What is the Best HVAC System for your Building?
A HVAC system is a critical part of any building, working to give inhabitants maximum comfort. But what’s the best HVAC system for your building? When faced with buying this equipment, building owners choose from residential, commercial, or industrial air conditioning units.
It’s not always clear which kind of HVAC system will work best for a specific environment, so let’s find out more about the difference between them and how they’re used:
What’s the Difference between Residential and Commercial Air Conditioning?
While the core principles of HVAC systems are shared across all kinds of applications, there are some key differences between residential and commercial setups.
Firstly, commercial HVAC systems are typically much larger, hence they are also more powerful. These systems are tasked with cooling more expansive areas like department stores, warehouses, and larger offices. Partitioned spaces, such as smaller offices and schools, may prefer to install numerous residential-size units as this allows them to control climate independently between rooms.
Size and capacity are not the only differences between residential and commercial air conditioning. Residential HVAC systems are commonly seen with their exterior units in backyards or somewhere alongside the outer walls. Conversely, commercial examples almost always install this bulky and loud equipment on the roof to save space and limit noise pollution.
And of course, the maintenance costs associated with residential HVAC systems are significantly lower than commercial. You may assume this is simply because they are cooling larger spaces, but other factors are at play. Commercial air conditioning units have more complicated components and therefore require trained technicians to ensure optimal performance, which in turn benefits the efficiency and longevity of the system.
And what about Industrial Air Conditioning?
Industrial air conditioning is a step above commercial HVAC, in the sense that is once larger and more powerful. Again, the components are more complex and the exterior units are found on the roof of the building, perhaps with some kind of cooling tower. The same applies to commercial air conditioning maintenance. Highly-experienced and specialized HVAC technicians must do work.
So which HVAC System is best for my Building?
It’s not as easy as saying that all residential spaces need residential HVAC systems and that all commercial buildings need commercial air conditioning. The set-up that best suits your business depends on many variables, chiefly the amount of space you have, how your business operates, and the level of air conditioning you require.
On the flip side, it’s also crucial to note that larger, more powerful HVAC systems will inevitably come with higher running and maintenance costs. Certain leading suppliers, like Baikal Mechanical, specialize in extremely low-maintenance equipment which leads to less long-term expense over lower-quality units.
If you want to be sure of the best HVAC system for your building, it’s best to contact HVAC specialists and arrange for a technician to visit your site. If you already have air conditioning units, there is also the option to retrofit your HVAC system to improve performance and efficiency.
What is the most Efficient HVAC System?
It’s no surprise that business premises will consume more power than small residences, but that’s not to say that residential air conditioning is fundamentally more efficient. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Commercial HVAC systems usually feature cleverer energy-saving technologies, part of the reason why they’re considered more complicated than their residential counterparts.
There are also various kinds of commercial HVAC systems, some proving a better match in certain settings than others. For instance, a Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) system, which is also known as Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF), is seen as the superior option for larger commercial spaces.
The efficiency of commercial air conditioning is measured as the Cooling System Efficiency Rating (CSER). This is determined in a laboratory environment with optimal conditions, so it’s likely that your efficiency will be a touch lower in real-life settings. In any case, that absolute efficiency also gets affected by the ambient indoor air quality, condition of the equipment, and how exactly you utilize the system.
Choosing the Best HVAC System for your Building
Air conditioning accounts for roughly half of a building’s expenses, which means the type of HVAC system you choose can have a great influence on the profitability of a business. A poorly-suited system will not provide you with the best experience, which will also likely mean you’ll have to wait longer to see a return on investment.
A HVAC system is a huge consideration for a building, where performance and cost are forever in a balancing act. This is why it’s so critical to ensure you find a HVAC system that reflects your specific needs, and that you’re relying on HVAC engineers that have that in mind. Contact Baikal Mechanical if you have any questions, or would like any HVAC advice otherwise.