Commercial HVAC Coil Cleaning: Why it Should Be A Part Of Your Preventative Maintenance Program
Commercial HVAC Coil Cleaning: Why it Should Be A Part Of Your Preventative Maintenance Program

Wrapping Your Head Around HVAC Coils

Risks of Not Cleaning Commercial HVAC Coils
Increased Energy Costs
As dirt and debris collect on a unit’s coils it becomes increasingly harder for the designed heat transfer to occur. This ultimately means you’ll be paying for this loss of efficiency through your energy bills. In fact, studies show a failure to maintain clean coils can cause your HVAC system to utilize 20-50% more energy. To help prove the point, let’s turn to an ASHRAE coil cleaning study from 2005. In it, they performed coil cleaning procedures on 2 of a building’s 4 commercial HVAC units and compared the energy usage results. They found just one of the cleaned units dropped energy consumption to the tune of $40,000 in one year alone!Reduction of Equipment Lifespan
Due to the efficiency reduction with respect to heat transfer, the unit’s compressor will need to work harder and longer in an attempt to reach the same level of cooling you expect. As much as 30% of the system’s cooling capacity can be lost when this occurs and with the extra load placed on your compressor, there is a higher likelihood it may fail. With the compressor being the lifeblood of a unit, it can be very expensive to fix. Depending on the age of the unit, a failed compressor may mean you have to replace the entire piece of equipment.Poor Air Quality
Dirty coils are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria and mold. Remember, the air that passes through the evaporator coil has already been filtered and does not go through another filtering process before entering your building. Therefore, when the evaporator coils are neglected for a long period of time, the bacteria that builds may get dispersed throughout your space. This reduction in air quality could lead to respiratory issues for your employees, customers, and occupants.What To Consider
There are a number of different methods and schools of thought within the coil cleaning domain and you should do your due diligence and research around each approach. No matter what, there are three things to consider when developing a coil cleaning plan you intend on inserting into your PM program:- Cadence – How often should you perform the cleaning?
- Safety – Power washing equipment and chemicals can be dangerous and potentially harmful to the environment and the technicians using them.
- Process – Coils and fins can be very delicate. Improper cleaning techniques can cause damage meaning more money out of your pocket in repairs.