The comfort and safety of your Orlando, FL, business depend on its HVAC system. A problem with or failure of your commercial HVAC system could result in a loss of revenue and safety hazards for your employees and customers. A new commercial HVAC installation ensures that your temperature-sensitive equipment is protected and you can do business without any interruptions. Here are six things to consider before buying a new commercial HVAC system.
Heating and Cooling Load
Heating and cooling your business is likely one of your biggest operational expenses. According to Energy Star, about 25% of all rooftop HVAC systems are oversized. This results in higher electricity bills that cut into profits. It’s important that the technicians performing your commercial HVAC services perform heating and cooling load calculations. Those calculations should inform your decision about which HVAC system to buy. Purchasing a system with too large of a capacity will waste money. Buying a system with an insufficient capacity will result in a shorter system lifespan and temperature and humidity control problems within the building.
Type of System
There are many types of commercial HVAC systems. Single-split systems are ideal for heating and cooling small businesses. Multi-split commercial HVAC equipment allows you to control the temperature in your building on a room-by-room basis with multiple indoor units connected to one outdoor unit. Variable refrigerant volume systems allow you to cool one or more areas, such as a server room, while heating other areas, such as a retail sales floor. These systems use several indoor evaporator units connected to one outdoor condenser unit.
Zoned Climate Control
In many businesses, certain areas must be maintained at a significantly cooler temperature. Server rooms, cold storage and laboratories may need to be 20 degrees colder than the rest of the space. Other areas of a business may generate heat. Kitchens, production areas and employee break rooms have heat-generating appliances and equipment. Consider a zoned commercial HVAC system. These allow you to create zones in the building. Each zone has its own thermostat and can be set to a different temperature. Each commercial HVAC unit can control up to six zones in a building.
Energy Efficiency
A commercial HVAC system with the Energy Star certification will use 6% less energy to heat and cool your business. Over the course of a year, that’s thousands of dollars in savings. You may pay more upfront for a high-efficiency HVAC system, but it will save you money on operational expenses for its entire lifespan. Look for HVAC equipment with a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of 15 or higher, a heating season performance factor (HSPF) rating of 8.2 or better, or an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of 90 or higher.
Positioning of System
Some commercial HVAC equipment requires placement on the roof, while other systems require placement on a concrete pad. There are also portions of commercial HVAC systems that must be located within the building. Large commercial buildings, such as warehouses and multi-story structures, may need several HVAC units. You’ll need to make sure that your business has enough space in the location where the equipment needs to be placed.
Indoor Air Quality Options
Some businesses generate a lot of particles, odors or humidity as a part of what takes place in the building on a daily basis. Even offices generate volatile organic compounds from toner cartridges in printing systems, explains the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to the climate control provided by a commercial HVAC installation, consider the indoor air quality solutions that are compatible with it. Your business may benefit from an HVAC system that incorporates UV-C air purification in the ducts or a HEPA filtration system to remove particles as small as 0.3 microns in size. Adding top-of-the-line indoor air quality solutions as a part of your HVAC system keeps your employees healthier. It reduces humidity, dust and other particles that could damage sensitive electronics.
For more information about buying a commercial HVAC system for your Orlando area business, take a look at E.C. Waters Air Conditioning & Heat’s commercial HVAC services, or give us a call today.
