Free checklist
Makeup air unit (MAU) annual maintenance checklist
The annual makeup air 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 IMC, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 7
- Photos required
- 10
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The HVAC service lead, ideally with the kitchen exhaust balanced on the same visit.
When in the schedule
Once a year, before the heating season, so the burner is proven and the tempered-air delivery is set before cold outdoor air reaches the kitchen.
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.
Heat section
- 2 photos
Burner and heat exchanger inspected and combustion checked
Direct-fired burner ports clean with an even flame, or indirect heat exchanger free of cracks and soot, gas pressure set per the rating plate.
- 1 photo
Discharge air temperature verified across the burner range
Tempered supply temperature measured and compared against setpoint as the burner modulates, no cold spots or overshoot.
Airflow and balance
- 2 photos
Supply airflow measured against exhaust demand
Delivered airflow read and compared against the total hood exhaust so the space stays slightly positive to neutral, not fighting the hoods.
- 1 photo
Building pressure checked at a door with the hoods running
Space pressure confirmed with all exhaust on — doors swing and latch normally, no whistling gaps or backdrafting appliances.
Mechanical
- 1 photo
Fan bearings inspected for play and noise
Bearings checked for shaft play and run listened to under load, greased per the schedule, set screws tight.
- 1 photo
Blower wheel and cabinet interior cleaned
Wheel cleaned of grease buildup that throws it out of balance, drain pan and cabinet interior left clear.
Controls
- 2 photos
Full start-to-stop control sequence exercised
Interlock, damper end-switch proving, burner enable and fan operation walked through in sequence, each step confirmed at the controller.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Direct-fired burner sooting or running a lazy flame from drifted gas pressure, tempering the air unevenly and carrying combustion products into the supply stream.
- Supply airflow never measured against what the hoods exhaust, so the building stays slightly negative and back doors won't latch.
- Fan bearings run to failure because they were greased on the quarterly but never listened to or checked for play on a deep pass.
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 10 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 makeup air unit (mau) annual checklist cover?
- 7 items across 4 sections, covering heat section, airflow and balance, mechanical, controls. 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, ideally with the kitchen exhaust balanced on the same visit.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Once a year, before the heating season, so the burner is proven and the tempered-air delivery is set before cold outdoor air reaches the kitchen.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 10 of the 7 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 makeup air unit (mau) annual inspection?
- Direct-fired burner sooting or running a lazy flame from drifted gas pressure, tempering the air unevenly and carrying combustion products into the supply stream. Supply airflow never measured against what the hoods exhaust, so the building stays slightly negative and back doors won't latch. Fan bearings run to failure because they were greased on the quarterly but never listened to or checked for play on a deep pass.
- 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.
Related checklists
2642 items and 4211 photo requirements in total.