In our previous article, we discussed regular HVAC maintenance and why it’s important. HVAC systems are designed to provide high quality air for controlled indoor environments, and without regular maintenance on the system itself, this is not possible.

In this article, we discuss the four different phases of planned HVAC maintenance.

A comprehensive approach to planned HVAC maintenance will ensure that your system is always running optimally while extending its lifespan.

These are the four main phases of planned HVAC maintenance:

Corrective Maintenance

There are two types of corrective maintenance:

• Run-to-Failure maintenance – This involved conducting maintenance of a system once is has already broken down
• Scheduled maintenance – This is when routine maintenance unveils specific issues that require attention before it ceases to operate effectively

Corrective maintenance allows the technical team to identity potential issues before they become a major problem and will ultimately save serious costs involved with repairing or replacing a system or component which has already broken down.

Preventative Maintenance

Preventative HVAC maintenance is used in three different ways:

• Usage based maintenance – Carried out according to equipment usage benchmarks such as the number of production cycles or hours of operation. This depends on your system’s specifications
• Time based maintenance – Inspections are carried out at regular intervals
• Condition based maintenance – Stakeholders monitor the system on a regular basis to determine specific maintenance requirements

Preventative maintenance serves to avoid any major costs involved in repairing a failed system. It does so in the following ways:

• Reduces down-time
• Reduces the need to repair or replace expensive components or entire systems
• Reduces the risk of needing maintenance staff afterhours
• Extends the lifespan of the system

Risk-Based Maintenance

This phase involves identifying and analyzing the level of risk of system failure, whether it be minor or catastrophic.

Risk-based HVAC maintenance involves:

• Collecting and analyzing data which indicates the probability of future breakdowns
• Ranking the risk according by evaluating probability and consequence
• Developing smart strategies to circumvent unnecessary issues or breakdowns

Predictive Maintenance

This is done by using smart technology linked to HVAC systems which gather useful data for facility managers and maintenance staff to analyze remotely. This data is analyzed in a way that can offer insight into potential future system failures and issues.

The benefit of using this technology is that it “learns” the system’s components and everything about how they are supposed to function. An algorithm is developed and is then used to pick up anomalies as soon as they occur. In this way, issues are identified long before technical staff are able to see them, making this the best way to keep your system functioning optimally for as long as it is designed to.

Air Options – Customized HVAC Systems South Africa

At Air Options, we believe in the power of regular maintenance strategies for your HVAC system. If you need assistance with the best approach for HVAC maintenance, please feel free to contact us.

We design and install customized HVAC systems in South Africa for general, medical, and commercial industries.