HVAC systems consist of

  • HVAC units that condition and push air through facilities
  • Ductwork in which conditioned air travels through
  • Air filters that prevent foreign objects from harming the welfare of HVAC systems
  • Thermostats that regulate the temperature, essentially acting as the “brain” of these systems

Altogether, the HVAC system helps people live more comfortably, staving off heat stroke in the summer, the chill of winter, and sometimes helping to alleviate allergies. Properly functioning commercial HVAC systems also provide comfort to people inside the facilities they work encouraging them to operate at their optimum capacity. HVAC systems maintain also the longevity of the buildings that house them, saving businesses money in construction repair.

Below is a review of commercial HVAC system maintenance including signs of upcoming repairs, the approximate cost of repairs, the importance of maintenance, and how often maintenance should occur to be effective and affordable.

Electricity bills rise for no apparent reason

Utility companies sometimes raise the cost of electricity, although they’ll usually inform you of changes before and on the actual dates they switch over. If your electricity bills rise over time without installing any new fixtures or building add-ons, it’s likely HVAC maintenance is needed for the system. The culprit is typically bad air filters or clogged ductwork, although the problem could lie within the HVAC unit(s) itself.

Unpleasant odors

On occasion, a business may experience odor due to items clogging ductwork. One unfortunate instance is an animal inadvertently crawling into ducts and passing away because they can’t find a way to escape. Ducts are not easy to clean, however, and affected sections may even require replacement if the animal has been there for a long time.

Decreased Ventilation

Sometimes, vents blow less air than usual, causing rooms and hallways to be stuffy. This can make them inefficiently cold in muggy summer months, or unable to warm cold rooms in the frigid winter months. Decreased ventilation can occur throughout the entire HVAC system layout, or it may be centralized to one or two vents. Dust and debris are typically the culprits for ventilation performing poorly.

Thermostat Not function Properly

If the HVAC systems do not produce the desired temperature air, a variety of faulty parts and systems could be to blame. However, because thermostats effectively act as the nuclei of heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems, small changes in atmospheric conditions surrounding thermostats, or in the function of these compact machines could mean maintenance, if not more-expensive repair, is imminent.

Utility companies sometimes raise the cost of electricity, although they’ll usually inform you of changes before and on the actual dates they switch over. If your electricity bills rise over time without installing any new fixtures or building add-ons, it’s likely HVAC maintenance is needed for the system. The culprit is typically bad air filters or clogged ductwork, although the problem could lie within the HVAC unit(s) itself.

Unpleasant odors

On occasion, a business may experience odor due to items clogging ductwork. One unfortunate instance is an animal inadvertently crawling into ducts and passing away because they can’t find a way to escape. Ducts are not easy to clean, however, and affected sections may even require replacement if the animal has been there for a long time.

Decreased Ventilation

Sometimes, vents blow less air than usual, causing rooms and hallways to be stuffy. This can make them inefficiently cold in muggy summer months, or unable to warm cold rooms in the frigid winter months. Decreased ventilation can occur throughout the entire HVAC system layout, or it may be centralized to one or two vents. Dust and debris are typically the culprits for ventilation performing poorly.

Thermostat Not function Properly

If the HVAC systems do not produce the desired temperature air, a variety of faulty parts and systems could be to blame. However, because thermostats effectively act as the nuclei of heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems, small changes in atmospheric conditions surrounding thermostats, or in the function of these compact machines could mean maintenance, if not more-expensive repair, is imminent.

HVAC repairs almost ALWAYS exceed the cost of regular HVAC maintenance. … especially when they require the complexity to manage temperature and airflows in expansive commercial facilities. Signing a contract with an HVAC company, such as TSS HVAC, ensures systems run efficiently and helps to alleviate the need for costly repairs due to emergencies.

Below are the basic costs expected to incur if failing to engage in regular HVAC maintenance:

Ductwork

Since ductwork can be punctured by debris, grow mold, and even have animals die within, etc. there is a need for regular HVAC maintenance. Routinely addressing issues makes it much more affordable. If left untreated, the cost of replacing large sections or all of the ductwork can be roughly $50 per foot not to mention the cost of overworking the system to compensate.

Industrial-level HVAC units

Commercial HVAC systems can cost upwards of $7,000 to $8,000…sometimes reaching just short of $15,000. Regular HVAC maintenance helps the system for its expected lifetime. A general rule of thumb is that if the unit was installed over 10 years ago, and the repairs would cost more than half the purchase price, you’re likely better off purchasing a brand-new unit. This alone, illustrates how regular maintenance can save BIG money!

Individual Components

Thermostats, air filters, and sensors are farcheaper than ducts and machinery. While it’s worthwhile to replace these if not exorbitantly expensive, you should always consider the option to repair before spending $1,000’s on HVAC units and ductwork.

TSS HVAC recommends hiring certified professionals to inspect all ductwork, HVAC units, thermostats, vents, and related equipment at least twice a year. Regular maintenance, upkeep, and inspections plans are designed to catch repairs in their infancy, rather than replacing these expensive HVAC systems, after the fact.

Experienced, certified HVAC technicians typically charge between $50 and $200 per visit, with the upper bound typically being applicable to expansive facilities, buildings, and properties.  A maximum of $200 paid a minimum of twice yearly far outweighs the potential cost of replacing a $8,000-plus HVAC unit, thousand-dollar or better runs of ductwork, and potential damages like fire which might burn entire properties down.

With HVAC maintenance performed at key times during the year, your systems will run at peak performance whether it’s the heat of summer or the cold of a Northwest winter. Even better, our TSS HVAC technicians get to know your equipment during preventive HVAC maintenance servicing — so they can spot potential problems before they cause emergencies or downtime.

TSS HVAC much prefers checking systems for issues, replacing singular parts or simply cleaning them out, than installing brand-new HVAC systems from the ground up. We believe in saving our HVAC clients time, money, and a whole lot of headaches. As a bonus, HVAC maintenance plans typically go down in price as visits per year increase.