Preparing Site Reports and Documentations: Chapter 4
Maintaining a Checklist
In this module, we will discuss checklists for different types of reports. We will also compare residential and commercial HVAC system checklist. Skip to quiz!
Checklist for HVAC Reports
We usually follow a general checklist for most problems during routine maintenance, installation, and testing. Most of the manufacturers have their inspection methods and checklists.
No matter what make or model of HVAC system we have, the common inspection checklist includes:
Run a thermostat test,
Inspect air filters,
Evaluate proper airflow,
Assess equipment condition, and
Check refrigerant levels
Almost all types of installation reports have the following types of checklist:
Pre-functional checklist, and
Startup checklist
Let’s discuss what is included in these checklists.
Pre-functional checklists are necessary to ensure that the equipment and systems are operational. Each piece of equipment must receive a complete pre-functional checkout before being used in an HVAC system.
The pre-functional check for commissioning a system is done four weeks before startup. The subcontractors or vendors schedule this startup and checkout.
Recall that the commissioning report validates the following parameters:
Physical installation of the system,
Mechanical service connections,
Electrical service connections, and
Control systems
The checklist to validate the physical installation of an AHU includes:
Inspecting mounting, isolators, filters,
Cleaning plenums, ducts, coils,
Testing fire dampers,
Checking alignment and belt tension,
Checking if fans rotate freely, and
All dampers are opening properly
The checklist to validate mechanical service connections of an AHU includes:
Coil piping and valves installed and tested, and
Condensate drains are clear.
The checklist to validate electrical service connections of an AHU includes:
Checking electrical connections completed,
Checking if disconnect switch is installed, and
Checking if overload heaters are in place.
The checklist to validate control systems of an AHU includes:
Checking if safety controls are operational,
Checking control systems such as BMS are operational, and
Checking if all the controls are ready to start and run
After pre functional inspection, we perform a startup inspection of an AHU. Startup inspection checklist includes:
Checking whether air leakage is within acceptable limits,
Checking whether vibration and noise level are acceptable,
Actual motor amps and voltage match with rated amps, and
Fan rotation is correct
Much like commissioning, the test and balance procedure has pre-balance equipment and system check. Pre-balance equipment check procedure includes:
Check fan housings, coils, louvers to ensure they are clean, and
Check adjustment of vibration eliminators
Pre-balance equipment check procedure includes:
Examine drives for proper belt tension and alignment.
Checking the fan and motor lubrication.
Checking automatic dampers for proper operation and position.
Checking fan for proper rotation.
Pre-balance system check procedure includes:
Check for installation of all required balance dampers.
Turn off the air handler unit (AHU).
Set all system dampers in their open position. This includes all volume dampers, fire dampers, and outlet dampers.
Pre-balance system check procedure includes:
Turn on the AHU.
Check for air leaks at the fan and the system ductwork.
Position all doors and windows to their normal position.
Check air temperature to ensure required air temperature delivery.
Once the balancing checklist is completed, we can start the system. Recall that before startup, we need to follow the preliminary startup checklist. This checklist ensures the unit is installed correctly and there is no electrical hazard present.
A preliminary equipment checklist includes:
Unit is installed level as per the installation instructions,
Power supply agrees with the unit nameplate,
Unit is grounded correctly, and
All electrical terminals and mechanical assemblies are tight
After starting the unit, we need to follow the unit startup checklist to monitor the system's performance. We need to record several data while the machine is in a stable operating condition. These include:
Operating pressures and temperatures, and
Compressor motor current
Residential Vs Commercial System
The maintenance procedure for the commercial and residential HVAC systems is the same. However, the number of components, their location, and the procedure to access them are different.
For example, commercial systems have additional components such as smoke detectors and fire dampers. This makes the checklist for commercial systems laborious and needs more technicians to finish the work.
Commercial systems have digital control systems to fetch parameters required to be filled in the checklist. The display end will let us look into the live data coming out of the commercial system in a much more user-friendly manner. We can see temperatures, pressures, and states of the refrigerant at different points.
On the other hand, we have to manually measure the system pressures of residential systems using a gauge set. This will result in extra time to complete the residential checklist.
No matter what make or model of HVAC system we have, the common inspection checklist includes:
Run a thermostat test,
Inspect air filters,
Evaluate proper airflow,
Assess equipment condition, and
Check refrigerant levels
Almost all types of installation reports have the following types of checklist:
Pre-functional checklist, and
Startup checklist
Most of the manufacturers have their inspection methods and checklists.
Question #1: What is included in the inspection checklist for any HVAC system?
Inspecting air filters
Evaluating proper airflow
Checking refrigerant levels
All the above
Scroll down for the answer...
Answer: All the above
No matter what make or model of HVAC system we have, the common inspection checklist includes:
Run a thermostat test,
Inspect air filters,
Evaluate proper airflow, and
Check refrigerant levels
Question #2: What types of checklists are present in the installation report? (select all that apply)
Retirement checklist
Pre-functional checklist
Startup checklist
Retrofit checklist
Scroll down for the answer...
Answer: Pre-functional checklist
Startup checklist
Almost all types of installation reports have the following types of checklist:
Pre-functional checklist, and
Startup checklist
Question #3: Which of the following checklist verifies the installation of the HVAC system is done correctly before startup? (select all that apply)
Testing fire dampers
Checking vibration
Inspecting mounting, isolators, filters
Checking leaks
Scroll down for the answer...
Answer: Testing fire dampers
Inspecting mounting, isolators, filters
The checklist to validate the physical installation of an AHU includes:
Inspecting mounting, isolators, filters,
Testing fire dampers
Question #4: Which of the following checklist is included in a startup inspection of an AHU? (select all that apply)
Testing fire dampers
Checking vibration
Inspecting mounting, isolators, filters
Checking air leaks
Scroll down for the answer...
Answer: Checking vibration
Checking air leaks
The checklist for startup inspection of an AHU includes:
Checking whether air leakage is within acceptable limits,
Checking whether vibration and noise level are acceptable,
Actual motor amps and voltage match with rated amps, and
Fan rotation is correct
Question #5: Which of the following checks are done for pre-balancing of an HVAC system? (select all that apply)
Setting all system dampers in their open position
Checking vibration
Checking air temperature
Checking air leaks
Scroll down for the answer...
Answer: Setting all system dampers in their open position
Checking air temperature
Checking air leaks.
Pre-balance system check procedure includes:
Check for air leaks at the fan and the system ductwork.
Check air temperature to ensure required air temperature delivery.
Set all system dampers in their open position.
Question #6: What checklist do we follow to monitor the operating performance of an HVAC unit? (select all that apply)
Site cleanliness
Inspecting mountings
Operating pressures and temperatures
Compressor motor current
Scroll down for the answer...
Answer: Operating pressures and temperatures
Compressor motor current
We need to record several data while the machine is in a stable operating condition. These include:
Operating pressures and temperatures, and
Compressor motor current