Author: MaintenX

Common HVAC Issues

While many HVAC problems can be prevented by cleaning coils and replacing filters on a regular basis, common HVAC problems can become a lot worse if not serviced when the warning signs present themselves. Below are some common HVAC problems and tips for keeping your air conditioning system working year-round.

Lack of Routine Maintenance

Regular maintenance by a licensed service contractor like MaintenX is a MUST if you want to keep your HVAC system at top performance. Protect your investment. If you fail to perform regular maintenance, you’re likely to run into some costly repairs down the road, increased energy costs, and poor system performance—not to mention the headache when you see the repair bill!

Dirty Filters

Replacing your filters regularly is one of the best things you can do to ensure a long and efficient life for your HVAC system. When your filters are dirty, this restricts airflow in the system, causing your unit to work harder—and more expensively—to circulate the air through your system. This strains your unit and will eventually cause comfort problems, as well. A dirty filter can also cause your HVAC unit to overheat and shut off intermittently.

By understanding where problems arise in your HVAC system, you can now take more preemptive actions to safeguard your air conditioning system and avoid costly repairs before they’re needed. Being proactive about your HVAC system’s needs can maximize efficiency and lower your energy costs.

Want to know more about HVAC maintenance? Call the experts at MaintenX today!

Commercial Property Maintenance: Key Areas to Focus on

Facilities of almost every type share one thing: they require routine maintenance. Below are some helpful tips on how to implement that.

Start with the Outside

If you can’t get your employees and customers in, you won’t bring profits in either. Repair or replace anything damaged immediately. Also be prepared to touch up the paint and landscaping as needed – your building should look nice even if it never sees a consumer.

Then Go Inside

Here as with your outdoor check-up, look for damage: anything that’s broken or that needs a touchup. Fix it! This includes things like:

  • Paint
  • Flooring
  • Furnishings
  • Light fixtures
  • Plumbing
  • Light switches and wiring

Don’t Forget the Utilities

HVAC units and water heaters should be regularly checked and maintained to ensure your facilities, employees, and customers are in a healthy and productive environment. Your facility should be relatively warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and your bathrooms should work properly and be cleaned on a strict schedule.

By properly maintaining your facility, you can ensure its physical and structural integrity while increasing productivity and alleviating costs. If any of this seems like too much to handle, or your space is in desperate need of maintenance, give MaintenX a call today.

Our team of professional dispatchers, operations personnel, and technicians will work untiringly to make sure your facility has a competitive edge.

Whether you need scheduled preventive maintenance or emergency services due to unforeseen circumstances, our expert technicians and friendly customer service representatives are here to help.

HVAC Maintenance Checklist

It’s important to maintain your equipment to prevent problems and their attendant high repair costs. Keep your climate control system at top performance by having a contractor perform yearly check-ups. It’s best to check your HVAC system in the spring and in the fall. To help you remember, you could plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.

Outdoor Maintenance

Some helpful outdoor maintenance tips:

  • Clean off any built-up dirt, leaves, and debris outside the outdoor unit
  • Inspect the drain pan for blocked openings
  • Inspect the coil for any holes or leaks
  • Inspect the fan blades while they’re moving as well as stationary to check for wear and tear
  • Inspect and clean the control box

Indoor Maintenance

Some suggestions for indoor maintenance:

  • Clean or replace filters regularly
  • Check for leaks in the ductwork
  • Check for unusual odors when your system starts
  • Listen for unusual noises when your system starts or stops
  • Inspect your control box’s wiring and connections

HVAC Service You Trust

Now that you know what has to be done, the next step is finding the right service provider. When you call an HVAC service company about preventive maintenance, an inspector will visit you to take an inventory of your equipment and the condition of your system.

During this inspection, you can expect a qualified professional to ask for information about your system.

MaintenX has been in the HVAC business for many years, and we’ve served thousands of happy customers. If you have questions about HVAC maintenance, call us today!

Why You Need a Preventative Maintenance Schedule

If you depend exclusively on reactive maintenance, your company is wasting a lot of money.

