HVAC Preventive Maintenance Checklist for Restaurants

The HVAC system plays a significant role in maintaining the quality of a restaurant.

While most restaurants invest heavily in installing an HVAC system, they often skip on basic, sometimes simple preventive maintenance.

This leads to unexpected expenses down the road. Therefore, commercial HVAC maintenance is an essential step that every restaurant must undertake.

If properly maintained, restaurants can reduce repair & maintenance (R&M) spending by as much as 18% annually.

For the average restaurant, this equates to about $5,000 in annual savings.

In addition, preventive maintenance helps restaurants provide the best environment for both customers and employees.

A well-functioning HVAC system helps in preventing food spoilage and boosts the productivity of the employees of the restaurant by ensuring a comfortable environment to work in.

HVAC Preventive Maintenance Checklist for Restaurants

Your restaurant’s heating and cooling system require maintenance service every 6 months (recommended).

You can follow the HVAC preventive maintenance checklist template to avoid a major breakdown.

1. Change the Air Filter Regularly (Every 3 months)

Monitoring air filters prevent degradation of air quality.

Checking filters regularly can save a considerable cost as the blockage can severely impact the heating and cooling system. It is advised to check the filters at 30 to 90 days manually, and if the filters are found dirty, they need to be replaced immediately. The only thing that needs to be taken care of is good filters to avoid strain on the equipment.

2. Visually Inspect the System (Monthly)

Cracks or breakage can be easily detected through visual inspection.

Do a visual inspection of the entire system and, if possible, look for any cracks or broken components. If there is some debris around the equipment, then there might be some problem, and it requires an immediate professional maintenance service.

3. Check & Clean Drain Lines (Every 1-2 months)

Prevent accumulation of dirt and debris in drains.

Over time, algae, leaves, dust, or mold usually start accumulating in the drainage system, blocking it. If checked and cleaned regularly, the clogging can be prevented by using bleach, but if it still does not work, professional maintenance is required.

4. Get Professional Maintenance (Every 6 months)

Checking the HVAC biannually by a professional is essential.

Depending on the usage and weather, check-ups are required. For instance, if the system is used both for cooling and heating, then the maintenance is to be done twice a year; otherwise, annual maintenance is sufficient.

5. Clean the Condenser (Every Month)

The efficiency of condensers must be maintained to reduce energy expenses.

Condensers are vital components of any HVAC unit and require simple cleaning regularly. A clean condenser ensures the efficient working of the system. Have a professional person clean the condenser initially and observe. You can see how simple cleaning can be done by your staff, which will go a long way in keeping your cooling system operating efficiently.

6. Keeping the Outdoor Unit Clear (Constantly)

Blockage of the Outdoor unit also affects indoor air quality.

Outdoor units are as important as indoor units and must work without blockage or clogging. So, keep a regular check to ensure no interruption in the passing of heating or cooling to maintain the temperature.

The above checklist can help make the system work longer with maximum efficiency, but when it comes to regular maintenance, you can rely on MaintainIQ to get complete peace of mind.

Why is HVAC maintenance critical?

Commercial HVAC maintenance comes with the following advantages:

1. Reduces Your Energy Bill

Keeping up with your HVAC maintenance keeps your energy bills low.

Regular HVAC maintenance helps keep your HVAC system operating efficiently, thereby keeping your energy bill low. Regular HVAC maintenance also prevents costly breakdowns, which can lead to lost sales due to temporarily shutting down your operations.

If the cooling and heating system is regularly maintained, it can reduce the chance of costly breakdowns, potentially save a restaurant up to 18% in reduced R&M expense, and lower energy bills by almost 30%.

2. Keeps Your Restaurant Safer

Reduce the chance of harmful carbon monoxide leaks.

It is of utmost priority for any restaurant to keep the environment safe for employees and customers. Timely HVAC maintenance can ensure the check on extreme temperatures by maintaining the optimum levels and keeping the diseases at bay.

If the heating and cooling system is not maintained, carbon monoxide levels may increase due to cracks in the system, which can be harmful and sometimes fatal. Hence, regular HVAC maintenance and carbon monoxide checks can keep a check on these types of problems.

3. Improves the Air Quality

Protects from air pollutants and the potential spread of diseases.

Airborne air pollutants are found to be more prevalent inside than outside the environment. Regular HVAC maintenance helps keep the air clean and safe for both customers and employees.

4. Helps the Environment

Cuts down energy consumption.

A well-functioning HVAC system helps in saving energy. When the health of the HVAC system starts degrading, energy consumption increases. This also leads to an increase in the energy bill of the restaurants. Therefore, preventive maintenance of the HVAC system enables the restaurant to restore its heating and cooling system capabilities, thereby conserving energy. Reduced energy consumption indirectly contributes to the environment.

5. Fewer Emergency Repairs

Prevent costly breakdowns.

When regular maintenance is done on your HVAC system, you can reduce the chance of an unexpected and inconvenient breakdown by as much as 70%. 

6. Ensure Healthy Air With Maintenance

Cleans the air to prevent the spread of airborne diseases.

After the pandemic outbreak, customers have become more aware of indoor air quality. The HVAC system of a restaurant is the main component that maintains the air quality. Through commercial HVAC maintenance, the restaurants can assure the customer about healthy and clean air quality within the restaurant.

7. Increase the Lifespan of your HVAC system

Enhances the longevity of the HVAC system by as much as 25%.

With consistent maintenance on your HVAC system, you can extend the life of the equipment by as much as 25%.

The Bottom Line

HVAC maintenance can be a bit intimidating at first. Those components and terms are hard to wrap your head around, but they’re necessary to understand if you want to keep your restaurant running smoothly and efficiently. HVAC maintenance is an essential part of running a restaurant, so don’t put it off any longer! Follow the HVAC preventative maintenance checklist to keep your restaurant in good shape. Check out the MaintainIQ app to make HVAC maintenance for your restaurant effortless.

Frequently Asked Questions