The Importance of HVAC Cleaning at Your Apartment Complex

Of all the expenses inherent with running a multi-family housing unit, regular HVAC cleaning should be at the top of the list. Not only will doing so help protect tenants health and safety, regular HVAC service can also save your company time and money in the long run.

Here are a few of the most important reasons HVAC cleaning should be a part of your apartment’s regular maintenance schedule.

Avoids Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Any unit that has combustible appliances (furnaces, gas stoves or water heaters, for example) can pose a carbon monoxide threat, the chances of which increases with the age of the appliance.

When a carbon monoxide leak occurs, be it due to irregular HVAC cleaning or improper appliance installation, residents can become ill and adopt flu-like symptoms including nausea, headaches and fatigue. Because these symptoms mirror the flu so closely, however, it can be hard to trace them back to the leak which may, in turn, allow it to go unaddressed and result in sometimes fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.

Improves Indoor Air Quality
It’s not just carbon monoxide that can make residents feel bad. Poor indoor air quality caused by dirty HVAC filters can also cause residents to feel sick, showing symptoms that mimic the common cold.

If apartment air filters are dirty or clogged, the air that moves past them can be contaminated with allergens. This can lead to itchy eyes, trouble breathing and sinus problems — issues that are exacerbated if the resident already has respiratory issues.

By regularly changing air filters throughout your apartment complex, residents will be more comfortable — both in health and temperature preferences — while you do your part to conserve energy.

Reduces Energy Consumption
If your apartment’s HVAC system is not kept properly cleaned, it can have a hard time working efficiently. This means that it will not be able to heat or cool units sufficiently, resulting in residents cranking up the heat or A/C to meet their needs.

By cleaning your HVAC system regularly, however, and by replacing filters often, you can save between five to 15 percent on your energy bill according to Energy.gov. Not only that, but cleaning HVAC filters regularly can prolong the lifespan of your whole system.

Increases the Lifespan of Your HVAC System
We already know that if your HVAC system has to work harder to produce the desired result; it will require more energy to do so. But this extra strain on the system can also cause major damage by causing various components to fail prematurely, whether it’s due to the strain on the system itself or the system’s inability to fully evaporate the liquid refrigerant.

Helps Maintain a Budget
By regularly scheduling HVAC cleaning and maintenance, you can predict expenditures and budget accordingly. In addition to helping you avoid unforeseen expenses, scheduled HVAC cleaning is a best management practice that your tenants will appreciate because it reduces surprises and late night HVAC emergencies.

There are a number of reasons you should proactively maintain your HVAC system. By keeping filters and ducts clean, your system will happier, healthier and last much longer.