The solstice has arrived and for most of us the summer heat has long since moved in and made itself comfortable. If it’s not already, it will soon be the hottest time of the year wherever you are (in the Northern hemisphere at least!). Preventative maintenance is a year round thing for keeping HVAC systems running smoothly and efficiently, but here are some extra summertime tips that you can use with your CMMS to keep a cool head when it comes to HVAC performance at your facilities.
1) SCHEDULE A PRE-SUMMER INSPECTION.
Before the full-fledged heat of summer is upon us, it’s a good idea to have a professional inspect your HVAC system and by having your cooling equipment inspected, adjusted, and repaired routinely, you will be able to identify problems early on. A typical inspection will evaluate all electrical connections and adjustment controls, lubricate all moving parts, and make sure all components are in place and working properly. Using preventative maintenance scheduling to automate this task list and send out a reminder—even to your vendors– will ensure your units are inspected before you find yourself in a tsunami of reactive maintenance.
2) CHECK AIR FILTERS MONTHLY (or more!)
Schedule a monthly work order to to check and replace your air filters. If they’re clogged or dirty, replace them quickly. Keeping your air filters fresh will allow your units to work as efficiently as they can. And you can use your CMMS to keep track of where you are using up the most filters in your facilities with material tracking and even attribute costs to each location
3) REACTION IS INEVITABLE. TRACK YOUR EFFORTS!
Of course it’s essential to perform corrective maintenance on your HVAC equipment in order to get top performance out of them. If equipment is damaged or broken, repair or replace it as soon as possible and track all costs, vendor expenses, and parts using your CMMS. Faulty equipment will reduce your efficiency and end up costing you more in the long run. Using corrective work order management to track hours, material costs, and frequency of unscheduled maintenance can help drive decisions for capital planning and process changes to make your HVAC systems more efficient.
4) EYEs ON THE ENVIRONMENT
It’s important to make sure all your HVAC units have proper air flow coming in especially for outside units that may see plants, trees, or shrubbery around them growing faster than usual. This will help keep the unit running smoothly and keep it clean as well. Meanwhile on the inside, make sure to inspect for “leaks” where warm air can enter. Windows, doors, and duct work will likely be the culprits and these “Leaks” can drastically increase your energy bills. And if something needs to be fixed, mobile access to a CMMS like FacilityONE in the palm of your hands will allow you to create a work order right then and there— mapping it to the exact piece of equipment or equipment group so there is no guesswork.
THINK COOL. BE COOL. STAY COOL. ALL summer long.
Regular inspection and early detection will keep your HVAC system running smoothly all summer AND all year long. Don’t wait until a problem finds you—use your CMMS to plan for and attack the heat. Contact sales@facilityone.com to see how we can help your facilities stay cool in the summer and propel you on the journey to operational success!
