Free checklist
Air handling unit (AHU) annual maintenance checklist
The annual air handling unit service is the deep pass — the measurements, cleanings and tests a quarterly round doesn't reach. This checklist keeps the full service on record with the photos that make it defensible later. Work is commonly verified against ASHRAE guidance, SMACNA duct construction — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 6
- Photos required
- 9
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The HVAC service lead, often coordinated with the controls contractor.
When in the schedule
Once a year, scheduled for a shoulder season so the unit can be down for cleaning without comfort complaints.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo that proves it
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Copy the list as-is, or load it into RTI and let the gate enforce it.
Deep service
- 2 photos
Coils cleaned through the full depth
Cleaning from the leaving-air side so debris exits the way it entered, coil visibly clean to a light behind it.
- 2 photos
Fan wheel and housing cleaned and inspected
Wheel blades free of buildup, housing and floor of the section cleaned, no corrosion through.
Performance
- 1 photo
Airflow measured and compared to design
Traverse or flow-station reading recorded against the design CFM, not just a damper position.
- 1 photo
Sensors and actuators calibrated
Space, discharge and mixed-air readings compared against a reference instrument; dampers stroke to command.
Cabinet
- 1 photo
Cabinet seals, doors and gaskets intact
No air whistling past door gaskets, latches pulling doors tight, insulation liner intact.
- 2 photos
Electrical connections and safeties checked
Terminations checked for heat marks, safeties and interlocks functionally tested.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Coils rinsed from the clean side only, pushing the mat deeper instead of out.
- Airflow 'verified' at the grille by feel instead of measured against design.
- Sensor calibration assumed because nobody has complained about the space temperature.
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 9 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.
Submission state
The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.
Verified against
Common questions
- What does this air handling unit (ahu) annual checklist cover?
- 6 items across 3 sections — deep service, performance, cabinet. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
- Who should run this inspection?
- The HVAC service lead, often coordinated with the controls contractor.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Once a year, scheduled for a shoulder season so the unit can be down for cleaning without comfort complaints.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 9 of the 6 items call for photo evidence. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
- What most often fails a air handling unit (ahu) annual inspection?
- Coils rinsed from the clean side only, pushing the mat deeper instead of out. Airflow 'verified' at the grille by feel instead of measured against design. Sensor calibration assumed because nobody has complained about the space temperature.
- Can I use this checklist in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.
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