Summer has arrived and parts of the economy are starting to reopen as well, which means many states are allowing church services to resume. While church leaders focus on what needs to be done inside their church building to prepare for social distancing requirements and the return of worshippers, it’s also important not to lose sight of church maintenance to the exterior of your building. Here are some checklists to make sure HVAC and roofs are well-maintained as we enter the summer months.

Church Maintenance of Your HVAC System

Many churches haven’t had a worship service since it was still cold enough to need heat. Now summer is here, and your HVAC system needs to be ready. Here’s a thorough checklist of items to address in preparing your church building cooling system for summer worship. While you might need to involve professionals in some of these tasks, you probably have knowledgeable individuals in your church community who can handle most of the items on this list.

  • Clean or replace all filters. We’ve noted elsewhere that it’s a good idea to keep a maintenance log where filter numbers and their cleaning/replacement schedule can be tracked.
  • Clean evaporator and condenser coils.
  • Flush out drain lines and clear out any clogs so that water doesn’t back up into your church building.
  • Remove any water from HVAC drain pans so they don’t overflow.
  • Make sure the refrigerant is still charged and that there are no leaks.
  • Check all pulleys and belts and replace anything that’s worn out, or close to it.
  • Check the electrical system and make sure no connections have come loose.
  • Inspect the fan motor and lubricate the moving parts and bearings.
  • Check all blowers and fan blades to make sure they’re turning and supporting proper airflow.
  • Make sure that the HVAC cabinet is sealed and clean, and that the door closes or locks securely.
  • Check for debris around the outdoor portion of your HVAC unit.
  • Take a look at the airflow ducts and remove any mold, dust, or debris. If you find debris, figure out where it came from and patch that hole or opening.
  • Run the cooling system and check the rooms of your church building to make sure humidity levels aren’t too high.
  • Change the batteries and check the schedule on your various thermostats and other controls to make sure you’ve still got the church building cooling down at the right times, and the temperature set a bit higher when the building is empty, so as to conserve energy.

Thoroughly Inspect the Roof of Your Church Building

One other part of your church building that needs attention in the summer is your roof. While you might think things are okay because there’s no snow and ice, winter could have left a toll, and summer storms can still loosen fasteners and leave debris on your roof and in your gutters. Here’s what to check to make certain your church building roof is well-maintained.

  • Look at all flashing and surface membrane to make sure the caulk is not cracked and that there are no stains from rust.
  • Check shingles to make sure they are all in good shape and none have come loose or blown off.
  • Inspect the rubber boots around vent pipes for cracks or wear, and make sure vents are clear and undamaged.
  • Check that your chimney caps are still in place and intact.
  • Ignore black algae stains, but any green moss or lichen could indicate that there could be decay beneath the surface of your roof.
  • Clean out gutters and make sure all drainpipes are flowing freely.
  • If you have HVAC units on your roof check to see that the unit doors are fastened tight after the HVAC maintenance is completed. Also check to make sure any coil cleaner is completely washed off the roof.

Whether churches are allowed to reopen in your area now or not, church maintenance shouldn’t be delayed. Take good care of your church building and it will be ready for you when worshippers are allowed to return. To learn more about church building best practices for all church leaders, sign up today for our upcoming free i3 webinars.