Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Your air conditioning system is a must-have for those Australian climates that are experienced nationwide.
An efficient HVAC system is also vital for regulating the air quality of your work, business or storage facility.
Indoor air quality and ventilation, as well as keeping up with the ongoing needs of your cooling system are aspects of your business that may easily slip your mind – but maintenance of your HVAC system is at the forefront of our minds!
JKFM’s mission is to ensure that commercial clients across Australia all have safe, efficient and hygienic multi-site businesses.
Why You Need To Maintain Your HVAC System
The role of HVAC systems in maintaining the ideal temperature, air quality and overall cleanliness of a commercial environment cannot be underestimated.
Neglected HVAC units can become breeding grounds for dust, mould, bacteria and various indoor air contaminants .
Furthermore, employers, managers and officers Australia-wide have a responsibility to regularly service their workplace HVAC system in order to provide comfortable and safe air ventilation to all.
Benefits to this include:
A more hygienic workplace
A regularly maintained and well operating HVAC system has a direct impact on your workplace air quality and hygiene. The system constantly replaces the indoor air with outdoor fresh air, the outdoor air has to first flow through the system’s filters that have been designed to block contaminants, impurities and other harmful micro-organisms, while cool or heated fresh air comes into the building to maintain the perfect temperature for your staff and visitors.
Helps to prevent illness and disease
Research conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that indoor air can be 2-5 times more harmful to health than outdoor air [1]. Pollutants and allergens, such as dust and mould, that are regularly blocked off by your HVAC system ensure better air quality, which is especially helpful for those with allergies or respiratory conditions.
Higher energy efficiency
Consistent inspection and timely HVAC preventative maintenance can reduce your system’s risk of overexertion. This increased efficiency could potentially slash your energy consumption costs by as much as 30%! [3].
Safety and reliability
We’ve all been in an office on a very hot summer’s day when the aircon has not been operating efficiently – that can cause significant safety concerns for your staff.
With the damage caused by climate change, unfortunately, extreme temperatures are the new norm. This can place a significant strain on your business and compromise the health, wellbeing and productivity of your workers.
Putting off the preventative maintenance of your HVAC system is false economy and counter productive, it will result in higher energy consumption and cost as an infrequentlu maintained system will not operate efficiently, and it will fail you on the days you need it the most. On the contrary, an HVAC system that is frequently maintained in line with industry best practice standards, will operate at peak efficiency consistently, resulting in less energy consumption, lower operating costs, less harm to the environment, and increased reliability when you need it most.
Sustainability
A lot of HVAC asset owners are oblivious to the type of refrigerant gas their assets are using, there is still a significant number of air-conditioning units in Australia that utilise R22 (or HCFC-22) gas, R22 is very harmful to the ozone layer once released into the air.
Since 1 January 2020, the Australian Government severely restricted the amount of R22 that can be imported to the country (with manufacturing of the gas banned altogether in Australia) which has had a huge impact on the gas’ [8] cost and availability.
Although equipment that utilises R22 can still operate efficiently provided it is maintained regularly, the cost to repressurise a unit is significantly higher than units that use newer and more environmentally friendly refrigerant gasses.
For owners of multiple HVAC assets, it can be very time consuming to identify all units that utilise R22 refrigerant gas, an industry professional can assist in identifying all these assets and putting together a phase out plan that will see the cost effective and sustainable replacement of such assets to ensure your maintenance and operating costs are kept to a minimum while you update your portfolio to units that are more efficient and environmentally friendly at a pace that your business can sustain.
This is one small example of how an industry expert can provide you the necessary insight and assist you transition and maintain a more sustainable and energy efficient HVAC System.
Reduced risk of emergency repairs
HVAC units that are regularly maintained are far less likely to break down during extended periods of use, such as in summer.
By keeping your unit in prime condition, you ease the concern of potential malfunction precisely when you most need it.
The Life Cycle Of The HVAC System
Essentially, every HVAC system has a pre-determined life cycle. Regular maintenance and inspection can ensure that the end-of-life is reached, and that the system is performing as well as possible during its life cycle.
The refrigeration of a HVAC system is a crucial part of understanding the workings of your unit. This is governed by four main components relevant to the principles of thermodynamics:
- Compression - This forces refrigerant through the system and consumes the most power.
- Condensation - This involves cooling the refrigerant so it either turns from a gas into a liquid or condenses.
- Expansion - The device used here is responsible for quickly driving the pressure of the refrigerant down so it can boil/evaporate more easily.
- Evaporation - This cools the air going to a space by boiling the refrigerant flowing through it.
Knowing exactly when to replace your HVAC system means a lighter environmental footprint and less of a hole in your budget long-term.
Preventative maintenance can significantly prolong the life of your HVAC system, ensuring it functions efficiently and reliably – saving you buckets of money in the long run.
In addition to this, it is a wise idea to regularly monitor your HVAC system for any performance issues, unusual noises or unpleasant odours.
The standard for HVAC Maintenance (AS / NZS 3666:2011) advise large commercial systems to conduct HVAC maintenance on a monthly basis.
