Whether you own or lease your commercial building, you need to take it upon yourself to ensure your cooling and heating system is working properly. Not only do your customers, clients and employees depend on their environment remaining comfortable all year long, but so does the condition of the interior of your building and its contents—especially perishable products like food. Regular maintenance can reduce energy bills and usage, while also saving you from having to pay for expensive system repairs. So, whether you have an old building or a newer structure, there are important things that should be done to your heating system in preparation for cooler temperatures.

With that in mind, here are five crucial maintenance items to get your commercial HVAC in Eugene, OR ready for the cold winter months:

• Check the building’s thermostat: First, there are a few signs that point to the need for a new thermostat device. If it’s an older model, it may not function well with your heating system; should the temperature reading displayed on the thermostat screen not match the indoor temperature, there could be a mechanical issue. Because an accurate thermostat is truly a money and energy saver, take a close look at it at the start of each new season.
• Change all system filters: A big part of regular commercial HVAC maintenance is changing the filters—how often you do so will depend on the size of your building, amount of use and indoor air quality. Although clean heater system air filters are necessary for proper airflow throughout your building, you must also take into account the quality of the filters. Can they remove air pollutants like mold spores, pollen and dust? How long will they last? If filters are damaged or dirty, they are liable to cause the heating system to overwork.
• Clean the ductwork: When the HVAC is on, warm or cool air is transported through the building’s ductwork. But over time, ducts collect dirt, dust and other airborne particles inside them that can get dispersed to rooms within your building. Regular duct inspections and cleanings can preserve the indoor air quality, as well as see to it that ducts are free of damage.
• Inspect for leaks: There’s more than one way for air leaks to appear. Leaks can be due to the age of the building, holes in ductwork or busted weather seals around doors and windows. Fixing air leak issues makes your building more comfortable to be in, and the heating unit will run more efficiently.
• Get a furnace tune-up: Since you want you to use your heating system come winter, it’s important that you have your furnace inspected in advance of the cooler months. If there are problems, then they can be dealt with early. Also, kick on the building’s heater for a test run—listen for strange sounds, smell for odd odors and make sure it’s actually heating up.

The key to maintaining a comfortable indoor environment this winter is to ensure your heating system is up to par. To schedule an appointment to have your commercial HVAC in Eugene, OR looked at, or for system and equipment repairs, don’t hesitate to contact the team at American Refrigeration Inc. today.