System and method for heating and cooling system maintenance

Abstract

An HVAC system is provided. Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to HVAC systems in communication with a test engine configured to schedule maintenance and service calls. In one embodiment the test engine utilizes the ambient temperature and temperature setpoint to establish a maintenance schedule.

1 . A system for monitoring and testing a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system operable to condition air an inside of a structure, the system comprising:
 a test engine remote from and connectable with the HVAC system, wherein the test engine is configured to:
 provide test protocol instructions usable to implement a test protocol by the HVAC system that involves operation of the HVAC system differently from user controlled operation; and 
 receive test results from implementation of the test protocol by the HVAC system, 
   wherein the system is configured to determine an operational characteristic of or diagnose an issue with the HVAC system based on the test results.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the test engine is configured to provide the test protocol instructions based on at least one criterion other than ambient temperature inside the structure or user control of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the criterion includes at least one of a length of time since a previous test protocol was implemented, time of year, geographical area of the structure, time of day, or control by a service provider remotely located from the structure. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the test protocol instructions include an option to not implement the test protocol if the user is present within the structure. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a test library in data communication with the test engine and comprising multiple test protocols that may be used by the test engine to provide to the HVAC system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a client asset database in data communication with the test engine and configured to store information related to the HVAC system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a decision support system in data communication with the test engine and configured to at least one of determine the operational characteristic of the HVAC system, diagnose the issue with the HVAC system, or determine a service recommendation for the HVAC system based on the test results, wherein the decision support system is trainable using machine learning. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a service platform in data communication with the decision support system and configured to receive a service recommendation from the decision support system and schedule a servicing of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         9 . A method of monitoring and testing a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system operable to condition air an inside of a structure, the method comprising:
 providing, using a test engine remote from the HVAC system, test protocol instructions to the HVAC system usable by the HVAC system to implement a test protocol that involves operation of the HVAC system differently from user controlled operation;   receiving test results by the test engine from implementation of the test protocol by the HVAC system; and   determining at least one operational characteristic of or diagnose an issue with the HVAC system based on the test results.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising providing the test protocol instructions based on at least one criterion other than ambient temperature inside the structure or user control of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the criterion includes at least one of a length of time since a previous test protocol was implemented, time of year, geographical area of the structure, time of day, or control by a service provider remotely located from the structure. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising selecting, using the test engine, the test protocol instructions from multiple test protocols stored in a test library in data communication with the test engine. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising storing information related to the HVAC system in a client asset database in data communication with the test engine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining at least one operational characteristic of or diagnose an issue with the HVAC system based on the test results comprises analyzing the test results using a decision support system in data communication with the test engine, wherein the decision support system is trained using machine learning. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 providing, using the decision support system, a service recommendation based on the analysis of the test results;   receiving the service recommendation by a service platform; and   scheduling, using the service platform, a servicing of the HVAC system.   
     
     
         16 . A system for monitoring and testing a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system operable to condition air an inside of a structure, the system comprising:
 a test engine remote from and connectable with the HVAC system, wherein the test engine is configured to:
 provide test protocol instructions usable to implement a test protocol by the HVAC system that involves operation of the HVAC system differently from user controlled operation; and 
 receive test results from implementation of the test protocol by the HVAC system; and 
   a decision support system in data communication with the test engine and configured to determine an operational characteristic of or diagnose an issue with the HVAC system based on the test results, wherein the decision support system is trained using machine learning.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the test engine is configured to provide the test protocol instructions based on at least one criterion other than ambient temperature inside the structure or user control of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the criterion includes at least one of a length of time since a previous test protocol was implemented, time of year, geographical area of the structure, time of day, or control by a service provider remotely located from the structure. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a test library in data communication with the test engine and comprising multiple test protocols that may be used by the test engine to provide to the HVAC system. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a client asset database in data communication with the test engine and configured to store information related to the HVAC system.