Your Commercial HVAC System Options Explained

Extremely hot or cold weather can create physical discomfort and mental distractions for your employees, affecting your company's overall productivity. However, you can optimize your indoor temperatures to keep staff comfortable and focused year-round with the right HVAC system installation. 

When it comes to installing an HVAC system for your business, you have different options to choose from. But these choices can be confusing if you're not an HVAC industry expert. Read along to learn about the various HVAC systems available for your commercial heating and cooling needs.

Central HVAC Systems

If you already have HVAC ductwork installed in your commercial building, you should go for a central or ducted HVAC system. This type of HVAC system relies on the air ducts running in hidden places throughout your building to deliver conditioned air to your commercial space.

One of the biggest advantages of ducted systems is that they ensure uniform distribution of heated or cooled air in multiple rooms throughout your building. On the downside, they can be a pricey proposition if you lack ductwork in your home. Plus, duct leaks and inadequate duct insulation can hurt the efficiency of these systems.

Split Systems

Also known as ductless mini-splits, these HVAC systems include one indoor unit connected to an outdoor unit via copper tubing that allows refrigerant flow between the two units. They are one of the most affordable HVAC options available on the market and work well for small commercial spaces.

If you have a large commercial building with multiple rooms, you'll need a single mini-split system for each room. While this can significantly inflate your installation costs, it allows you to control the temperature of each room independently.

Split system installation makes sense if you're renting out your commercial space to different users or intend to control the temperature of individual rooms should the need arise. 

Multi-Splits

Unlike mini-splits, which come with one indoor unit connected to one outdoor unit, multi-split systems connect multiple indoor units to a single outdoor unit. The design and configuration of these systems allow for efficient use of your outdoor space.

Multi-splits with variable-speed compressors allow you to control the temperature of each room independently, meaning you can turn off the air conditioning or heat in unused rooms. The upfront cost of these systems is generally higher than that of a single mini-split system. However, they can be more economical than the cost to install mini-splits for multiple rooms throughout the building.

Packaged Systems

Packaged HVAC systems are exactly what their name suggests they are — HVAC systems that come with everything housed in a single unit. Their compact size makes them a suitable option for commercial facilities with a space crunch. These HVAC systems are typically installed on the roof or near the foundation of the building.

Although packaged units are efficient to operate and easy to maintain, they're not as powerful as other HVAC options. Consequently, they're generally used in warmer climates.

Once you choose the best type of HVAC system for your commercial building, you'll need to determine the proper size system for the building. Contact a commercial HVAC installation contractor for assistance with your HVAC installation.

Share