The good news is that developing a preventive maintenance program isn’t very difficult. Follow these tips to preventative maintenance success:

Suitable Applications for Preventative Maintenance

Assets suitable for preventive maintenance include those that:

  • Have a critical operational function
  • Run constantly
  • Operate out of sight or away from where most employees work

Draw a Map!

An architectural drawing is a rendering, plan, and/or elevated view of a building or structure. Using these drawings make it possible to view your structures and equipment visually rather than in a spreadsheet. Knowing the locations of critical equipment can help you plan preventive maintenance more efficiently.

Gather Up Maintenance Manuals and Serial Numbers

A vital part of maintenance schedules is becoming familiar with your equipment using the manuals which detail their recommended maintenance schedules and troubleshooting information. Serial numbers ensure that you order the correct parts when replacements are required.

Equipment Repair Logs

Getting information about your asset use and repair histories can be helpful. This added information is a great way to fine-tune your preventive maintenance schedule. Reviewing your repair history can also give you valuable information about the effectiveness of your assets.

By using and modifying their preventive maintenance schedule as needed, businesses can increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Want to know more about preventative maintenance? Call the experts at MaintenX!

Plumbing Issues You Could Have Prevented

Facilities often have much bigger plumbing systems than homes do. This unfortunately makes them more vulnerable to plumbing issues. Read on to find out about some of the most common plumbing issues your facility might face and how to prevent them in the future.

Clogs

A facility’s kitchen drain is often where you’ll find a clog. To avoid these, post signs informing staff of certain items that should never be poured down the sink. These include things like:

  • Grease
  • Fats
  • Starches (pasta, rice, and potatoes)
  • Stringy items like celery or corn husks
  • Coffee grounds

Water Temperature

If your water doesn’t get hot enough, your water heater may be to blame. Just like the water heater in your home, commercial water heaters need maintenance and yours may need servicing.

Clogged Toilets

Just like kitchen drains, toilets can get clogged if some items are flushed. Avoid this by informing your staff and posting signs in the appropriate places that these things should never be flushed:

  • Feminine products
  • “Flushable” wipes
  • Dental floss
  • Bandages
  • Medications
  • Cat litter
  • Hair

Most toilet clogs can be solved with a simple plunger, but others may necessitate a call to a plumber.

Leaks

Damaged seals, rusty washers, or worn out O-rings are often the culprit here. Make sure to routinely check for leaks in bathrooms, kitchens, and anywhere else that’s hooked up to your water system.

If you’d like to know more about solving plumbing issues in your facility, give the experts at MaintenX a call today!

Tips to Make Sure Your Parking Lot Doesn’t Flood

Flooding is a dangerous threat to drivers and can also be destructive to your parking lot.

One essential aspect of parking lot maintenance that oftentimes goes unnoticed is its drainage, but it can quickly become the central focus when it rains heavily. The damage isn’t just short-term; even though your parking lot may appear to be in good condition, the water filling it can start to eat away at the sealcoat. This can, over time, let water seep into the pavement itself and start to oxidize and weaken the pavement.

Drainage System

Drainage systems can be constructed beneath your parking lot. Water runs into the subgrade and then drains to a lower gradient, preventing potential flooding before it happens. It’s much easier to prevent structural damage than it is to repair it.

Angled Asphalt

One of the smartest ways to keep water from flooding your parking lot is pouring the asphalt at an angle. By creating a gradient, water won’t pool on your parking lot in the first place.

Need help with preventing your parking lot from flooding?  MaintenX is here to help.

If you want make sure your parking lot has the longest life possible while ensuring the safety of the people who use your it, contact MaintenX today!

What to Do if Your Facility is Damaged by the Weather

Not only can a weather event destroy your property and damage equipment, but it can also cause injury and even death. Having the proper plans and equipment is essential to ensure your facility and employees aren’t in harm’s way.

Prepare Your Staff

One of the best ways to prepare for weather events is to talk to your employees. Add a weather emergency preparedness discussion to the company schedule. Many people in your facility can no doubt lead a weather event preparedness discussion. Get the conversation started!

Research
To protect your buildings from danger, you have to know the risks. Inform yourself and staff about the hazards that are most likely to affect your area. The more you know about severe weather, the more prepared you will be to act in an emergency.

