It’s easy to neglect your packaged rooftop units. After all, you put them on the roof so you wouldn’t be able to see them. But a proper maintenance plan can keep your rooftop unit performing at peak efficiency and provide increased equipment longevity.

Most preventive maintenance activities for a rooftop fall into an annual or bi-annual bucket, allowing you to easily develop a maintenance plan for the same time frame every year. Packaged rooftop units only need a few things to keep them happy.

1. Pay attention to airflow. Clean the evaporator and condenser coils and air filters to ensure airflow is at full capacity. If evaporator airflow is restricted by 36%, the drop in capacity is 20%. If a condenser coil is restricted by 50%, capacity drops less, but energy consumption goes up. Either way, it could create uncomfortably warm temperatures.
2. Check the fluids. Check the refrigerant as needed and be sure there are no leaks.
3. Ensure electric excellence. You don’t want to have to go up on the roof during extreme weather to fix a loose wire you could have scheduled for a sunny day. Check all motors, sensors, wires and connections to be sure your electric components are in tip-top shape.
4. Mind the mechanicals. Make sure all the equipment can open, close and move the way it’s supposed to. Tighten loose bolts or screws and replace rusted ones. Check the fan and belts. Ensure proper tension and recheck it a couple of times within the first few days of operation to make sure it’s holding steady.

Keep your rooftop unit as good as new with a maintenance plan that you and your team can execute effectively and efficiently.