Commercial HVAC Preventative Maintenance

How Much Does Commercial HVAC Preventive Maintenance Cost?

Maintenance costs vary based on your system size and complexity, but most businesses find it's dramatically cheaper than emergency repairs:

• Per-Visit Costs Run $200-$500: A single commercial maintenance visit typically falls in this range, depending on how many units you have and how much work they need. Small office with one or two units sits on the lower end, while larger buildings with multiple rooftop units cost more.
• Annual Contracts Range $500-$2,000 Per Year: Most businesses sign up for annual maintenance contracts that include twice-yearly service visits. This spreads the cost across the year and usually includes priority service and repair discounts that offset the contract price when you need repairs.
• System Size Drives Price: Larger systems with more tons of cooling capacity, multiple zones, or complex controls take more time to maintain properly. A 3-ton office unit costs less to service than a 15-ton rooftop unit simply because there's more equipment to inspect, clean, and test.
• Equipment Age & Condition Matter: Older systems that haven't been maintained regularly need more attention during the first few visits to catch up on neglected care. Well-maintained systems that stay on schedule require less work each visit, which keeps costs predictable and manageable year after year.
• Compare Against Repair & Replacement Costs: Emergency commercial repairs average $450-$1,000 per service call, not counting parts. System replacements start around $6,000 and go up from there. Spending $500-$2,000 annually on maintenance prevents most of those expensive surprises and extends equipment life by 5-10 years.

Preventative maintenance isn't an expense; it's an investment that pays for itself through lower energy bills and avoided repairs. Call 337-363-1866 for a maintenance quote.

How Often Should Commercial HVAC Systems Be Maintained?

The answer depends on your equipment and usage, but most commercial systems need attention more frequently than residential:

• Twice Yearly Is Standard: Most commercial buildings benefit from maintenance twice per year—spring service to prep AC for summer, fall service to prep heating for winter. This catches seasonal issues before peak demand when your system works hardest, and failures hurt your business most.
• High-Use Environments Need Quarterly Service: Restaurants with hot kitchens, manufacturing facilities with heat-generating equipment, or businesses running 24/7 operations put more stress on HVAC systems. Quarterly maintenance catches problems faster before they cascade into expensive failures that shut down operations during critical times.
• Equipment Age Affects Frequency: Systems over 10 years old benefit from more frequent checkups as components age and wear accelerates. Newer systems often run fine on twice-yearly service, while older equipment might need quarterly attention to stay reliable and avoid surprise breakdowns.
• Louisiana Climate Demands More Attention: Our extended cooling season means commercial AC systems run 8-9 months per year versus 3-4 months up north. Systems that work harder wear faster, accumulate more dirt, and need more frequent filter changes and coil cleaning to maintain efficiency and reliability.
• Monthly Filter Checks Are Essential: Even with professional maintenance, commercial systems need filter checks every 1-3 months, depending on your environment. Dusty warehouses or high-traffic retail spaces need monthly filter changes, while clean office environments might stretch to quarterly. Clogged filters kill efficiency and damage equipment.

We customize maintenance schedules based on your specific equipment and business needs rather than one-size-fits-all approaches. Call 337-363-1866 to discuss your schedule.

Commercial HVAC Maintenance FAQs

What's Included In A Commercial HVAC Maintenance Visit?

Professional commercial maintenance goes far beyond changing filters and calling it good. Here's what we actually do:

• Complete System Inspection: We inspect all major components, including compressors, motors, electrical connections, refrigerant lines, ductwork, controls, and thermostats. This catches worn parts, loose connections, and developing problems before they cause failures that shut down your system during peak business hours when you need it most.
• Thorough Cleaning: We clean condenser coils, evaporator coils, drain lines, and blower components that accumulate dirt and reduce efficiency. Louisiana's humid climate promotes algae growth in drain lines, and pollen accumulates on outdoor coils, so proper cleaning prevents clogs, water damage, and reduced cooling capacity that drives up energy bills.
• Lubrication & Adjustment: We lubricate motors and bearings, tighten electrical connections, check refrigerant levels, test safety controls, and calibrate thermostats. These adjustments keep everything running smoothly and prevent small issues from becoming expensive failures that require emergency repairs with premium pricing for after-hours or weekend service.
• Filter Replacement: We replace dirty filters with new ones properly sized for your system. Some businesses handle filter changes themselves between visits, while others prefer we handle everything. Either way, clean filters are essential for efficiency, air quality, and preventing equipment damage from restricted airflow.
• Performance Testing: We test airflow, measure temperature differentials, verify refrigerant pressures, and document system performance. This creates baseline data that helps us spot declining performance over time and identify problems developing before they cause complete failures that disrupt your business operations.

Regular professional maintenance addresses problems when they're still small and cheap to fix. Call 337-363-1866 to schedule service.

Does Preventive Maintenance Really Save Money For Businesses?

The numbers don't lie, and businesses on maintenance programs consistently spend less on HVAC than those who skip it:

• Prevents 85% Of Breakdowns: Industry data shows regular maintenance prevents the vast majority of commercial HVAC failures. Systems break down because of neglected maintenance, not because they're inherently unreliable. Catching worn belts, dirty coils, low refrigerant, and electrical issues during scheduled visits prevents catastrophic failures that shut down your business.
• Cuts Energy Bills 10-20%: Well-maintained systems run more efficiently and use less electricity to deliver the same cooling or heating. Dirty coils, clogged filters, and poorly adjusted controls waste energy. Department of Energy studies show businesses following maintenance best practices save 10-20% annually on energy costs.
• Extends Equipment Life 5-10 Years: Commercial HVAC systems typically last 10-15 years, but well-maintained equipment routinely reaches 15-20 years while neglected systems fail at 8-12 years. That difference represents tens of thousands in avoided replacement costs plus the disruption of installing new equipment.
• Reduces Emergency Repair Costs: Businesses on maintenance plans rarely call for emergency repairs because we catch problems during scheduled visits when repairs are planned and affordable. Emergency repairs cost more for labor, create business disruption, and often reveal additional damage from running with failing components.
• Maintains Manufacturer Warranties: Most commercial equipment warranties require documented annual maintenance. Skip maintenance, and you might void warranty coverage right when you need it for an expensive compressor or heat exchanger failure. Keeping maintenance records protects your warranty investment and provides documentation for insurance claims.

Maintenance pays for itself through lower energy bills alone, and avoided repairs are pure savings. Call 337-363-1866 for maintenance service.