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.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo evidence it needs
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Work the list here and watch the gate hold, or load it into RTI and let it enforce the real thing.
Preparation
Balance report and box schedule on hand
Latest test and balance report and the design box schedule on hand, so each box's minimum, maximum and heating airflow is set to a known target.
No photoOccupants told which ceilings open and when
Owner and floor occupants told the zones and times the ceilings come open, furniture and finishes below protected before any tile is lifted.
No photo
Airflow calibration
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.
Damper control response tuned
Box driven through a full call and observed settling without hunting, actuator timing and control loop behaving across the range.
Inlet static read at maximum flow
Inlet static at the box read at maximum airflow and compared with the manufacturer's minimum operating pressure, starved boxes reported to the air-side team.
Flow pickup and sensing tubing blown clear
Pickup ports and tubing blown clear of dust, brittle tubing replaced, connections made to the high and low ports the right way round.
Reheat coil and valve
Reheat coil cleaned and airside checked
Coil face inspected and cleaned, fins straight, no leaks at the connections, condensate path clear where applicable.
No photoHot-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.
No photo
Controller and sound
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.
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.
Zone sensor compared with a reference thermometer
Space sensor reading compared with a calibrated thermometer beside it, offset corrected in the controller, sensor clear of drafts and direct sun.
Controller power locked out before terminals open
Controller transformer and any electric heat circuit locked out and tagged under the site's procedure before an enclosure cover comes off or wiring is touched.
Controller and actuator wiring terminations tight
Controller terminals, transformer and actuator leads checked tight and labelled, no chafed cable where it enters the box.
Return to service
Box repowered and settling confirmed on the trend
Covers and tiles back, locks removed by the person who hung them, box powered and trended after release to show airflow settling at setpoint.
Final box settings recorded for the owner
Final minimum, maximum and heating airflow, sensor offset and open deficiencies recorded against the box tag and sent to the owner.
No photo
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.
Verified against
Common questions
6 answers
- What does this vav terminal unit annual checklist cover?
- 15 items across 5 sections, covering preparation, airflow calibration, reheat coil and valve, controller and sound, and more. 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 do these items ask for a photo?
- 10 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 11 photos in all. 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.
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 11 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.
See all 508 checklists · 6741 items and 5984 photo requirements in total.