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Managing a commercial building comes with its challenges. Between tenant comfort, rising energy costs, and complex equipment, it’s easy for heating and cooling issues to slip under the radar… until they become costly emergencies.
I’m Jake from Alpine HVAC, and over the years, I’ve worked with plenty of property managers who wish they’d caught problems sooner. From all of those problems we’ve solved together, I’d like to share five HVAC red flags you can’t ignore.
If tenants are complaining that some floors are too hot while others are freezing, it’s more than just a comfort issue: it’s a sign your system isn’t balanced correctly. To identify the problem, check your ventilation distribution and zoning controls. (Don’t know where to start? We can help.)
This red flag can be a symptom of a much larger issue. Uneven heating can be as simple of an issue as a quick duct repair – or, you could be dealing with failing pumps, or an improperly set up building automation system.
A big spike in your energy bills is obviously something you’d like to avoid. But it isn’t the worst thing to have happened – it might be a warning that there is a piece of equipment that you can save, with a proper response.
While regular inspections will catch these problems before they hit your energy bills, if you see a jump in what you’re paying, you can check a few places ahead of time. The first offender is checking for dirty filters, coils, and other unkempt equipment that might just need a clean in order to work properly again.
If you have any smart HVAC systems, check out the sensors and any associated reports for things that look out of the ordinary.
This red flag is one of the hardest to ignore: if your HVAC units are shutting down without warning, setting off alarms, or requiring emergency repairs, action is long overdue.
There is a reason that HVAC units display error codes. Every alarm, beep, soft reset, and error code has a reason, and it’s part of our job at Alpine HVAC to know exactly what those mean.
It’s also unlikely that you’re catching these HVAC breakdowns the first time they happen. Without 24/7 monitoring, your systems could be tripping alarms in the middle of the night or resetting quietly without anyone noticing – leaving problems undetected.
Learn more about our maintenance contracts to prevent surprises like these.
Your HVAC systems may make all sorts of noises, not just alarms beeping or ringing. Some of the sounds coming from your vents are normal, but others may mean that a repair is needed. Sounds like banging, rattling, or hissing could mean that parts are loose, motors are failing, refrigerants are leaking, and more. If your HVAC is making strange noises, you should call an HVAC technician right away to look into it.
Similarly, bad smells are a sign of poor ventilation, and may be caused by mould growth or similar air quality issues. Watch out for anything that smells musty, chemical-like, or rotten; if anything coming from your ducts and vents smells off, do not ignore it and have a professional HVAC technician investigate it right away.
Sometimes the clearest warning comes from the people who watch your HVAC for free every day: your tenants. While they are (most likely) not experienced in HVAC problems, they are present and able to notice changes that you might miss if you’re off-site.
If you’re receiving complaints about stuffy offices, cold classrooms, or inconsistent airflow in your buildings, your system may need serviced. Your tenant complaints are not going to catch every issue, but are a great pulse check for how things are feeling when you can’t be there yourself.
We help Ontario property managers stay ahead of problems at Alpine HVAC with:
Property managers can keep tenants happy and avoid surprises by checking on their properties regularly. Finding these red flags early is the best way to keep your business building comfortable, efficient, and cheap.
Are you ready to get ahead of the problem? Set up an inspection and find out more about how to keep your business property in good shape.
