Best Practices for Maintenance

September 18, 2023

HVAC system, your entire ductwork can also get damaged over its functioning life, so air duct maintenance is important. Any of the joints and seals can become loose as well as vibrations from the HVAC system can extricate ductwork with the passing time. Another factor is the dust and other debris that can also be blown into the ducts, and any sort of accident can damage or deform them as well.

some suggestions for improving maintenance practices by component:

Filters: All filters are not created equal. Upgrade existing filtration systems with extended-surface-area filters. These filters have a lower initial pressure drop, higher dust-holding capability, and higher structural ratings. Benefits include longer change cycles and lower pressure drops (which conserve fan energy).

Filters are sometimes changed at a regular time interval, before the end of their useful service life. Follow filter-manufacturer guidelines and use pressure drop across the filter bank as the criterion for changing filters.

Coils: Coil cleanliness directly effects the efficiency of heat transfer to and from the air stream, and the performance of the entire HVAC system.

Lower fan and pump energy consumption means reduced fan and pump heat – a parasitic load for cooling processes.

The best coil-cleaning strategy is to prevent them from becoming dirty in the first place with regular filter maintenance (coil exterior) and water treatment (coil interior).

Sensors: Trying to control an HVAC system based on false input values , a clean and calibrated sensor in a bad location will defeat an otherwise well-executed control strategy.

Ducts: Duct leakage can prevent a large percentage of supply air from reaching the intended destination. check ductwork and access ports for leakage and insulation integrity. Flex ducts near terminal units may become disconnected or crimped, greatly reducing airflow to the terminal unit.

Vibration analysis: Vibration signatures are compared with previous readings for indications of component degradation such as worn bearings, shaft alignment, or fan-blade imbalance. It may be economical in large facilities to buy the equipment and train an in-house engineer to perform this analysis. Otherwise, hire an outside contractor.

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