Summer Maintenance for Your South Florida Commercial HVAC

As summer temperatures reach scorching heights, you’ll want to keep your HVAC unit in working order. You can perform regular maintenance checks yourself, or you can partner with an HVAC company like Garrison Mechanical, which can perform preventive maintenance for you. Whichever way you choose to check on your air conditioning this summer, here are some HVAC maintenance tips you can follow:

Replace Your Air Filters

This is one of the most important rules of HVAC maintenance. Replacing your air filters monthly, or at least seasonally, will prevent dust from building up in them. Dirty air filters restrict airflow in your HVAC system. This means your unit or system will have to work harder to run properly, driving up your energy bills and increasing the risk of a breakdown. Changing the air filters is one of the most inexpensive ways to ensure your HVAC system runs efficiently during the summer.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat, such as NEST, can learn your building’s cooling patterns. Once it learns these patterns, the thermostat can increase your HVAC system’s energy efficiency by sending cool air through those patterns. This allows your air conditioner to work with the building to cool it off.

Check for AC Slime

AC slime is part condensate left over in the AC unit’s drip pan and part water that mixes with the condensate. Algae and fungus can grow in AC slime, which will eventually clog the unit’s drain line if it is allowed to grow. You can remove the slime yourself either by removing the drip pan from the AC unit (if the drip pan is removable) or emptying the water from the pan with a cup (if it is not), spraying the pan and the coils with coil cleaner, and wiping down the pan and the coils. Then you can place two condensate tablets in the drip pan and allow them to dissolve. These tablets prevent AC slime from forming. This quick step can help your HVAC unit run smoothly for the rest of the summer.

Keep the Air Moving

You can improve the airflow in your building by keeping as many doors open as possible. Closed doors prevent air from circulating between rooms, so opening the doors will improve circulation. Running ceiling fans will also help the cool air from your HVAC system circulating throughout the building, but remember to turn them off during off-hours. These tactics will keep the air moving without forcing your HVAC system to work too hard.

Insulate Your Building and Your Ducts

Insulating your building with white blinds in the windows can help reflect heat away from it. You should close the blinds on the west- and south-facing sides of your building during the day for maximum effectiveness. You should also insulate and seal your HVAC system’s ducts to prevent them from leaking, which could raise your energy bills. Overall, insulation keeps your building cool and helps your HVAC system run efficiently for long periods of time.

Commercial Summer HVAC Maintenance

If you have questions about summer AC maintenance, or if you would like us to take over maintaining your commercial HVAC systems, contact us today. We perform commercial and residential HVAC maintenance, and we will work with you to find solutions that fit your business’s needs.