The main task of the ventilation system is to provide access and exhaust air, as well as its filtration and temperature control. To complete these tasks, it is necessary to install special equipment, as well as equip the blower system. This involves regular adjustments and routine inspections. Even if the room uses a natural air access system, periodic cleaning of the ducts may still be required.
Maintenance of air conditioning and ventilation is mandatory for both civil and industrial facilities. In this article we will discuss in detail in which cases this procedure is required, how it is carried out, and also talk about some of its features.
Reduced ventilation system efficiency
What factors may indicate that air conditioning and ventilation systems are required to be serviced?
The main features are:
- accumulation of condensation on the walls and mirrors in the bathroom;
- noticeable stagnation of air in residential premises;
- the spread of aromas from the kitchen to the living room.
Each of these signs indicates that the ventilation system does not fully ensure the flow of fresh air. In order to evaluate the traction in the duct, it is necessary to attach a sheet of paper to the ventilation grill. The operation of the system can be judged by the intensity of oscillations of the sheet. The stronger the sheet moves, the better the air exchange.
What is ventilation system maintenance necessary for?
Let's dwell on this in more detail. Services for the maintenance of ventilation and air conditioning systems are necessary to prevent such negative consequences as:
- blockage at certain intervals of the ventilation passage;
- equipment failure;
- depressurization of the duct;
- decreased equipment efficiency due to clogged filters and other technical components.
It is completely impossible to exclude the possibility of breakage, since the danger of equipment failure always exists. Regular maintenance of equipment reduces it to a minimum.
Such work is carried out 1-2 times a year, but to increase the efficiency of ventilation systems, it is worthwhile to carry out preventive maintenance and inspection once every 2-3 months. Installation and maintenance of air conditioning and ventilation systems must be carried out by qualified personnel only.
Tasks to be solved during the preventive examination
On this aspect it is worth dwelling in more detail. Self-installation and maintenance of air conditioning systems is acceptable if the ventilation does not use high-tech equipment, as well as a complex layout of the ventilation ducts. Maintenance will not cause any special problems, if at the design stage of a residential building access to the main components of the system is possible. If you have equipment that is simple in functionality, such as an exhaust filter or air inlet valves with a filter, you can clean it yourself.
At large production facilities and in civil premises, such as cafes and restaurants, as well as in monoblock installations in residential buildings, air conditioning system maintenance solves the following problems:
- Periodic inspection of all system components, including fasteners.
- Estimation of tightness of gaskets: avoids the penetration of contaminants into the room.
- Checking the condition of the nozzles and blades of the fan rotor.
- Assessment of the condition of filter pads. The number of jobs in this case will depend on the type of filter used. A complete system replacement option is possible.
- Checking the effectiveness of air purification.
- Performance assessment of all ventilation shutters and valves present in the system.
- Checking the functionality of sensors for monitoring indicators of the air environment, assessment of humidity and air temperature.
- Inspection of air ducts and check of fasteners of all suspended ventilation passages.
- Assessing the tightness of the system, inspecting the inner surface of the air ducts, external supervision, monitoring the condition of the welds along the entire length of the ventilation shafts.
- Maintenance of the supply and exhaust system: testing of the main automation systems and electrical circuits, voltage measurement in the main components of the system.
- Regular monitoring of compliance of cooling and heating of the air with the values recorded by the equipment.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the ventilation and air conditioning system
Each organization involved in checking ventilation independently determines the scope of work and the regulations. Air conditioning systems should only be serviced after you familiarize yourself with the list of services offered by a company.
So what do you need to know about this? Maintenance of air conditioning and ventilation involves a wide range of tasks. In addition to checking the operation of the equipment, it is also necessary to assess the condition of the air conditioners. Much in this case will depend on the type of system selected. When installing the combined version, when the channel air conditioner is mounted directly in the ventilation shaft, the amount of work will be much less than in the case of installing an autonomous split system.
In the latter case, it is necessary to separately maintain the air conditioning and exhaust ventilation channels. At the same time, the cost of work increases significantly. The price depends not only on the volume of work, but also on their complexity and productivity.
The need for disinfection
What is it for? The contract for the maintenance of the ventilation and air conditioning system may include not only adjustment and cleaning, but also the disinfection of individual components of the system. This is required in cases when favorable conditions for the appearance of fungus and mold appear in the system, for example, condensate regularly forms on the evaporator. Due to impurities settling on a damp surface, mold begins to form. That is why repair and maintenance of ventilation systems should be aimed not only at troubleshooting, but also at disinfection of devices.
