Ooralea Shopping Centre has a Woolworths supermarket and six other specialty retailers. Climate Air Solutions is contracted to service, repair and maintain the entire air conditioning system that runs through the complex.
Shopping Centre Air Conditioning System Maintenance in Ooralea
We tag every air conditioning unit with a unique QR Code identifier. When we inspect an air conditioning unit we scan the QR code and record the service we have carried out. This information is stored in a database that is accessible by our technicians and the Ooralea shopping centre management. Any inspections and repairs are recorded and timestamped.
Our ducted air conditioner pre-checks include –
- Check and maintain filters and wash as required.
- Check and clean drain pans and flush lines.
- Check and maintain fan belts and tensions.
- Check operating pressures and amp draws of equipment.
- Check for corrosion and rust.
- Check and maintain the general operation of all air conditioning units.
Maintaining the ducted air conditioner system
After our technicians had run the pre-check and recorded the findings they set about servicing the air conditioners. The main air conditioning systems are housed securely on the roof of the shopping centre.
Flushing the Drains – Why do we flush the air conditioner drains with nitrogen?
Flushing drains with nitrogen is done primarily in industrial and commercial settings for several key reasons:
- Inert Environment: Nitrogen is an inert gas, meaning it does not easily react with other substances. Flushing drains with nitrogen helps create a non-reactive environment, reducing the risk of chemical reactions, especially in drains that carry reactive or flammable substances.
- Purging Oxygen: Nitrogen is often used to displace oxygen in pipelines and drains. Removing oxygen can prevent oxidation reactions, corrosion, and the potential for fires or explosions in systems that handle flammable materials.
- Preventing Contamination: In some cases, nitrogen flushing is used to prevent the contamination of sensitive substances. By displacing any residual moisture, air, or other gases, nitrogen helps maintain the purity of the system or process.
- Safety: Flushing with nitrogen can help remove toxic or hazardous gases from a system, ensuring that the drain or pipeline is safe for maintenance or further use.
These reasons make nitrogen an ideal choice for flushing in environments where safety, purity, and chemical stability are critical.
Air Conditioner Filters – As this is a commercial complex with a lot of foot traffic, all the air conditioner filters need to be cleaned regularly. All the filters are replaced every four months. The grilles are removed and cleaned thoroughly.
Air Conditioner Coil and Duct Cleaning – Two sets of coils perform distinct tasks that combine to produce the cold air that emerges from your central air conditioning system. Evaporator coils cool the air, and condenser coils disperse heat. The coils on both sets must be cleaned. Maintaining the coils will allow the a/c system to run at its optimum. Cleaning the ducts removes any odours and contaminants.
Corrosion and Rust – Visual inspection of the coil is done to check for any visible signs of corrosion, including rust, discolouration, or pitting on the metal surface. We pay particular attention to areas where condensation or moisture may accumulate, such as the crevices around joints and connectors. Next, we search the area around the coil for any signs of refrigerant leakage.
Pressure Test – We use dry nitrogen to purge the system of extra water before doing a pressure test on the unit. To determine whether there are any refrigerant gas leaks, we first apply high pressure to the condenser, refrigerant pipework, and fan coil. At each stage of the procedure, we record the gas pressure.
Job Completion Check-up – We check our procedure list to make sure we have ticked all the boxes and recorded all our findings and task completions.
