Free checklist
VAV terminal unit annual maintenance checklist
The annual VAV terminal 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
- 6
- Photos required
- 8
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The balancing or controls tech on the annual, coordinating with the building automation system.
When in the schedule
Once a year, tied to the air-side service so the box calibration is verified against a known supply pressure at the air handler.
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.
Airflow calibration
- 2 photos
Flow sensor calibrated and min/max verified
Controller airflow reading checked against a balancing instrument, minimum and maximum setpoints confirmed and reset to the design schedule.
- 1 photo
Damper control response tuned
Box driven through a full call and observed settling without hunting, actuator timing and control loop behaving across the range.
Reheat coil and valve
- 2 photos
Reheat coil cleaned and airside checked
Coil face inspected and cleaned, fins straight, no leaks at the connections, condensate path clear where applicable.
- 1 photo
Hot-water valve and actuator serviced
Two-way or control valve stroked full range, actuator seating and opening, coil bled of air, electric heat elements and limits tested where fitted.
Controller and sound
- 1 photo
Controller points and BAS mapping verified
Space temperature, airflow and command points matching the BAS graphic, occupied and unoccupied modes proven, no overrides left in place.
- 1 photo
Box checked for excessive noise at high flow
Box driven to maximum airflow and listened to at the diffusers, no roar, whistle or damper chatter carrying into the space.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Minimum and maximum airflow left at the manufacturer default because no one cross-checked the box against a balancing reading.
- Reheat coil quietly fouled or an air-bound hot-water valve, so the zone under-heats and gets 'fixed' by raising the whole floor's setpoint.
- A box roaring at high flow written up as a diffuser problem when it's the damper hunting on a mis-tuned controller.
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 8 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 vav terminal unit annual checklist cover?
- 6 items across 3 sections, covering airflow calibration, reheat coil and valve, controller and sound. 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 balancing or controls tech on the annual, coordinating with the building automation system.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Once a year, tied to the air-side service so the box calibration is verified against a known supply pressure at the air handler.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 8 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 vav terminal unit annual inspection?
- Minimum and maximum airflow left at the manufacturer default because no one cross-checked the box against a balancing reading. Reheat coil quietly fouled or an air-bound hot-water valve, so the zone under-heats and gets 'fixed' by raising the whole floor's setpoint. A box roaring at high flow written up as a diffuser problem when it's the damper hunting on a mis-tuned controller.
- 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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