With summertime and the hope of good weather on the horizon now is the prime opportunity to get those neglected air conditioning systems up to scratch.
Regular maintenance in accordance with UK standards and manufacturers’ guidelines will increase the life expectancy of your air conditioning systems, as well as improve the air quality within your office environment. Regular maintenance and inspections will ensure that HVAC units are running effectively which will aid in reducing energy consumption and therefore reduce usage costs.
All air conditioning systems with an effective rated output of more than 12kW must be regularly inspected by an energy assessor. The inspections must be no more than five years apart.
The key maintenance jobs required within your office space are regular cleaning (or replacement) and disinfection of filters to deter those germs from spreading around your office environment. As well as the cleaning and disinfection of the condensate trays, pumps and associated pipework in line with ACOP L8 (approved code of practice covering control of legionella bacteria in water systems).
The technical maintenance is generally carried out on the roof or service yard where you will find your condenser units/air handling units etc.
The checks carried out on this equipment are:
- general inspection of machinery
- refrigerant pressure
- checking for refrigerant leaks
- electrical inspection and recording of current being drawn by the compressor/motor
- crankcase heater functionality and condenser coil for deterioration
- leaks and cleanliness
Further checks may be required on the condenser fan operation balance and bearings, drive belts, fans and motors depending on the type of unit being serviced.
There are several tell-tale signs indicating your aircon service is due. A common sign is an underperforming unit, e.g. not cooling or heating as effectively as previous, or airflow is restricted. Another common sign would be unpleasant smells coming from the system. If any of these signs are apparent, it is important to get your units serviced.
Other issues with existing air conditioning systems can result from faulty installation, poor service procedures, and inadequate maintenance. Incorrect installation of a central air conditioner can result in leaky ducts impacting airflow. Many times, the refrigerant charge (the amount of refrigerant in the system) does not match the manufacturer’s specifications to include the length of pipe run added. If the correct refrigerant charging is not performed during installation, the performance and efficiency of the unit are impaired, impacting the life span of the equipment.
