Return to site

Tips for HVAC Efficiency

broken image

In the heat of the summer, there's no quicker way to receive a negative review than to slack on your air conditioning repair requests. Air conditioning has become so ubiquitous in this country that folks find anything above 75 degrees unbearable. Unfortunately, this quality becomes more and more difficult to strive towards as the temperatures outside skyrocket. Scott Safadi of Cal Bay Property Management recommends ensuring that your HVAC system is running as efficiently as possible to keep tenants cool and happy. Here are a few tips:

Inspect Your HVAC Regularly

Small problems can become big ones when left unattended. Perform regular visual inspections to ensure there is no rust, condensation, corrosion or leaks. Since leaky ducts indicate lower efficiency, you'll want to stop it as soon as you catch it. Well-cared for HVAC units can become damaged in the most unexpected ways: birds creating nests nearby or leaves blowing into the unit can cause serious damage.

Clean the HVAC System

Have an HVAC technician on hand to regularly clean your HVAC, too. Maintaining the evaporator coils, the drains and lines will help your system run more efficiently. You'll save yourself a headache too, since clogged water lines can result in floods inside the unit. A technician can spot potential trouble spots and make sure there are no leaks.

Get Inside

While you've got your HVAC tech on site, have them perform a thorough check of the electrical components of your system. Check the coolant levels at various times in the cycle and ensure that the compressor is running at peak efficiency. They should also double check the safety switches to ensure that it shuts down properly in case of a power outage.

Beyond Inspections

After your technician has left, your duties truly begin. Maintain your HVAC system by keeping the outdoor unit free of debris year round. Clogged up units don't work efficiently, so ensure that there is at least a 2 foot debris-free radius around the system. Replace your interior filter every 90 days, or talk with your tenants about having them take over this responsibility. Have a furnace humidifier? Make sure it's turned off during the hottest months of year.

These steps will ensure your apartment community runs as coolly and as efficiently as possible.

- Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management