HVAC maintenance: why your system needs a regular ‘MOT’ check – and how to do it

29/04/2025

Do you make this common HVAC maintenance mistake?

Most car owners use their vehicles every day. The physical act of getting into their car gives them a constant reminder to ensure it’s well maintained, so each year they book their MOT and do their best to keep it in serviceable condition.

But when it comes to HVAC systems, there’s often very little physical interaction with the machinery involved. So even though buildings rely on their HVAC systems every say of the year, it’s easy to forget that regular upkeep and servicing is necessary.

It’s time to move HVAC maintenance up your priority list

Planning and investing in a regular HVAC maintenance schedule offers four main benefits. It can:

• Avoid costly downtime, by preventing potential problems from developing rather than simply reacting to them when it’s too late.
• Maintain high performance levels and consequently guarantee better indoor air quality for longer.
• Decrease your company’s environmental footprint, by ensuring your system is running as efficiently as possible. This also has the benefit of reducing your overall energy costs.
• Extend the expected lifespan of your HVAC system and help you to avoid costly replacement programmes. Each year, you should aim to clean the outdoor units, check the electrical connections, and add the correct lubrication to mechanical components. By doing this, you’ll avoid early wear-and-tear, making the equipment last longer and instantly increasing the ROI of your investment.

Air Vent Technology’s recommended HVAC maintenance schedule

The engineers in Air Vent Technology’s SES department see the same issues arise over and over again. As a bare minimum, we recommend all site managers commit to the following maintenance schedule for their air handling units:

Quarterly:

• Inspect all filters. If they’re heavily soiled, replace them immediately.

Half-Yearly:

• Use a brush to carefully clean the fan impeller. This prevents undue dirt build-up and stops the impeller becoming unbalanced.
• Inspect the coils to ensure no foreign material has accumulated on the fans. If necessary, use a soft brush to clean the fins with a mild detergent solution. Remember: go gentle. Make sure you don’t damage the fins. If you’re regularly finding debris on the fins, check the filtration system.
• Clean and lubricate damper cogs, blades, and frames with a PTFE or silicone oil aerosol lubricant.

Yearly:

• Check the security and integrity of all fasteners. Pay particular attention to the impeller fixing on the fan shaft.
• Inspect the unit’s paint finish. If necessary, repaint with a suitable touch-up paint.
• Check anti-vibration mountings and flexible connections for signs of perishing or damage.

Alternatively, get the experts to help out

For a bespoke service plan designed specifically for your air handling units, email our SES department. We’ll be happy to help!