As an apartment building owner, you are responsible for keeping your air conditioning system running smoothly. You also want to keep costs low and ensure the system is safe for your tenants. Your AC unit is an essential part of your apartment building. Although it keeps the building cool and comfortable, it also influences the health and happiness of your tenants. If your AC goes out, you’ll have to spend money on repairs, which will take time away from your other responsibilities. Repairs to commercial HVAC systems can be costly too.
Here are some tips for saving money on AC repairs in your apartment building:
1. Self Maintenance
Keep your AC unit clean by cleaning it every year: You don’t need to hire someone for this job; you can do it yourself! Just ensure you use the right cleaning products and follow instructions carefully, so you don’t damage the unit or hurt yourself in the process.
Check the Filters Regularly: The [air filter](https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/clean-and-organize/how-to-clean-an-ac-filter#:~:text=Why Should You Clean Your Air Filter%3F 1,the faster it can be damaged or overheat.) cleans the air that comes into your building, so it’s important to check it once a month. If you notice it’s dirty or clogged, replace it with a new one. You can buy filters at most hardware stores.
Clear Out Debris: Leaves and other debris can gather outside the unit. This debris can lead to clogging up the AC unit.
Move Obstacles: It is common for people to decorate or move furniture that blocks the sight of HVAC vents. This puts a strain on the unit and blocks good air circulation. Check if any obstructions in front or behind the AC unit could block airflow.
Change Your HVAC Oil: Never use motor oil in your heating/cooling system because it will also damage the motor and may cause a fire hazard. Instead, always use the HVAC oil recommended by your manufacturer or an expert technician. Changing the HVAC oil should happen at least every three years or sooner if you notice a decrease in performance.
Inspect Your Air Conditioning Unit: Inspect the unit regularly for leaks or damage that you will need to call an HVAC professional to come to fix.
Check the System: Check the refrigerant charge in your system. The refrigerant is the gas that makes your AC run.
Evaluate Parts: Replace any parts that are worn out or broken.
Check the Thermostat: Ensure the thermostat is set to the right temperature. If it’s not, turn it up or down and see if that fixes any problem.
Check for Leaks: If there are any leaks in your system, they will cause water damage to the building, which means extra costs for repairs!
Check the Fan: Ensure that the fan is working properly by turning off the AC unit, unplugging it, and then rotating the fan blades manually.
If you own an apartment building, you likely have air conditioning units that need regular maintenance. If you’re looking to save money on AC repairs, there are several things you can do on your own. However, you should be mindful that your AC is a big part of your success in a business. A good HVAC company won’t lead you astray and will be able to get your AC running in tip-top shape!
You should check your business AC unit regularly. Regularly would be checking it at least twice per month and more often through our heat wave in Vegas. Checking your business AC unit will help prevent problems from occurring in the first place and allow you to catch issues before they become expensive repairs or replacements.
Within your self-maintenance checks, ensure the equipment is working properly by having it serviced by a professional every year. This way, if something does break down unexpectedly, it won’t cost as much money to fix. In addition, by having a trusted repairman come every year, they won’t have to spend as much time figuring out what’s wrong with it when he arrives at your building site yearly!
Most importantly, ensure everyone in your apartment building knows how important it is for them to keep their windows closed when they aren’t using them so that they don’t let too much hot air in from the environment outside.
You can save money on the building you own by learning how to do basic maintenance on your own.
2. Find the Right Professional
If you have an apartment building, you know how important it is to keep your tenants cool. That’s why finding the best AC repair business for your situation is important.
Get a quote from several contractors when you need AC repairs in your apartment building. Ask for recommendations from friends and family about good contractors who can save you money on repair work. If you cannot find a business that meets your needs through word-of-mouth, look online at local business directories or on Google. These resources will have companies listed in your area that specialize in HVAC repair and maintenance.
You can also ask other building owners or managers what companies they use for their buildings’ AC repairs. Then you can get an idea of what types of businesses are available within your community.
Here are some tips for finding the best AC business:
3. Stick with the Locals
The best AC business will be in your area and have a long track record of success.
They will also be able to address any additional needs or concerns that may come up.
Research: Look at reviews online to see what people say about their experiences with different companies.
Get Multiple Quotes: Always get more than one quote when hiring a new company. This gives you an idea about what other people are paying for similar services in your area before making any decisions.
Have an Annual Tune-Up: A yearly tune-up is essential to keep everything running smoothly, especially when temperatures start rising again! A professional technician will check all components of your unit and make any needed repairs before they become more expensive down the road.
