Understanding the Importance of HVAC Inspections

You should always know if your commercial HVAC system is working well. After all, even if you’re not dealing with extreme weather, your system should always be prepared for it. This is especially true in the Midwest, where people can experience multiple seasons in one week. You should have a commercial HVAC inspection performed at least once per year so you’ll know that your heating and cooling systems run well year-round.

Here are several reasons why HVAC inspections are so important:

They Can Lower Your Energy Bills

During the HVAC inspection process, a service technician will check each component of your heating and air conditioning system. They will check the system’s air filter, refrigerant pressure, drain pans, evaporator and condenser coils, and all its other moving parts. Keeping an eye on the components of your HVAC equipment allows you and the technician to perform preventative maintenance and stop small problems from becoming big ones. Fixing small problems will lower your energy bills in the long run because your HVAC system or heat pump won’t have to operate while impeded by those problems.

During an inspection, the technician will run tests on specific components to see how well they run, not just what they look like after years of system operation. This will give you an idea of what’s happening with your system. If your business is partnered with an HVAC service company like Air Comfort, you can work with them to implement HVAC preventative maintenance measures that will reduce energy costs.

Inspections Can Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

When you have your air conditioner and heating system inspected regularly, your system will be cleaned and it will perform more efficiently than it would without inspections, since the system is routinely tested and checked. This means that an inspected HVAC system will produce better quality air than an uninspected one will. This is why you should invest in commercial HVAC maintenance. Your system will run better and produce higher-quality air than it would if you wait until a major breakdown occurs before you have it serviced.

What You Should Expect From a Commercial HVAC Inspection

Inspection Test Plan

A certified technician should be able to produce inspection and test plans for HVAC systems that they service. An inspection test plan (ITP) lists the tasks the technician will perform during the inspection. You should ask to see this for quality control purposes. When you can see a list of the tasks that should be performed, you can check them against the work that was actually done. With the ITP, the technician provides you with a set of expectations and then can be held accountable to make sure they’re met.

Common Inspection Tasks

You should expect the technician to perform the following 10 tasks, among others:

Check the air filter
Test thermostat’s calibration
Inspect the electrical connections
Inspect the equipment’s condition
Inspect installation quality
Evaluate system starting capabilities
Test safety controls
Test refrigerant pressure
Test venting and clearances
Test gas pressure and air

You can check with your HVAC service provider to determine which tasks the technician will perform before you see the ITP at the beginning of the inspection appointment.

Inspection Costs

Prices vary between HVAC service companies, but HVAC.com reports that they have ranged from $200 to $475 in recent years. While you may not want to pay a few hundred dollars to check on an appliance that isn’t broken, those few hundred dollars now could save you thousands later. You should check with the HVAC service provider performing the inspection to verify your costs so you understand what you’re paying for.

HVAC Inspections for Your Chicago Business

At Air Comfort, we can provide you with the inspections and preventative maintenance to keep your system running well for years to come. We can also install a new system if your building needs one, or we can retrofit your current system if you’re not ready to replace it. If you’re really in a bind, we offer emergency HVAC services as well. If any of these services sound like the ones your business needs, contact us today to discover how we can help you.