Summer is here, with harsh weather in many regions across the country. Heat and its challenges can be tough on your BMS (building management system). However, simple maintenance can address most of these challenges. 

Many summertime issues relate not only to BMS but also directly to the HVAC system in your building. Fortunately, FICO technicians are skilled and certified in both disciplines. 

With that in mind, here are eleven reasons to consider midsummer servicing your BMS. 

1. Wildfires. Summer is wildfire season, and as we have learned in the last few years, wildfires are now encroaching on areas where they previously were not a threat, and they are much more severe in places where they do exist. Excessive smoke can overwhelm your HEPA filters and HVAC ducting, negatively affecting air quality inside your building. Employees feel the effects quickly. A company such as FICO qualified to perform professional maintenance on commercial HVAC equipment, will inspect your equipment filters, replace them if needed, and recommend more robust filters if your equipment can handle them). 

2. Ensuring peak performance. Wildfires are not the only challenge to BMS systems. Those high pollen counts a few months earlier during the spring also compromised your HEPA filters. Pollen buildup on the evaporator and condenser coils makes it difficult for those components to do their job. If the problem gets bad enough, it will activate the overload switch, shutting down the HVAC in your building. You want an HVAC company to ensure they can help clean HVAC coils during pollen buildup times. 

3. BMS system updates. Like any computer program, there are system updates to your BMS. Most of these updates take place automatically, but for any number of reasons, this doesn’t always happen. A professional BMS technician will check to ensure all updates are loaded and functioning properly. 

4. Cicada-geddon. Also known as cicada-palooza, this refers to the rare convergence this summer of different generations (the 13-year and the 17-year varieties) of cicadas awakening from their slumber simultaneously this summer. Estimates are that billions of these winged insects will be flying around the US. Cicadas are harmless but can work their way into air vents and exterior electrical fixtures. Like any insect, they have a short lifespan and leave their exoskeletons and carcasses to clog things. The regions most heavily impacted include the mid-Altanic, southern, and mid-western states. If you hear of reports in your region of cicada problems, inspecting your HVAC equipment should be high on your list. 

5. Improved air quality. One of the reasons employees like to go to work during the summer months is that they can rely on an office with good indoor air quality. Give your tenants and employees the best with a properly tuned BMS system. 

6. Regulatory compliance. Local building codes, fire codes, and state and federal building codes are constantly changing. You want to ensure that your BMS meets all regulations. This means that your building provides the safest environment possible. Having a BMS technician discover a problem is better than having the fire marshall or city inspector find it. 

7. Historical data analysis of your BMS. While you’re getting your BMS serviced, take the time to look at where you are in energy usage for your building and compare it to your projections at the beginning of the year. Anomalies in energy usage can be harbingers of a problem in the system. Often, it is little more than a minor adjustment. 

8. Extended equipment lifespan. A midsummer tune-up allows you to intercept problems before they become worse. One faulty component puts an extra load on the rest of the system. Catching problems early eliminates these issues and extends the lifespan of all your system components. In the end, that’s saved money. 

9. Provides an opportunity to visually check everything. Often, a visual inspection reveals potential problems before sensors in your system detect them. Loose housings, frayed wiring, compromised ducting, a worn fan bearing—these are all issues that can go unnoticed until they cause a bigger problem. 

10. Energy efficiency. A midsummer service check is also good energy management. Energy bills peak during the hot summer months. All of these measures we’ve discussed ensure that your system runs at optimum performance, consuming as little energy as possible. 

11. Preparing for your 2025 budget. The budgeting process is an ongoing exercise in long-term planning. A professional inspection provides a good evaluation of your BMS system. It helps you develop a thorough list of things that need to be addressed and upgraded in the next budget. 

A preventive maintenance agreement is a simple way to ensure that your BMS system receives a proper inspection regularly. 

“We take a holistic look at your system,” explained Mitch Andrus, senior account executive at FICO, in a blog post last year. “We will look at details such as overall controller and point counts, as well as set up and regularly check alarms and trending data. These can be early indicators of potential issues in your system. We can often do this for a fixed price that takes the guesswork out of your budget.”

Want to Know More?

For over twenty years, FICO has led the industry in designing and implementing building management systems in Montana and the Pacific Northwest. Our employees are certified in the latest technologies for HVAC, electrician distribution, security and surveillance, and other systems. They are also trained in preventive and predictive maintenance of the most advanced BMS in office buildings, healthcare, colleges and universities, and many other industries. 

Visit our website to learn more if you are interested in a summer inspection or a preventative maintenance agreement for your BMS.