School Facility Maintenance: What to Plan For

School Maintenance Factors

There are many elements to preventative school maintenance, and both state and federal agencies have thorough guidelines on all systems that should be evaluated. The following are some systems within your educational facility that may need preventative maintenance, as well as a few things that should be examined. This list is neither official nor exhaustive, but you may find it helpful to factor these components into your school maintenance schedule.

1. HVAC
   • Ensure HVAC unit is working properly
   • Ensure all thermostats are fully functional
   • Maintain refrigerant levels
2. Air quality
   • Maintain proper ventilation throughout the building
   • Check air quality for pollutants and allergens
   • Evaluate duct soundness
3. Plumbing and piping
   • Examine sewer line quality
   • Ensure functionality of all fixtures such as sinks, drains and lavatories
   • Check for and repair leaks in all water lines
4. Refrigeration
   • Ensure all refrigerated items are kept at sufficiently low temperatures
   • Repair and replace any damaged refrigeration components

From structural and roofing integrity to grounds safety, there are many other factors to include into your school building maintenance checklist. These are some of the most prevalent ones, and the expertise offered by Walker Mechanical gives us an understanding of why they matter to school facilities, as well as a unique ability to help. Here’s how.

HVAC

Proper heating, ventilation and air conditioning are critical in ensuring the academic performance and comfort of students and faculty alike. Statistically, the majority of students and employees are at their best in a temperature range of 68°–74° F; any lower, and students become tired and uncomfortable, while higher temperatures can contribute to distraction and hinder learning.

At Walker Mechanical, our certified experts have an abundance of HVAC maintenance and repair experience. We service a number of HVAC systems, including:

• Rooftop Units
• Energy Recovery Units
• Make-Up Air Units
• Exhaust Systems
• Air Filtration
• Zoning System
• Variable Air Volume
• Chillers
• Boilers
• Water Towers
• Hydronic Piping
• Hydronic Pumps
• Steam Generators
• Humidifiers
• Mini-Split Systems

Our HVAC expertise ensures that your students and faculty will be kept comfortable, no matter what system your school employs. That way, they’ll be placed in an environment where they can focus on what truly matters: a quality education.

Air quality

Clean indoor air is especially vital in educational facilities, as poor air quality can prove particularly detrimental to children. Airborne bacteria is more likely to be transmitted in buildings with poor air circulation, and allergens like dust or mold may trigger asthmatic reactions in students with respiratory sensitivities. The result is increased illnesses amongst children, and subsequent absenteeism that may hamper a pupil’s ability to learn.

We understand the importance of pure air, and our experienced technicians can help evaluate possible sources of contamination and help you come up with a plan for improving your indoor air quality. We can deliver the mechanical modifications necessary for enhancing your school’s air circulation, improving the health and educational experience of all your students and faculty members.

Plumbing and piping

Sanitation is fundamental to any modern-day building, and educational facilities are no exception. Plumbing and piping malfunctions can result in spills, odors, and flooding—all of which have the potential not only to distract students and teachers, but render schools inoperational for extended periods of time.

Fortunately, plumbing and piping are among our specialties at Walker mechanical. Here are just a few of the plumbing and piping services we offer:

• Drain Unclogging
• Video Inspection and Recording of Drain Lines
• Roof Drain Installation
• Drain Line Jetting

From wastewater line maintenance to valve repairs, we have the expertise to keep your school from a plumbing failure of any magnitude, and to resolve the issue should a problem occur.

Refrigeration

Though sometimes overlooked in the educational sector, refrigeration is a key component of ensuring the health and wellbeing of students in schools today. If refrigeration breakdowns occur, food items may be rendered unusable, leaving many children without the fuel they need for a proper education. Add to that the fact that some children with complex medical needs may require refrigerated medication to be kept on hand, and the importance of continually operational refrigeration is made clear—and urgent.

Our technicians are well-equipped to handle a wide range of refrigeration maintenance and repair needs, including those pertaining to the following:

• Walk-In Coolers
• Walk-In Freezers
• Reach-In Coolers
• Reach-In Freezers
• Prep Tables
• Ice Machines

Walker Mechanical has a long history of refrigeration maintenance and repair, and we have the knowledge it takes to keep your refrigerated products on ice, so that your students will be kept safe.

Planning ahead

The old adage that failure to plan is planning to fail holds true for school facility maintenance too, and when it comes to the educational needs of our children, the stakes are too great for failure. Preventative maintenance in schools ensures that students and educators will be equipped to achieve their maximum potential, and failure to keep educational facilities in optimal condition may not only lead to significant fees and penalties, but may harm the wellbeing of the next generation—the greatest cost of all.

At Walker Mechanical, we not only value the importance of facilitating a quality educational experience, but we have the mechanical expertise to do it. We offer repair and maintenance services to mechanical systems such as HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, and exhaust just to name a few, and would be honored to help keep your educational facility fully operational. Develop your school building maintenance checklist according to state and federal guidelines today, and contact us to help you deliver the education your students deserve.