If you do not know how to repair the AC unit, hire someone who does.
- Make sure they are licensed
- Be sure to get all necessary inspections and permits before moving forward with any repair work
Now that you have found the right HVAC company, schedule annual maintenance. This will help prevent any issues from developing in the future. The company will also inspect your AC for potential problems and alert you to any issues before they become serious.
The best way to save money on AC repairs in your apartment building is by preventing problems before they occur. If you don’t maintain the AC properly, there could be moisture buildup inside the unit, leading to mold growth or even structural damage to the building itself!
Having your scheduled annual maintenance with a professional AC company will ensure your system is in optimal working order. That way, it’s less likely that you’ll have to deal with an emergency repair or replacement.
4) Be Aware of How Much Energy Your AC Uses
When you’re checking utility bills for your building, look for ways to reduce energy usage heating/cooling.
You may have noticed your AC’s energy usage go up and down over the years. Even if you don’t know much about how your AC works, you can learn how to save money on AC repairs by keeping an eye on how much energy it uses.
How to do this?
There are a few ways:
- Check the monthly bill and look at the total amount of electricity used. This is your baseline for future months, so take note of it!
- Keep an eye on whether your electric bill goes up or down every month. If it drops, then you’re doing something right! If not, it could be time to call an HVAC professional for some help with AC repairs in the apartment building you own. If you notice that it’s using too much energy, there’s a chance that it’s not working as well as it should be. The more power an AC unit uses, the hotter your apartment building could get. This will cause the air conditioner to work harder to keep up with the temperature. Ultimately it will lead to costing more money in repairs over time.
5) Consider Replacing Your Older AC Unit
If you own an apartment building, it’s possible, depending on how old your equipment is, your HVAC system should be replaced. HVAC replacements usually happen every 15-20 years. The good news is that many highly modern, efficient systems could replace your old inefficient one. This change will make for a lot more savings in your pocket.
If your AC needs serious repairs, consider replacing it. A newer efficient AC can save you money every month on your utility bill. In addition, the replacement can contribute to prolonging the air conditioner’s life.
Older models can be more expensive to repair and may not provide energy efficiency, as well as newer models. A new system will help decrease utility costs while providing more comfort in your apartment building.
6) Being Preventative Can Save You Money
One of our favorite ways to save money on AC repairs is by encouraging our commercial customers to get an annual service contract. If you don’t have one, we strongly recommend getting one! It’s a great way to ensure your AC system will run smoothly throughout the year and won’t break down in the middle of summer when it’s most inconvenient.
An annual service contract will help you avoid problems by including regular maintenance checks, which can catch issues before they become issues. When trained technicians regularly check your AC system, they can identify small problems. These “small problems” may otherwise go unnoticed until they become big problems. Those big problems can cost you more than just a little bit of money! That’s why we always recommend getting an annual service contract if you’re going to own an apartment building with multiple units and HVAC systems that need to be maintained.
Another way we like to save money on AC repairs in the apartment building you own is by getting an extended warranty when buying new appliances. This can help save money on parts and labor costs down the road, especially if something goes wrong.
The cost of maintaining an apartment building can be substantial. We recommend you consider an air conditioning warranty to help you keep your costs in check.
A warranty will allow you to fix any problems with your air conditioning unit without paying for the repairs or even waiting for them to happen. Instead, the warranty will cover any issues that might arise with your AC unit during the warranty period. In addition, you’ll only have to pay a small fee for the service call, if any charge at all.
If you don’t want to pay for an entire warranty, there are also other ways to save money on AC repairs in your apartment building:
- Have regular maintenance on all your units by a professional company every year. This will ensure that any problems are caught as soon as possible before they get worse and more expensive to repair or replace.
- Ensure your AC unit(s) are energy efficient and don’t use too much electricity.
An AC warranty can help you save money on repairs and keep your tenants happy!
Here’s how:
- An AC warranty prevents damage from happening in the first place. A big part of why AC repairs are so expensive is because they happen so often. Unfortunately, AC repair companies will replace your entire system more often than fix it. An AC warranty can protect you against this kind of business deal by guaranteeing that your system will be fixed correctly. This means less money spent on replacements and less time spent without air conditioning!
- An AC warranty saves you money in labor costs. Labor accounts for about 40% of all AC repairs. For example, if your system needs a new compressor or condenser fan motor replaced, you will be charged for labor and parts.
