Are Your Rooftop Unit Heat Exchangers Ready for Heating Season?

Cooling tower on a Twin Cities rooftop ready for seasonal shutdown — proper draining, cleaning, and treatment protect your system through winter.

A failing rooftop unit heat exchanger isn’t just a costly repair waiting to happen — it’s a risk to your building’s comfort, tenant safety, and operating budget. The challenge is that many commercial HVAC heat exchanger issues go undetected until a breakdown occurs.

If you manage a commercial property in the Twin Cities Metro, now is the time to act. Owens Companies offers comprehensive commercial HVAC inspections and preventive maintenance programs to keep your rooftop units, boilers, and cooling towers safe, efficient, and ready for the coming Minnesota winter.

Why Seasonal Preventive Maintenance Matters

Your rooftop units, boilers, and chillers don’t simply “flip a switch” from cooling to heating. Each system needs careful inspection, cleaning, and preparation for reliable operation. Here’s what our team recommends for Minneapolis–St. Paul commercial buildings as temperatures start to drop:

• Cooling Shutdowns: Properly drain and protect cooling towers and chillers to prevent freeze damage and maintain water system health.

• Heating Startups: Inspect and tune boilers, burners, and rooftop unit heat exchangers for safe, efficient operation.

• Controls Checks: Verify that your building automation system transitions smoothly between cooling and heating to avoid comfort complaints and costly surprises.

By taking these steps, you protect your assets, lower energy costs, and reduce the risk of emergency downtime when occupant comfort is most critical.

What Exactly Is a Heat Exchanger?

The heat exchanger is the heart of your rooftop unit’s heating system:

• Transfers heat from the combustion process to the air that warms your building

• Keeps harmful combustion gases, like carbon monoxide, out of indoor air

• If cracked, can lead to safety risks, higher energy bills, and even emergency shutdowns

That’s why pre-season rooftop unit heat exchanger inspections are critical — they ensure safe, efficient heating and help avoid costly mid-season commercial HVAC repairs.

Cooling Tower Shutdown Checklist

Cooling tower maintenance is more than just switching off the power. Owens Companies’ technicians provide a complete seasonal cooling tower shutdown service, including:

• Draining and cleaning the basin

• Inspecting fill, fans, gearboxes, and belts

• Treating water systems to prevent corrosion, scale, and biological growth

• Documenting equipment condition for capital planning

This proactive approach extends the life of your cooling tower, reduces springtime surprises, and improves energy efficiency for the next cooling season.

Boiler Inspections and Heating Season Prep

When the first cold snap hits the Twin Cities, your boilers work around the clock. Are they ready? Owens Companies provides:

• Complete Boiler Inspections & Cleanings – Ensure reliability before peak demand

• Combustion & Efficiency Tuning – Reduce fuel costs and improve system performance

• Early Issue Detection – Address problems before they result in unplanned shutdowns

• Capital Investment Protection – Maximize the lifespan of your boiler plant equipment

Your Trusted Twin Cities HVAC Partner Since 1957

Owens Companies has been helping Minneapolis–St. Paul commercial property managers, facility teams, and building owners transition from cooling season to heating season for nearly seven decades. Our proactive HVAC maintenance programs minimize downtime, keep tenants comfortable, and protect your operational budget.

Schedule Your Heating Season Inspection Today

Don’t wait until the first freezing morning to find out your system isn’t ready. Contact Owens Companies today to schedule your rooftop unit inspection, boiler tune-up, or cooling tower shutdown service. Contact Us today!