COMMERCIAL HVAC SYSTEMS

COMMERCIAL HEATING AND COOLING SERVICE AND REPAIR

Commercial HVAC systems account for about 40% of the total energy budget of any commercial building. That’s why it’s important to have a system that you know will work properly and efficiently for years to come. A faulty HVAC system can cause your commercial building’s energy bills to skyrocket, and can ultimately cost your company a lot of money that you can’t recuperate.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR COMMERCIAL HVAC SYSTEM?

Whether you’re looking at a new commercial HVAC system for your business, or you’re looking to improve the efficiency of your old commercial HVAC unit, you should contact Reaume Heating and Cooling. We have over 45 years of experience in the industry, and we’re sure to have the answers you’re looking for. We’re here to help you find the commercial HVAC unit that works best for you, your company, and your budget.

Types of Commercial HVAC Systems

There’s all kinds of information out there for residential heating and cooling, but there’s not a lot out there regarding commercial HVAC systems. How do you know what you have to choose from, and how can you know what option will work best for your business and your building?

While there are tons of versions of commercial HVAC options, there are three major configurations that most systems fall into. Here’s a few things you should know about those most popular commercial HVAC systems:

Radiant and Forced Air

Perhaps the two most basic options, radiant and forced air HVAC units are also often the most popular choices.

Radiant: Traditional radiant systems transfer heat or cold through a system of tubes or pipes that carry water that is heated or cooled to a specified temperature. Generally, this piping is installed behind walls or underneath floors, but can also be installed in visible locations. If your building is already configured for this system, it can easily be upgraded to perform more energy efficiently. If your building does not already have radiant piping set up, this can be a very expensive installation. It’s a good idea to talk to a professional to see if this system will work for your company before you make the full investment.

Forced Air: Another whole-building option, forced air systems are perhaps the most common system in today’s world. They make use of a ductwork system combined with fans that force heated or cooled air in and out of your building. The furnace or air conditioning coils condition air sucked out of the building to a precise temperature, and force it back into the the building’s ductwork, conditioning the building as a whole. Again, if you have the ductwork already installed, this is a very energy efficient option that will work well for most buildings. If you need to install a ductwork system, it will be less expensive than a radiant system, but it will still be a relatively expensive installation fee. While you should talk to a professional regarding your specific building, you may want to consider ductless split systems as an alternative option.

Single and Multiple Zone Commercial HVAC Systems

Single and multiple zone systems function much the same, the only difference being that single zone systems are controlled by one control panel that could span across multiple rooms or floors. Multiple zone systems have several control panels, so that different zones, which may require different temperatures, can be managed differently.

Multiple Zone: The positive side of a multiple zoned commercial system is that areas that tend to be hotter naturally can be cooled to match the temperature in the rest of the building, and vice versa. Additionally, if there are areas of the building that aren’t used as frequently, they can run less heating and cooling, meaning you save on energy bills. That being said, multiple zone commercial HVAC systems can be more expensive to install. and single zone commercial systems are generally easier to control. However, if it’s comfort and energy efficiency you’re looking for, it’s likely that the initial upfront cost of a multiple zone HVAC system might be worth it.

Constant Volume and Variable Volume Systems

Another aspect to take into consideration is the type of airflow that your commercial HVAC system uses.

Constant Volume: A constant volume system will deliver your commercial building with the same, constant volume of air flow through the ducts. It alters temperature by cooling or heating the air flowing through the ducts.

Variable Volume: A variable volume system will deliver air through your ductwork similarly, but will occasionally vary the amount of air that goes through the ducts to affect room temperature, rather than adjusting the temperature of the air.

How to save money on commercial HVAC costs

Since your HVAC system takes such a big chunk out of your energy budget, it’s great to know how you can save money. The biggest way cut down on costs is to monitor the energy efficiency of your existing system. The more energy efficient your commercial system is, the less money you’ll have to spend on those utility bills. So how can you bring those costs down?

Control Your System: Technology only continues to improve, and you can take advantage of new technology to make your commercial HVAC system work for you. At the very least, your business should have your HVAC system on a programmed timer, so that when everyone is out of the building, the HVAC system is not working as hard. Control over the system is the best way to eliminate energy waste, which is why zoned systems tend to be popular. Even if you don’t have a zoned system, you do have the ability to shift temperatures based on time. If everyone is out of the office by 6 PM, and you lock the building up on the weekends, have your HVAC system adjust to that time frame, and save yourself a lot of energy and money.

Ensure That Your Building Isn’t Working Against You: One of the easiest ways to waste conditioned air is through your own building. Your building should be well insulated and sealed to avoid leaking conditioned air and forcing your commercial HVAC system to work harder. Some ways you might consider upgrading your building to perform more efficiently are as follows:

• Add insulation to reduce leakage
• Install energy efficient windows and doors
• Consider options like cool roofing and window tints to reduce solar gain in warm climates
• Improve overall building ventilation
• Choose electronics, lighting systems, and office equipment with low heat output

Maintenance: Another simple way to bring down your energy costs and to also ensure that your system lasts you it’s full life is to regularly maintenance your commercial HVAC system. Just like any other piece of machinery, air conditioners, furnaces, and heating and cooling systems require regular maintenance to ensure that they’re functioning as they should. If you have someone come to inspect your HVAC system regularly, they will be able to quickly spot areas where your system is not performing to full capacity, and easily make small repairs before they turn into bigger problems, saving you time and money in the long run.