Chiller maintenance is often overlooked; many of us never see the high efficiency chillers and HVAC systems that provide air conditioning and heating for our commercial buildings. The equipment is safely out of sight and often out of mind, stored in mechanical rooms, underground or on rooftops. High energy costs, lower performance and reliability and decreased equipment life are all signs of a poorly maintained chiller system.
Poorly maintained chillers can be very costly in cash, time and productivity terms. They carry a high first cost, are the single largest user of electricity in most buildings and are expensive to repair if not maintained correctly. That’s why proper operation and maintenance of commercial building chillers should be a high priority for all facilities manager.
Regular maintenance is vital for today’s high efficiency and standard chillers – major components, such as compressors, electrical and controls components, condensers, evaporators and also the chillers’ operating characteristics all need to be inspected on a regular basis. Identifying problems early avoids equipment damage and can reduce downtime by up to 40 per cent.
Research has shown that regular maintenance can reduce unexpected breakdowns by up to 75 per cent and energy consumption by up to 30 per cent. Chillers can consume a substantial amount of energy, so these reductions in energy can be significant.
Compared to a major chiller failure, a sound predictive and preventative maintenance package will save money over the life of the chiller and ensure longer chiller life. We recognise that, for optimum, trouble free operation, it is not only necessary for these machines to be commissioned, but also to be maintained on a regular basis by a chiller expert. Regular maintenance minimises the chances of business loss and user complaints due to breakdown, whilst maximising the efficiency of the chillers’ operation, resulting in lower energy costs.
Regular maintenance is vital, as it reduces energy consumption, minimises and in many cases, avoids refrigerant leakage and guarantees reliable running of your machines. Being more energy efficient means using less energy, which reduces your operating costs. You will be making a positive impact on the environment by cutting carbon emissions and helping combat climate change.
Poor operating practices can impact on both a chiller’s efficiency and its longevity, which can, in turn, lead to misdiagnosis of operational problem; it’s all too easy to blame the weather or the chiller itself when, in fact, the issue is the way in which the chiller is being run.
Contact Brewair Airconditioning Services today for a quote!
We service Melbourne and surrounding suburbs.
