Preventive Maintenance = $avings!
Take care of your HVAC system, and it will take care of you.
Preventive maintenance agreements (PMAs) are agreements between you and your Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) quality contractor for scheduled inspections and maintenance of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

PMAs are generally scheduled for the spring and fall to maintain peak efficiency, help keep utility bills lower, extend the life of your HVAC system, and avert failures. Sometimes PMAs are referred to as “planned maintenance agreements,” “start and checks,” or “preventive service agreements.” Most agreements offered by ACCA contractors cover an inspection of the entire HVAC system and routine maintenance (such as replacing or cleaning filters).

Energy Consumption
The HVAC system is most likely the single biggest use of energy in your home. In commercial applications where refrigeration is applied (combined with the HVAC systems), huge amounts of energy are used in the building. In fact, over a third of the energy used in the United States is used to heat and cool buildings.

According to the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), up to 50% more energy can be saved with proper installation, sizing, and maintenance of commercial central air conditioning and heat pumps. Although the CEE study did not measure residential systems, a compelling case can be made that proper maintenance can save homeowners up to 50% as well.

Out of Sight, NOT Out of Mind
The cliché “out of sight, out of mind” is often the reason for neglected maintenance on your HVAC system. HVAC systems are usually installed where they aren’t seen, such as in a section of the basement, a closet, on rooftops, or in mechanical rooms, making them easy to ignore. The systems are simply taken for granted, until they fail. Decreased efficiency, utility overpayment, discomfort, loss of productivity, premature replacement, and higher repair costs are the result.

Getting your HVAC system checked twice annually is just as important as changing the oil in your car every 3,000 miles!

What should you expect your ACCA member service technician to do during a PMA visit?

• Check system functions, safety controls, and adjust the operating sequence where appropriate.
  
  
• Inspect electrical components and connections and repair/replace or tighten as required.
  
  
• Ensure proper airflow and change dirty air filters.
  
  
• Inspect pumps, lubricate and check flow rates where appropriate.
  
  
• Clean and lubricate motors as required.
  
  
• Examine belts, adjust and align as required.
  
  
• Inspect, clean and balance blowers as required.

Spring Visit (preparation for summer season)

The following list is our checklist of the services we provide on a maintenance call.

1. Hook up shop-vac to drain line outside, turn vacuum on and leave it running.  Open air handler inside and verify that vacuum is pulling water from the drain pan. If not, shake the drain line or tap with driver handle.  If shop-vac will not clear the drain line, use nitrogen.  Turn off the shop-vac, add water to pan and check drainage.  Vacuum out the drain pan when you are finished.
   
   
2. Check the evaporator coil for cleanliness.
   
   
3. Install algae tablets.
   
   
4. Oil blower motor if applicable. 
   
   
5. Check electrical connections, heat operation and measure amperage draw of motor and heater.
   
   
6. Clean or replace filters.
   
   
7. If a UV Light System is installed, check to make sure the bulbs are working. Verify how long system has been operational for bulb life.
   
   
8. Reinstall all air handler panels and make sure they fit properly.  Re-seal panel doors and properly seal any holes found in the cabinet to eliminate air leakage.
   
   
9. Check thermostat operation and cycle fan in both “Auto and On” position.  Leave it set the way you found it.
   
   
10. Verify proper system Freon charge using Manufacturers System Superheat Recommendations.
    
    
11. Check electrical connection and measure amperage draw of motor and compressor.
    
    
12. Oil condenser fan motor if applicable.
    
    
13. Apply service stickers to equipment service panels.
    
    
14. Make any recommendations to homeowner and Note them on your work order ticket.
    

Fall Visit (preparation for winter season)

• Clean and check the operation of the entire system as we did for the Spring Visit because the Season for Air Conditioning in Florida is an all year event..

Note: For heat pump applications, winter season inspections repeat a number of the summer procedures plus several additional checks. Maintaining semi-annual PMAs for heat pumps is also important.

What’s your bottom line?

Savings:  The MAP will typically more than pay for itself through higher operating efficiency of your equipment and the lower utility bills you get from Florida Power and Light.  MAP customers typically receive a discount on all parts and services performed during the entire year.

Peace of Mind: Preventive maintenance will mean fewer system failures and a longer life for your HVAC equipment.

Priority Service: Should a system failure occur during the heat of the summer or the cold of the winter, customers with “The MAP” generally receive priority service.

Continuity: We always try to assign technicians to specific customers. That way, you get to see and know the same service technician, and he or she becomes more familiar with you and your equipment.

© Air Conditioning Contractors of America Association, Inc., www.acca.org. Reprinted with permission.