Most engineers will agree that the building owner views HVAC equipment maintenance as a necessary evil. When the final development budget is presented to the building owner by the architect, thb owner's main consideration is the bottom line. His financial and business arrangements depend upon the bottom line and, consequently, the building owner views HVAC equipment maintenance as another line item in his total owning and operating budget. This paper will deal with the building owner's view of HVAC equipment maintenance and how engineers can get the owner's attention early in the decision process 'to effect a change in his view of HVAC equipment maintenance.