigerant level. Add more if air bubbles are present in the sight glass or if the refrigerant flow is turbulent.
  • Check for leaks in the suction and discharge lines.
  • Keep liquid lines and strainer free of clogs.
  • Replace worn belts and check for correct tension and alignment.
  • Check fan rotation and alignment.
  • Keep fan lubricated per manufacturer's recommendations.
  • Clean fan blades.
  • Check compressor gauges for stable system pressure and normal discharge temperature.
  • Check the compressor for leaks.
  • Maintain air-cooled condensers.
    -Tighten or replace the fan belt when necessary.
    -Lubricate the motor following the manufacturer's recommendations.
    -Check for leaks in refrigerant piping.
    -Keep the condenser fins straight/clean and free from obstruction.
  • Maintain evaporative condensers.
    -Repair leaks in the piping.
    -Clean the coil regularly.
    -Clean the air inlet screen.
  • Maintain water-cooled condensers.
    -Clean the condenser shell and tubes.
  • Maintain the cooling tower.
    -Keep free of lime or scale deposits.
    -Clean heat exchanger surfaces.
    -Adjust or replace V-belt as required.
    -Clean the intake strainer.
    -Check the overflow pipe clearance for proper water level.
    -Check for an even water depth in the basin in the gravity-distributed tower.
    -Clean and adjust the distributed and spray-filled nozzles.
  • Maintain absorption equipment.
    -Clean the strainer and seal tank.
  • Lubricate valves.
  • Maintain the insulation.
    -Look for signs of moisture and feel along the outside of ducts for hot or cold spots that may indicate missing insulation.
    -Repair any torn or loose insulation.
  • Maintain electronic air cleaners.
  • Frequently clean the ionizing grounding place section.
  • Replace filters as needed.
  • Keep airways free from obstructions.
  • Make sure dampers operate properly and move freely.
  • Clean filters frequently and replace or adjust those that do not fit properly.
  • Check fan rotation and alignment.
  • Keep fan lubricated to manufacturer's recommendations.
  • Clean fan blades.
  • Periodically calibrate HVAC thermostats and control devices.
  • Tighten and clean thermostat contacts.
  • Keep thermostats away from heat- or cold-producing sources that could interfere with readings.
  • Maintain pneumatic control systems according to manufacturer's recommendations.