How to Choose the Right Commercial HVAC System  

Difference Abound; Costs and Benefits Do Too. 

If you’re a commercial property owner purchasing an HVAC system for your new building or considering an upgrade to your existing commercial heating and cooling equipment, it’s important to get the right information before you make a final selection. To do so prematurely might end up costing you not only more money upfront, but also more cash later in the form of higher utility bills and more frequent breakdowns and necessary repairs, if not outright replacement, well before you should otherwise have to do so. The following are some important items to consider about a commercial HVAC system.

Know the types of commercial HVAC systems available.

With the push towards greater energy efficiency state-wide, you may decide a heat pump or geothermal system works best for your location and your needs. Variant refrigerant flow or variant refrigerant volume systems (VRF and VRV, respectively) use two or more evaporators to connect to a single condenser, using refrigerant in the heating and cooling lines of one heat pump. There are some caveats to a heat pump that make its relatively expensive purchase and installation costs wrong for some commercial property owners – and a real bargain for others. Check with your HVAC sales consultant for more info. 

Alternately, single split ACs are very popular for a smaller building and budget, with their single indoor and exterior units that allow for expansion. Multi-split systems are the bigger version of the same, with multiple indoor units connecting to a large outdoor one. If you have several floors in your building or many rooms or offices, this might be the most practical commercial HVAC system choice. 

Think about the commercial HVAC system size. 

We often encounter unhappy commercial building owners who had a previous contractor install an “extra-large” commercial HVAC system that is essentially too big for their space. Though it sounds intuitively like it might be a good idea, installing a too-big system for your specs is actually an invitation to trouble. Not only will your equipment wear out faster because it’s constantly turning on and off, but it’s not going to be heating and cooling efficiently, costing you more money in utility bills to do the same job a smaller, cheaper unit might have done. 

There’s a specific formula for space vs. system size when it comes to HVAC. Make sure you’re well within its guidelines before making your decision.

What’s happening with your thermostat? 

We can’t emphasize it enough: a smart thermostat is the way to go when it comes to commercial heating and cooling. Inexpensive and simple to use, these products allow the commercial building owner to control their commercial HVAC system usage and expenditures from anywhere in the world. Avoid the expense of a heating system left on over a weekend when no one is in the office to enjoy it, or unnecessary cooling because one employee likes it twenty degrees colder than anyone else. Take charge of your HVAC needs with this cost-effective addition to any equipment purchase. 

Here at Air-Tro we recognize our commercial clients are busy people and experts in their fields. We don’t expect you to know this stuff, nor be particularly interested in learning the ins and outs of heating and air conditioning technology any more than is necessary. Use this “cheat sheet” for tips to consider when looking for a new system. Our seasoned, professional technicians and sales consultants can help you fill in the gaps if you have any further questions. 

 

Looking for a new heating and cooling system for your commercial building? Call Air-Tro, the HVAC specialists for the San Gabriel Valley and beyond, since 1969! Get in touch at (626) 357-3535.