Operations and maintenance
Keeping systems efficient and reliable after handover. 12 guides.
- ASHRAE Standard 180 inspection and maintenance
Learn how ASHRAE Standard 180 defines a minimum inspection and maintenance program for commercial HVAC, and how to apply its tables in a real building.
- Belt drives vs direct drives
Learn how belt drives and direct drives differ in energy use, maintenance and adjustability, and when converting a fan to direct drive makes sense.
- Chiller maintenance and oil analysis
Learn which maintenance tasks keep commercial chillers efficient and reliable, how to read operating logs and approach temperatures, and what oil analysis reveals.
- Coil cleaning and its energy impact
Learn how dirt on heating, cooling and condenser coils affects airflow, capacity and energy use, and how to decide when and how to clean them.
- Cooling tower maintenance and Legionella control
Learn how cooling tower maintenance, water treatment and a written water management plan reduce Legionella risk, and which Canadian and industry requirements apply.
- Filter change strategies
Learn when to change HVAC filters in commercial buildings, how to use pressure drop to decide, and how to balance filter cost against fan energy and air quality.
- HVAC troubleshooting: hot and cold complaints
Learn a step-by-step method for diagnosing hot and cold complaints in commercial buildings, and the most common causes at the zone, system and plant level.
- Operator training and O&M manuals
Learn what a good O&M manual and systems manual contain, how to plan effective operator training, and how to keep documentation useful after turnover.
- Planning equipment replacement and capital budgets
Learn how to build a multi-year HVAC capital plan, estimate remaining equipment life, prioritize replacements by risk, and avoid like-for-like replacement traps.
- Preventive maintenance programs for HVAC
Learn how to set up and run a preventive maintenance program for commercial HVAC systems, and how to balance time-based, condition-based and run-to-failure strategies.
- Seasonal changeover checklists
Learn what to check when switching commercial HVAC systems between heating and cooling seasons in Canada, with step-by-step spring and fall checklists.
- Vibration analysis for HVAC equipment
Learn how vibration measurement and spectrum analysis reveal developing faults in HVAC rotating equipment, which standards apply, and how to use the results in maintenance.