Maintaining a building in serviceable condition requires investment of time, money and efforts.
Regular building maintenance can prevent damage or at least restrict it and avoid any kind of mishaps.
Preventive maintenance involves fixing minor issues before they lead to major ones.
Preventive maintenance can result in a considerable amount of savings.
The benefits of preventive building maintenance include reduction in equipment replacement and corrective maintenance costs, repair expenses, energy bills and building life cycle costs.
Here are some of the areas that require your regular attention.
Maintenance of Air System Inspection of air system involves checking air filter housing, air filter, operation of control system, box actuator, integrity of all equipment panels, wall thermostat function, and damper and heating or cooling coil operation.
If any issues are detected during inspection, the relevant part should be repaired or replaced.
Fan blades may have to be cleaned.
If biological growth is observed in moisture accumulation areas, the areas should be cleaned and disinfected.
Boiler Maintenance Boiler inspection is an important part of building maintenance.
Some of the procedures involved can only be performed by skilled tradesmen, but you should be able to identify when expert help is required.
Different components of a boiler need to be inspected at varying intervals.
Annual boiler maintenance involves inspection of control box, heat exchange surfaces, damper operation, combustion chamber flue and burner, and motor contractor.
Dirt and debris should be removed.
You also need to look out for corrosion or degradation and carry out repairs or replacements as required.
Controls, pumps and steam traps should be checked on a semi annual basis.
Quarterly boiler maintenance should include drain valve and fuel pump checks, and system water chemical testing.
Ideally, chemical testing and fuel filter inspection should be performed every month.
Maintenance of Pumps Both chilled and hot water circulating pumps require periodic maintenance.
The maintenance should be carried out quarterly, semi annually and annually.
In annual checks, motor contactor and control box should be inspected, cleaned of debris and dirt, and repaired as required.
Flow should be checked and adjusted.
The drive wear, bearing and coupling seating, alignment, and operation should also be checked.
Semi annual maintenance should include inspection of pumps and electrical elements, control system and variable frequency dive.
Proper operation should be ensured with adjustments, repairs or replacements.
Pump strainer cleaning and visual inspection of pump should be carried out on a quarterly basis.