Which One Is Which?
Call comes in from Joe and after the brief greeting Joe ask if you would like to take a look at an HVAC unit that is causing problems on a Commercial building with twenty units. Yes Sir I’d be glad to take a look. Exchange of information includes the following:
1:Suite G Air Unit just quit working Friday and address to building.
It is your first visit to this location and you might think it would be real easy to find the problem to the Suite G unit. That’s the easy part. The problem is where is Suite G’s unit at and where is the main power source deep within the building. The owner probably knows this information, however may not be accessible when needed, so this is now the Repair Technicians problem. So getting to know the individual system is just the beginning.
Keep in mind there are twenty units not just one involved. Each unit most likely has a disconnect real close to it’s proximity. But where is this power source from? The main power source seems to be a problem as well as something going on in the unit that has caused the total failure.
This actually happened to me recently and it is probably something that every HVAC company has experienced. So it is important for the Owners and the service companies alike to have some sort of sketch, diagram, or means of identifying each of the units on-site.
In this case I will after completion of all pertinent information on diagram, have several copies made and laminated. Distribute for possible posting at a location for the HVAC Company to be directed to in the event of a problem with any unit. This will allow the Technician to grab a waterproof copy and go about his work.
With todays technology this simple diagram can be used in many formats that can easily be included into a mobile app, tablet for viewing. For more advanced in depth information about each unit, one could use a CAD program to create many layers of information to include photos, text files, the list goes on.
Simple works.
So a simple hand drawn diagram will help in the future with the HVAC units at this location. After a couple months and many other similar situations, it is so easy to forget where a particular power source is for say Suite G. It saves time which equals $$$ if your new HVAC Repair Service can go directly to the Unit and it’s pertaining sources. So take the time and have an informational diagram for your HVAC Service Company. It will cost in the front end to do this, however you can see the savings from every visit in the future from another company or technician that is not familiar with your site.
Numbers were added to each unit to correspond with each Suite. With this simple little fix, it is now possible for a Technician that has never been onsite to pick up a copy and quickly make it to his destination without to much input from the owners.