A preventive maintenance contract with a qualified HVAC contractor is one of the best investments a building owner or property manager can make. But not all PM contracts deliver equal value. Here is what a quality contract should include.
What Should Be Included
- A defined equipment list with visit frequencies
- Written service reports after every visit
- Filter replacements on schedule
- Lubrication, belt, and belt tension checks
- Controls inspection and calibration
- Refrigerant system checks (pressures, temperatures, superheat/subcooling)
- Combustion analysis on gas equipment
Priority Service Clauses
Quality PM contracts should include priority response for emergency calls. Your contractor should clearly define what this means — not just a promise, but a defined response time.
Red Flags in PM Contracts
- No defined equipment list — you do not know what is actually being maintained
- No written reports — no accountability
- Unusually low price — corners are being cut somewhere
- No refrigerant handling credentials