How to Create a HVAC Maintenance Routine
Do you have a HVAC maintenance routine in place? If not, it might be time to take action.
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system ensures that your Data Center has a suitable temperature and humidity level. Neglecting routine maintenance can lead to decreased efficiency, system failure, and costly downtime.
But it can also be difficult to figure out where to begin. What exactly do you need to check and incorporate into your routine?
A good place to start can the following areas:
Filters - HVAC filters are typically changed out every six months, or sooner if local conditions require the shorter cycle. The HVAC can only pass the volume of air that the filter can pass. A dirty filter will reduce airflow, cause the fan motor to work harder, and perhaps cause a hot spot to manifest itself somewhere on the data center floor.
Fan belts - HVAC fan belts with improper tension can result in slippage resulting in reduced airflow. This reduces the effective cooling reaching the floor. If the belt has too much tension it can begin to wear at the pulley that it rides in, or worse the bearings, on the cage fan shaft, can prematurely wear out. It also can wear off the belt material and leave black residue inside the HVAC.
Dry Coolers/Condensers - routine cleaning of the fins is necessary to maintain proper heat rejection. Having cleaned many of these in the past it always amazes me how much debris collects on the fins from the passing of air over time. Springtime after the mayflies emerged was always a problem in some locations. Occasionally, leaves get sucked in and create a reduction in airflow.
No matter where you start it’s important to make sure you have a good benchmark of your facility while you are checking your HVAC unit. We always recommend leaving an AUDIT-BUDDY out while performing these checks to make sure there aren’t any major fluctuations in temperature. By having the data, you’ll know that your environment is running safely.
About Purkay Labs
We believe that Data Center Operators deserve quick, reliable and independent data about their white space environment, without the burden of complicated permanent monitoring systems. We create simple, standalone, and cost-effective portable environmental monitoring systems so you can get data wherever and whenever you need it. Our flagship product- the AUDIT-BUDDY system- is the first multi-height portable environmental monitor that provides data to help manage your airflow, reduce Scope II emissions, increase energy efficiency & cooling optimization.
You can follow us @purkaylabs or visit our website: www.purkaylabs.com