As a busy commercial building owner or facility manager in the Chicago area, you probably remain alert for an unexpected emergency repair or downtime scenario.
We completely understand. These situations are costly in more ways than one, and can lead to frustrating issues with employees or customers who are inconvenienced and may even be losing money too.
To help ease that concern, we’re helping to identify three common commercial HVAC repair scenarios you or your staff may encounter, and show you how you can avoid them.
Problem: Unusual noises coming from the vents
Noisy heating or air conditioning vents are not only annoying but can also affect how a business runs. Just imagine how difficult concentrating can be with loud clangs and rattles echoing through the vents behind you. Fortunately, there are several obvious things that can cause noisy air flow. Loose or broken fan blades, cracked or broken air ducts, and loose air vents can all be culprits.
It’s wise to also check the heating and cooling units themselves just to make sure the sounds or vibrations aren’t coming directly from the unit, which could indicate a more serious issue.
Solution: Planned maintenance and scheduled inspections
It’s best to contact your Chicago HVAC service provider so they can send an experienced technician to help. An even better option is to arrange a planned maintenance program with your provider that includes scheduled inspections on a routine basis. Having a trained technician on-site to perform a system inspection regularly will likely allow them to identify and repair problem areas before they become the cause of complaints.
Problem: Heating and cooling odors
If individuals in an isolated section of the building complain about the quality of the air, it’s likely a sign that maintenance or cleaning is needed on one or more of the air ducts in that area. On the other hand, if most or all of the building has an air quality issue, it’s more likely caused by something in the mechanical equipment itself. Dirty air filters, stagnant water, melted debris, and overheated parts can all cause poor air quality.
Solution: Planned maintenance
In all these cases, a maintenance program that’s both well planned and strategically scheduled can catch these issues before they progress to the point that air quality is impacted. Periodic visual inspections of the ductwork and equipment, along with electronic diagnostics, can help catch developing issues before they start to make themselves known.
Problem: Dramatically high electricity bills
Your HVAC system may still be keeping the building comfortable, but you may begin to notice your monthly energy usage rising for no obvious reason. This is most likely a sign that the system is no longer using energy efficiently due to an underlying mechanical or control problem. While there can be many causes for this, they all generally boil down to a few key issues, including aging or damaged equipment.
Solution: Operational assessment and control system monitoring
The best option to avoid these issues is to contact a trained Chicago HVAC technician to perform an operational assessment and inspection to properly identify the cause.
A building automation and analytics system can also help make this process more effective and easier to maintain. These tools help control and monitor your building’s HVAC system using electronic sensors and analytical software. These can be used to continually optimize the system and ensure it’s running as efficiently as possible, and that developing issues are brought to your attention quickly.
Of course, there are many other scenarios that could potentially require HVAC repairs within your commercial building. While practicing prevention is the best option, emergency repairs, when needed, can be handled quickly and effectively to minimize downtime. If you’d like to discuss any of these tools and recommendations, and learn more about how Midwest Mechanical can help you avoid these potentially costly repair scenarios, contact us today.
