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Frequently Asked Questions

Since 1954, Monroe Mechanical has been proudly serving businesses throughout Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton, Ohio. During that time, we have helped our customers solve a wide range of HVAC issues, and we are always happy to answer questions related to your commercial heating, cooling, and refrigeration equipment. On this page, you will find answers to some of our most frequently asked HVAC questions.

For more information, call Monroe Mechanical today at (513) 539-7555 or contact us online to speak to one of our friendly expert technicians!

Common HVAC Questions

How often should commercial HVAC equipment be serviced?

At Monroe Mechanical, we recommend performing routine maintenance at least once a year on all heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems. To make sure your equipment receives the care it needs on a regular schedule, consider enrolling in one of our preventative maintenance programs. They are an easy and cost-effective way to protect your equipment investment.

How important is routine maintenance?

In a commercial environment, HVAC equipment is subjected to extreme conditions, like excessive heat, frigid cold, long run times, and plenty of airborne dust and debris. Preventative maintenance helps to counteract the damage done by everyday use. By servicing your equipment frequently, you can maximize its service life, avoid unnecessary breakdowns, minimize service calls, and keep energy costs as low as possible.

How long will commercial HVAC equipment last?

Systems like rooftop HVAC units, split systems, heat pumps, and furnaces will typically last 12 to 15 years with regular maintenance, while boilers can last 20 years or longer. Systems that have high initial quality, a proper installation, and impeccable maintenance can last far longer.

How can I increase the performance of my boiler?

Have your commercial boiler serviced at least once a year, and monitor boiler statistics like flue gas temperature, operating temperature, and fuel consumption to gauge how efficiently it is running. If more performance is desired, upgrading to a newer boiler may be a good option, or a combustion upgrade may provide similar results at a lower cost, where possible.

Why won’t my furnace stay lit?

Furnaces use a flame sensor, or a thermocouple on older models, to determine that the burners are ignited, preventing raw gas from filling the room and causing a fire hazard. When a furnace will only stay lit for a few moments, it likely has a dirty flame sensor, or a thermocouple that has failed or is too far from the flame.

What causes an air conditioner to freeze up?

Frozen air conditioner coils can be caused by clogged air filters, obstructed ducts, a poorly adjusted blower, a dirty blower fan, a dirty condenser, a dirty evaporator, low refrigerant charge, or a combination of these problems. Essentially, a lack of airflow or an inefficient transfer of heat can allow the evaporator to become too cold, leading to ice formation.

How often should a water heater be serviced?

A commercial water heater should be serviced at least once a year. It is especially important to flush sediment out of the storage tank on conventional models, or to back-flush the heat exchanger on tankless water heaters.

What causes high temperatures in a walk-in?

High temperatures in a walk-in cooler can be caused by control failures, long defrost cycles, leaking door seals, the addition of too much warm product, a loss of refrigerant, compressor problems, or a combination of issues.

How often should an ice machine be serviced?

Annual maintenance should keep an ice machine operating properly, along with a thorough cleaning every six months to prevent harmful bacterial growth.

Do you have questions or concerns about your HVAC equipment? Call Monroe Mechanical today at (513) 539-7555 or contact us online to speak to one our friendly expert technicians!