As a commercial building owner or facility manager, it’s good to maintain a positive outlook, but it’s wise to prepare for the worst. While the possibility of a catastrophic HVAC system failure isn’t fun to think about, the wisest, most experienced owners and managers do so because it’s far better to be prepared than to get caught off guard when the system shuts down.
A solid emergency repair strategy will encompass what needs to be done, by whom, and in what order, in case an emergency HVAC repair becomes necessary. Predetermining these measures can significantly cut down on system downtime and the wasted time and money that goes with it. Depending on how your building is used, it can even make the difference between precious inventory and equipment surviving the situation or being lost.
As we’ll see in the next simple but vital 3-step plan, developing an emergency repair strategy - and making sure everyone who needs to know about it does - can be extremely valuable. Here’s how to do it:
Step One: Concentrate on safety first
The most important thing to consider in any emergency repair strategy is whether the situation poses a threat to anyone’s safety.
For example, is a temporary loss of adequate ventilation in your building going to lead to hazardous conditions because of fumes or pollutants that are normally filtered out of the breathable air? Or, will a change in the inside temperature cause chemicals or equipment to become unstable?
Obviously, every facility will be different, so there’s no way to put a blanket rule on this, but if there’s even the possibility that safety is a concern, your emergency repair strategy needs to address an evacuation plan, and a means of confirming that everyone has made it out.
Step Two: Can you handle the repair on your own?
There’s always a measure of risk involved with do-it-yourself repairs, but there definitely are some very minor issues that your maintenance staff may be able to fix quickly and simply. Your strategy needs to identify what those minor issues are, and name one or more individuals on staff who are capable of handling a blown fuse or a minor short circuit. If they can do so reliably and safely, that could be your quickest and most cost-effective repair option.
Even if a DIY repair is successful, though, we still recommend having your commercial HVAC maintenance partner come in as soon as possible to determine what caused issue in the first place. If you don’t, it’s likely to happen again. It’s also possible that today’s “minor issue” is actually just a symptom of a more serious problem that’s still progressing. If so, you’ll want to know about it right away so that professional commercial HVAC technicians can resolve it.
Step Three: Get professional help
In most cases, an HVAC issue that requires emergency repair is going to be more serious than a DIY repair team can handle.
When this is the case, it’s always best to contact the service provider that handles your HVAC maintenance and get them involved immediately. Reputable providers should offer 24/7 emergency service at a reasonable rate so you can get back up and running without destroying profitability.
If you’re currently working with Tolin Mechanical for planned maintenance, our skilled HVAC technicians can guarantee any emergency repairs that come up will be handled quickly and efficiently with a focus on minimizing downtime and maximizing value.
Following these three simple steps can help you put together an effective emergency HVAC repair strategy that can save you valuable time, effort, and money in the case of an unexpected shutdown. Would you like to learn more about handling emergency HVAC repairs? Click below to see how the Tolin team can help.
