If you’re looking to join the HVAC industry as a junior technician or “helper,” it’s likely you will find yourself helping with HVAC preventative maintenance tasks as you begin your career.
In this article, we’ll help you understand why preventative maintenance is so important for HVAC systems, and what exactly the work entails.
What is HVAC preventative maintenance?
Here’s a simple way to understand what HVAC preventative maintenance is all about: it’s like changing the oil in your car. You do it regularly so that the parts stay in good condition and the system as a whole keeps working efficiently and reliably.
Benefits of regular maintenance
For air conditioning and heating systems, regular preventive maintenance is critically important to:
- Prevent system downtime
- Help the customer avoid big repair expenses
- Prolong equipment life
- Optimize energy efficiency
For residential customers, maintenance helps to prevent heating and cooling outages that can disrupt their family activities and even put people in danger. It also prevents damage to their home from water leaks that can happen when maintenance is neglected.
For commercial customers, maintenance helps to prevent disruptions to their business due to HVAC breakdowns, which can cost them money and harm their reputation. Small issues get fixed before they become big, expensive problems.
Customers also benefit from having maintenance agreements because if and when they do need emergency repairs, they already have a trusted relationship with a company that knows them and their equipment.
Preventative maintenance frequency
Most HVAC preventative maintenance is done twice per year at a minimum. However, for commercial systems that run 24/7 and operate under challenging conditions (such as high levels of airborne contaminants or high levels of occupancy), maintenance may be needed quarterly or even monthly.
HVAC preventative maintenance tasks for technicians
Here are some of the tasks that you may find yourself doing (or assisting others with) as an HVAC technician trainee or helper, along with a quick explanation of why each task is important to keep HVAC equipment working properly.
Air conditioning preventative maintenance tasks
Cleaning or replacing filters. When filters are clogged with dust and debris, poor air flow and contaminant buildup can reduce performance and cause system damage.
Clearing drain lines and pans. If condensate drain lines get clogged or pans overflow, your customer can end up with expensive water damage.
Cleaning coils. Over time, dirt and grime build up on the evaporator and condenser coils, reducing their ability to transfer heat. The system has to run longer to cool the space, using more energy and causing wear and tear that can lead to failures.
Checking refrigerant charge. If refrigerant levels are low, you’ll need to look for leaks in refrigerant lines or coils. If these are not found and fixed, the system will eventually stop cooling.
Checking electrical components and connections. Worn wires or loose connections can easily cause system downtime for your customers. Checking and replacing faulty components is a quick and easy fix.
Checking moving parts such as pulleys, belts, fans, and motors allows you to proactively replace aging and worn components and prevent damage to the system when these parts fail.
Lubricating motors bearings and other moving parts keeps them from getting damaged due to high heat and friction.
Inspecting ventilation components for holes and cracks, and for dust or mold build up. Your customer may need a cleaning service or duct repair to maintain air quality and improve system performance.
Testing thermostats and controls ensures that the system is correctly responding to temperature and humidity settings.
Additional heating maintenance tasks
In addition to the above mentioned tasks, HVAC preventive maintenance for heating equipment may require the following tasks to ensure safe operation of combustion appliances:
- Inspecting ignition assemblies
- Checking heat exchanger or heating elements
- Inspecting the flue system and checking for secure attachment to the furnace
- Checking gas pressure and looking for leaks
Helping your customers realize the value of HVAC preventative maintenance
Oftentimes, HVAC systems are “out of sight and out of mind” for customers, until something goes wrong. When you’re doing preventative maintenance, you’re trying to keep things from going wrong. It’s smart to take a few minutes to share what you saw and what you did with the customer.
For example, take photos of the coils before and after you clean them. Show them the clogged filter you replaced, or the worn wire you replaced. Give a quick summary of everything you checked, and the condition of items you looked at. Doing this helps to reinforce the value of your service and how it’s ultimately saving the customer money by preventing problems.
Learn more about HVAC & Refrigeration to boost your career
Get informed about HVAC & Refrigeration basics, as well as important skills you need to succeed in the HVACR industry. Check out our helpful content here.
HVACR Career Connect NY was created to promote the exceptional quality-of-life benefits of a career in HVAC and Refrigeration service, and also to provide a clear path for getting started in the profession. In doing so, we serve as a resource for employers in the New York City metro area to find and hire smart and capable new technicians. We also serve as an educational resource to support business growth and to help service technicians succeed in their chosen profession.
Learn about technical careers in the HVAC & Refrigeration industry, how to get hired and tips to build your career.