Investing in regular preventative maintenance can also find and correct potential issues before they arise and keeping an eye on your energy bills will confirm your system is functioning optimally.
Enhancing HVAC Longevity and Efficiency
The importance of regular maintenance in keeping HVAC systems running smoothly, aiming towards peak performance cannot be over-emphasised.
In order to prolong the life of your HVAC system, it is vital to conduct diligent maintenance and wait until it has reached the end of its life cycle to replace the unit, rather than purchasing and installing a brand new one at the first sign of reduced capacity.
This includes routinely checking your air filters each month and only changing them on advice from your HVAC specialist. Doing this can help to block out filthy contaminants in the office.
FAQ
In order to ensure your HVAC system remains operational, maintenance crews need to perform a series of tasks.
These include cleaning/replacing air filters, cleaning the coils for consistent temperature regulation and lubricating any gears/ belts that are causing friction.
Commercial HVAC systems should be maintained monthly, evaporative air-cooling equipment inspected quarterly and ductwork cleaned annually. AIRAH have more thorough information regarding frequency of maintenance of your HVAC system.
Neglected HVAC systems may need to be replaced before end-of-life as predicted by HVAC experts, whereas with regular maintenance, they will last to the end of their predicted life cycle
After the predicted end-of-life of the HVAC system, energy efficiency in the typical HVAC system begins to dwindle and repairs are required more frequently.
To make sure the system is staying up to date with sustainability measures and current best practices, ensure that the system is regularly inspected as this could lead to a system that has a smaller carbon footprint.
Commercial Facility Maintenance
A worthwhile investment
HVAC system maintenance can be viewed much like getting your car serviced regularly.
While it will cost you money upfront, the benefits of doing so will guarantee you more than earn that money back!
At JKFM, our commercial air conditioning maintenance team are firmly committed to:
- Ensuring you are complying with workplace health and safety standards
- Eliminating dangerous airborne diseases in your workplace
- Increasing productivity amongst your workers
- Optimising your system's energy efficiency
- Reducing your energy and repair costs
- Extending the lifespan of your unit.
JKFM provides undeniable expertise on HVAC systems and specialised annual certification services, along with a commitment to elevating workplace hygiene through expert HVAC asset management.
Ensuring Workplace Wellbeing
“…the person who designs and operates your building has a greater impact on your health than your doctor.” – Dr Joseph Allen, T.H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University [7]
This quote could not be more true when it comes to keeping up with the routine maintenance of your HVAC system.
A poorly-maintained air-conditioning system can spread airborne viruses and restrict fresh air flow, severely affecting everyone in the workplace by causing fatigue and low productivity.
JKFM has the tools, the expertise and the network to ensure your HVAC assets are maintained in line with AIRAH’s best practice standards.
Our goal is to develop and manage a facility that meets your needs and budget.
There Isn't A Facility In Australia We Can't Maintain
Businesses must prioritise HVAC maintenance for their ultimate benefit.
After all, it will cost a lot more to completely repair or replace a poorly-maintained HVAC system than having our professional technicians conduct regular inspections.
To ensure workplace hygiene and efficiency, have the HVAC experts at JKFM professionally maintain your workplace’s heating, ventilation and air conditioner.
We hire cleaners, trades, maintenance professionals and service providers in every corner of the country to ensure we can support you – no matter how remote your facility is.
Our network stretches to every corner of Australia, from the most remote locations to the heavily-populated capital cities.
With JKFM’s extensive experience, our expert, trustworthy team are confident they can assist you in the domain of HVAC asset maintenance.
Because we have the resources to make it happen and the same high quality of work right across Australia.
Get Started With A Free Consultation
We will meet you to determine what maintenance you need and the basis it’s required on, then provide you with a free quote.
Book a discovery call or view our full facilities management services.
Bibliography
- United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). Why Indoor Air Quality Is Important To Schools. https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/why-indoor-air-quality-important-schools
- United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). Do You Suspect Your Office Has An Indoor Air Problem? https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/inside-story-guide-indoor-air-quality#health-effects
- Sustainability Victoria. (2024). Reduce Heating, Ventilation And Air Conditioning (HVAC) Costs In Your Business. https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/energy-efficiency-and-reducing-emissions/in-a-business/plant-and-equipment-energy-efficiency/reduce-heating-ventilation-and-air-conditioning-hvac-costs-in-your-business
- Vakiloroaya et al. (2014). A Review Of Different Strategies For HVAC Energy Saving. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0196890413006584
- Australian Government, ABLIS. (2011). AS/ NZS 3666 Air-Handling And Water Systems Of Buildings – Western Australia
- Maksimavičiūtė, R. (2021). Indoor climate in relation to the maintenance of HVAC systems.
- Stenger, K. (2020). Designing Buildings for Health: A Q&A with Joseph Allen. https://behavioralscientist.org/designing-buildings-for-health-a-qa-with-joseph-allen/
- EPA. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-07/documents/phasing_out_hcfc_refrigerants_to_protect_the_ozone_layer.pdf