Facility Damage

The most important factor when faced with water damage is safety. Have contact lists of appropriate local resources posted in common areas of the facility, including fire and police, mechanical contractors, insurance, utility, and restoration companies, and alert the proper authorities immediately.

Whatever the source, a natural disaster can wreak havoc on your facility, endangering your most important assets. Having a disaster plan in place and familiarity with your insurance policies is vital to long-term success. Taking the time to review these best practices will help ensure swift action when needed to get your facility back in good working order again.

Tips for Preparing for Hurricanes

Hurricanes can be life-threatening, causing serious hazards like floods, storm surges, high winds and even tornadoes. Read on to learn what to do to keep safe.

Prepare NOW

To ensure you are hurricane-ready:

  • Know your area’s risk of hurricanes.
  • Sign up for your community’s weather warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.
  • If you are at risk for floods, watch for warning signs such as heavy rain.
  • Based on your location and community plans, make your own plans for evacuation or sheltering in place.
  • Become familiar with your evacuation zone, evacuation route, and local shelter locations.
  • Gather needed supplies for at least three days. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Don’t forget the needs of pets.

Supplies Kit

Assemble a disaster supplies kit and think about possible storage locations for different circumstances.

Hurricane Supplies Kit

A basic emergency supply kit should include the following items:

  • Water: one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food:  at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
  • Flashlight
  • First aid kit
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Manual can opener for food
  • Local maps
  • Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Want to know more about hurricane preparedness? Contact MaintenX.

Areas that Should be Preparing for Hurricanes

Depending on where you live, your likelihood of being affected by hurricanes could be zero, but for those living in the southeast or on the east or gulf coasts, these awful storms are a stark reality.

What Areas are Affected?

A lot of people assume hurricanes only affect places like the Gulf of Mexico, but hurricanes can go as far north as Maine. In recent years, Americans in the Mid-Atlantic and New England have seen firsthand the devastation that hurricanes like Sandy cause. Katrina caused terrible damage, not only in Louisiana, but in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. Michael ravaged the Florida panhandle, but caused damage as far inland as Georgia.

Vulnerable U.S. states include:

Virginia

Virginia is quite a bit farther north than most states vulnerable to hurricanes. In fact, from 1851 until 2004, twelve hurricanes struck Virginia. One of those hurricanes was a Category 3—the most powerful and most damaging.

New York

Another northern state not normally known for its hurricane vulnerability, New York has been through a total of twelve hurricanes. Five of those were classified a Category 3. When New York City is struck with a hurricane, the damage can be staggering.

When Do They Occur?

The hurricane season is from June 1st and lasts until November 30th. August through September tends to have the most hurricanes. If you’re traveling or moving to a new locale, it’s a good idea to know where hurricanes are most likely to hit and prepare accordingly. To learn more about hurricane preparedness, contact MaintenX.

How to Tell if Your Facility is Vulnerable to Hurricanes

A large part of the United States is in the potential path of hurricanes. That is why facility managers throughout the country should be informed about the potential risks and prepare themselves.

One of the best things you can do is prepare in advance for hurricane risks and to act on those plans when alerted by emergency officials.

What are Hurricanes?

Hurricanes are huge storm systems that form over ocean waters and then move toward land. Possible dangers from hurricanes include:

  • Powerful winds
  • Heavy rainfall
  • Storm surges
  • Coastal and inland flooding
  • Rip currents
  • Tornadoes
  • Landslides

Make an Evacuation Plan

The chief reason people have to evacuate during hurricanes is storm surge, a rise in water generated by a storm’s winds that can reach heights well over 20 feet and span hundreds of miles, according to the National Hurricane Center.

To protect your structures and staff, you should find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation area. Local governments provide the public with information about evacuation areas and evacuation plans. Review this information in advance.

Assess Your Readiness

To properly assess your hurricane readiness, ask yourself these questions:

Can your organization operate without any of the following: computers, copier, fax machine, files, inventory, or special equipment?

Can your organization operate without any of the following: gas, power, water, internet, or telecommunications?

To learn more about your facility’s potential hurricane risk, contact MaintenX.