Why should I service my Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment, how frequently should it be serviced and what would a typical service include?
Jon Fleet
Head of AftercareFirstly, maintenance is compulsory for any system that holds 5 Tonnes CO2 Equivalent. Typically, any air conditioning system with 3kg of refrigerant requires servicing under FGAS law. In addition to compulsory servicing, some systems require maintenance to be carried out to ensure that the warranty offered by the manufacturers at installation is upheld.
What are the other benefits of servicing my HVAC system?
Additional benefits of maintaining a climate control system include healthy indoor air, lower utility bills and increased running efficiency, less frequent breakdowns and emergency repairs, and longer life of the system.
Healthy Indoor Air
A maintained climate control system will not only regulate the indoor climate to the specified temperature and flow rates, but it will prevent problems with air quality. Clean filters and coils prevent pathogens and particles from circulating within the home.
Lower Utility Bills
Saving money is one key incentive for regular system maintenance. A well-maintained system is highly efficient and minimises the potential expenses for electricity, heating and cooling. Research shows that dirty or unmaintained units need to work around 20% harder to perform the same cooling and heating level as a well-maintained system.
Increased Reliability
Regular maintenance is also important to prevent the need for major repairs or entire replacements, and is said to reduce the risk of costly breakdowns by as much as 95%. In addition, most manufacturers require new equipment to be regularly maintained to validate their defects warranty. An efficiently running system minimises wear-and-tear and is less likely to fail during periods of hard use. Ensuring that the system is up to date on maintenance checks and inspections significantly reduces the likelihood of the unit breaking down when it is needed the most.
Longer Life of the System
A well-maintained climate control system will function well and provide efficient and cost-effective cooling and heating to a home or building. With regular maintenance, a system may last 15 – 20 years, although this will depend on the level of use. Considering the cost of replacement, it is sensible to maintain the system so that it will operate efficiently for as long as possible.
What are the recommended service periods?
A question we often get asked is ‘How often should I have my Air Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation equipment serviced?’ The majority of issues that occur within HVAC systems is due to a lack of regular maintenance. For equipment running 24/7, we recommend a minimum of 2 x 6 monthly visits. This is typically on a system that fits in the following category:
- Located in a wine cellar
- Located in a plant room
- Used for heating and cooling
- Heat-recovery ventilation units set to run continuously
- De-centralised fans that run constantly or are linked to a PIR sensor.
If your system is not described above, you may only require an annual service visit.
What would a HVAC service include?
An air-conditioning service will typically include the following checks by a fully qualified engineer:
- Operational test run and recording of performance temperatures
- Checking/cleaning of all moving parts, including fan motors, compressors, and condensate pumps.
- Checking electrical components including PCBs, contactors, and fuses
- Checking of controls for correct operation and free from faults.
- Leak checks on the refrigerant circuits under FGAS requirements.
- Cleaning of filters, coils and condensate drains.
A ventilation system will typically include the following checks:
- Operational test run to confirm correct operation.
- Checking/cleaning of all moving parts, including fan motors, compressors, and condensate pumps.
- Checking of electrical components including PCBs, contactors, and fuses
- Checking of controls for correct operation and free from faults.
- Cleaning of coils, heat exchangers and condensate drains.
- Annual replacement of filters and motor drive belts