Host Tyler Kern grabbed 10 minutes from Allen King, Service Team Leader at Boland, to discuss an important topic in building maintenance – the regular service and upkeep of HVAC systems. Like getting scheduled oil changes to maintain a car's performance, an HVAC system also needs routine maintenance for optimal performance, efficiency and longevity.

“You go change your car’s oil at the proper intervals to keep the engine clean and performing properly,” King said. It’s the same with a building’s air conditioning system. “You keep the filters clean, you keep the coils clean, and the systems can perform much better.”

One maintenance tip for HVAC systems is keeping the condensers clean. Over time, mineral builds up in the condensers, so water treatment of the condensers will reduce those minerals and maintain the unit. “And, typically, once a year, you have to rod the tubes, where you push a brush through to push out silt and mud that accumulates,” King said.

Using a good-quality filter on the HVAC system will also provide benefits. For a few additional dollars, a better filter will last longer and provide more efficiency.

An HVAC system’s belt requires maintenance to ensure slippage does not occur.

“If you’re a building owner, that’s the last thing you want is to hear from your tenants that they’re uncomfortable,” King said. “It’s a wise property manager that takes care of the air conditioning system.”

While routine HVAC maintenance is essential, so is safety. “When you go in to, say, check the fan belts, you want to turn the fan off,” King said. “You want to turn the disconnect off that feeds power to the fan starter or the fan frequency drive or whatever is being used to make sure it cannot start when you’re putting your hands in there. You don’t want to take a chance on losing any fingers or anything like that.”

The professionals at Boland are available to consult on any HVAC maintenance building requirements.