Why You Should Shift from Reactive Maintenance to Preventive Maintenance of Commercial HVAC Systems
Some owners of commercial buildings do not consider the preventive maintenance (PM) of HVAC systems as a priority. This leads them to make resources available only when an air conditioning component breaks down instead of preventing the break down through routine maintenance work. This article discusses some benefits of adequately funding a PM program for the AC system.
Impact on Occupant Complaints
Chances are very high that you will have more complaints from the occupants of your commercial building if you do not consider preventive maintenance of the HVAC system as a priority. For instance, some of those tenants will complain that their equipment keeps breaking down due to operating in an environment whose temperature and humidity varies widely. Many manufacturers of electronics (such as computers) stipulate the temperature and humidity range within which their products should be used. The lack of preventive maintenance will create room for the HVAC system to become inefficient and fluctuate outside those ideal conditions needed by the equipment of tenants. This can cause some tenants to leave your building. You can stop this from happening by funding the preventive maintenance activities of the HVAC system so that it performs at peak levels consistently.
Impact on Repair Costs
Sudden HVAC system failures are very expensive. HVAC professionals who are called to perform emergency repairs on an air conditioning system are likely to charge higher rates than the rates charged by technicians who come to perform routine maintenance work. You may also incur the added cost of express shipping of replacement parts so that you reduce the duration of system downtime. Preventive maintenance cuts down the frequency of system shutdowns and the attendant costs. This is because you can plan for replacement parts after maintenance personnel point out that those components are close to the end of their service life.
Impact on Liability
A poorly maintained commercial air conditioning system can put the owner of the building at a high risk of facing several liability charges. For instance, the tenants can sue you in case they develop complications resulting from inhaling contaminants like mould or VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that could not be removed by faulty AC filters. You may also be cited for code violations if municipal inspectors find that your HVAC system does not perform according to the set standards.
Avoid all the complications above by changing your attitude about HVAC maintenance. Stop looking at it as an overhead cost that should be reduced. Look at PM as a needed investment to keep the costs of maintaining your commercial building affordable. For more information, contact a local commercial air conditioning company.
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