Energy efficiency and HVAC system reliability remain top priorities for maintenance and engineering managers. Chillers are the single largest users of electricity in most institutional and commercial facilities, as well as the most expensive piece of equipment in HVAC systems. So they are natural targets for improvement efforts. While many managers look to chiller retrofits, system add-ons, or even replacements to improve efficiency, many overlook the single most important factor in determining both chiller efficiency and reliability: maintenance.
The lack of proper maintenance has a detrimental impact on both efficiency and reliability. It quickly decreases the service life of the chiller by 25-50 percent, and system reliability declines.
Facilities with new, high-efficiency chillers are at even greater risk. Advances in control systems, refrigerants, and chiller designs over the past 20 years have resulted in vast improvements and chiller efficiencies. But these improvements also have resulted in tighter operational tolerances, which have made regular and preventive maintenance more important than ever. Ignore maintenance on these units, and their benefits rapidly disappear.
An article in the July issue of Maintenance Solutions magazine examines some of the most important elements of chiller maintenance, from regular inspections and testing, to water treatment programs.
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