As commercial building design evolves, so does the concept of a healthy building. Today, healthy buildings are more than just energy efficient beautiful spaces. Supported by well-maintained HVAC systems, healthy buildings are spaces with optimal indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and occupant well-being.
"While energy efficiencies and savings remain a top priority, closer attention to ventilation rates, indoor air quality, and humidity levels within the building infrastructure are proving to be equally important," shared Jeremy Crowley, Account Executive.
Maintaining a healthy building requires a strategic approach to HVAC preventative maintenance. It is more than fixing broken parts — it means supporting the long-term health of your building and everyone inside it.
The role of HVAC systems in healthy buildings
Neglected HVAC systems can lead to common HVAC issues like poor airflow, dirty filters, malfunctioning components, and inconsistent temperatures which can lead to:
- Reduced air quality
- Sick Building Syndrome
- Premature equipment breakdowns
- Higher energy consumption
"When we talk about healthy buildings, we focus on air quality, thermal comfort, and ventilation. To ensure the health of your building, a robust maintenance program is required. It reduces repairs and controls operating costs — often paying for itself by avoiding energy waste," Joe Baguio, Sales Manager, said.
Why HVAC preventative maintenance matters
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, routine HVAC maintenance can reduce equipment failures up to 50 percent and extend system lifespan by 5 to 10 years. While routine maintenance like filter changes and coil cleaning matter, not all maintenance programs are created equal.
Tyler Meinecke, Service Account Manager, shared, "In most cases, it's not the equipment that's failing — it's the absence of a consistent preventative maintenance plan."
A tailored, documented preventative maintenance plan can:
- Lower energy costs
- Reduce emergency repairs
- Extend equipment life
- Improve overall building health
"The preventative maintenance plan should be documented for the client, because even if it's clear today, after years or after staff turnover, the details can get lost, and the cycle of confusion begins all over again," Tyler added.
Before and after preventative maintenance on an AAON air handling unit.
Before and after cleaning of an evaporator coil.
Selecting the right HVAC service partner
The right service partner helps you manage maintenance on both a budget and operational level.
When looking for an HVAC service partner, ask:
- What are your owning and operating costs?
- Are you tracking HVAC performance?
- Are lifecycle goals and efficiency benchmarks in place?
- Are you meeting your equipment lifecycle goals?
- Are you paying too much in utilities?
- Are you promoting a healthy building?
"Having answers to these questions will put you on the path to future success. By not overlooking maintenance as a service due to costs, there can be a lot of value in utilizing a data-driven approach to maintenance," Jeremy shared.
Work with a partner who provides insight, clarity, and commitment to your facility's success.
For more information on our mechanical services, click here.
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As Senior Content Marketing Strategist, Lindsay Janssen manages our content lifecycle. From ideation, creation, and editing through distribution, measurement, and maintenance, and creating a content strategy, she develops new and innovative ideas for our digital marketing channels.