What is maintenance
What work should an air conditioning service contract include? It can be:
- preventive monitoring according to plan;
- diagnostics and repair of equipment located inside the system;
- emergency service.
The contract may also stipulate the frequency of such work. It is installed depending on the following factors:
- type of air conditioning system;
- power;
- type of equipment used;
- system length and performance;
- functional purpose of the room.
It should be borne in mind that the process of servicing ventilation systems in a private house and in an apartment in a multi-story building varies significantly.
How is the air conditioning system checked? Operation and maintenance of the equipment must be carried out in strict accordance with the instructions. Air conditioning systems should be monitored more often than ventilation systems repair.
Air conditioning maintenance regulations
This aspect needs to be emphasized. So, what kind of work should an air conditioning maintenance fitter carry out? The list of services and the frequency of their manifestation is specified in the standard schedule of maintenance work. It is installed separately for each particular unit - a fan, air heater, filter elements, dampers, controllers, electrical modules.
After signing the contract for the maintenance of air conditioning systems (OKPD 2 code of these works), qualified specialists can begin to perform the work. Each procedure should be reflected in the register of maintenance and repair of the ventilation system. This is the main document that governs the work.
Daily work
The whole process of servicing air conditioning systems consists of several types of activities. In certain types of enterprises every day it is recommended to carry out daily activities such as equipment inspection, removal of the main indicators of the supply air masses on the air supply devices and the reflection of these data in a special journal. The system should also be checked for contamination and damage.
It is also recommended to monitor the temperature and pressure of the coolant. In the presence of more complex equipment, the electrical connection and the drainage system are monitored. The list of these works may be included in the contract for the maintenance of the ventilation and air conditioning system.
Weekly work
So what are they for? In addition to daily ventilation maintenance work, a weekly inspection may also be required. It includes the following complex of works:
- belt tension rating;
- fan operation control;
- inspection of filters for the presence of contaminants in them.
If deficiencies were identified in the course of the work, they are immediately eliminated. A note about them is also recorded in a special journal.
Monthly work
In addition to ongoing inspections for the maintenance of ventilation and air conditioning systems, once a month, quarterly and six months it also requires more serious procedures.
These include:
- Cleaning of air distribution grilles and anemostats.
- Assessment of the condition of the bearings, if necessary, their processing with lubricating compounds, broaching attachment points.
- Cleaning the internal chambers of the installation and other surfaces;
- Replacing gaskets.
- Cleaning the mechanisms of electric air valves.
- Filter replacement.
Air conditioning service
The range of technical control works depends on the equipment used. To carry out these works, special equipment for servicing air conditioning systems will already be required. Central units and supply and exhaust units are serviced once every six months.
The list of work on the control of air conditioners includes the following processes:
- Flushing the main systems: heat exchangers, chambers, supply and exhaust grilles, diffusers, drainage pipe, evaporator and pump. It is extremely difficult to independently wash the air conditioner. Better to entrust this work to professionals. The companies involved in the maintenance of industrial and domestic air conditioners have special installations that are used to flush these systems.
- Cleaning and replacing air filters.
- Measurement of pressure in the discharge and suction units of the equipment, assessment of pressure drops across the pump and evaporator.
- Refrigerant charge. These works can be done independently at home. The procedure begins with purging the air conditioning system with nitrogen. This is necessary in order to dry the entire structure. If the refrigerant is located in the outdoor unit, it is necessary to purge not with nitrogen, but with freon. Before refueling, be sure to check the strength and tightness of all connections between the indoor and outdoor units. It is better to use nitrogen pressure testing for this. It is recommended to refill the air conditioner every two years.
- Checking compressor operation.
- Treatment of the indoor unit with disinfectant compounds;
- Inspect the system for freon leaks.
Maintenance of the air conditioner can be carried out independently at home. However, in this case, the list of works will only include the cleaning of drainage pipes and filters from contamination. Other types of work, such as replacing filters, purging the system with nitrogen, checking the pressure and pressure testing, may only be carried out by qualified specialists.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed in detail why it is necessary to carry out maintenance of ventilation and air conditioning systems. In order to maintain a good microclimate in industrial and residential premises, it is necessary to ensure high-quality air exchange. With improper or ineffective operation of air conditioning and ventilation systems, this will not be achieved. Therefore, it is so important to regularly conduct routine inspection and maintenance of these systems.
Maintenance work is best left to professionals. They will be able to carry out all the necessary procedures using quality equipment. Upon completion of the work, an act of maintenance of ventilation and air conditioning systems will be drawn up, confirming their readiness for further work.