Commercial and Residential HVAC Services – Know the Differences

There are many important decisions to make when it comes to HVAC services, but those decisions vary slightly depending on whether you are in the market for a commercial or residential HVAC system. We will discuss the main differences between commercial and residential HVAC services. We will cover topics such as the size of the system, placement of AC units, system complexity, mechanism of AC units, maintenance needs and costs, and the type of drainage required. By the end of this article, you should understand the main differences between business and home HVAC services.

The Size of the System

One of the most important distinctions between commercial and residential HVAC services is size. A typical commercial system is much larger than a residential one, and can provide cooling or heating for an entire building. A residential system, on the other hand, is designed to cool or heat a smaller, single home. This means that when you’re purchasing an HVAC system for your business, it is important to consider the size of the building and choose a system that can accommodate it.

Commercial buildings are typically much larger than residential homes, which means they may have more areas to cool or heat. For example, if there are offices on one side of the building and a warehouse on the other, you will need an HVAC system that can effectively cool or heat both spaces.

The Placement of AC Units

Another important difference between commercial and residential HVAC services is where the AC units are placed. Commercial buildings often have AC units installed on the roof, while residential homes typically have them installed on the side of the house.

There are several reasons for this difference. First, commercial buildings tend to have more space on the roof than residential homes. This means that there is more room to install an AC unit, and it won’t take up valuable space on the exterior of the building. Second, a commercial AC unit is typically much larger than a residential one. This means that it needs more space to operate effectively, and the roof is a good place for it to get enough airflow.

Finally, installing an AC unit on the roof can be difficult and expensive. It requires hiring a professional to do the installation, and often times there is not enough room on the roof of a home to install the unit properly. These are just some reasons that commercial buildings often have their AC units installed on the roof, while residential homes usually have them installed on the outside of the house.

The Complexity of the System

System complexity differs greatly between commercial and residential HVAC services. A typical commercial system has many more components than a residential one, and requires more maintenance as a result.

For example, commercial HVAC systems often have multiple thermostats that control each zone in the building separately. This allows you to set different temperatures for different parts of your business, which can help save money on energy costs if some spaces don’t need cooling or heating as much as others.

Commercial systems also often have multiple AC units, which can be helpful if the building has a significantly large area to cool or heat. Having multiple AC units means that each one doesn’t need to work as hard, which can save energy and prolong the life of the units.

The Mechanism of AC Units

Commercial and residential HVAC services use different mechanisms for AC units. In general, AC units have two basic components: the compressor and condenser. The compressor is located inside of an AC unit and is responsible for compressing refrigerant gas into liquid form so it can be used to cool down air in a building or home. A typical residential unit has one compressor, while most commercial systems have two.

Having two compressors in a larger commercial space is important for a few reasons. First, it allows the AC unit to run more efficiently, which can save energy and prolong the life of the unit. Second, it helps keep the temperature consistent in the building. This is important for businesses that need to maintain a certain consistent temperature in their office or warehouse.

Finally, having two compressors means that if one breaks down, the other can keep running until a repair person arrives. This is important for businesses because even a small disruption in temperature could cause productivity to suffer.

Maintenance Needs and Costs

Commercial and residential HVAC services generally result in varied maintenance needs and costs. Commercial systems are typically more expensive to maintain than residential ones.

For example, commercial systems often require more frequent filter changes than residential ones. This is because the filters in a commercial system are working harder to cool or heat a larger space. Changing the filters regularly is important for maintaining the efficiency of the AC unit and preventing it from breaking down prematurely.

Another difference between commercial and residential maintenance needs is the cost of repairs. Commercial systems typically have more moving parts than residential ones, which means that there are more things that can go wrong with them. As a result, they tend to break down more often and require more expensive repairs when they do break down.

Drainage Required

Commercial and residential HVAC systems both require drainage, but the type of drainage required is different for each. For a commercial system, the drainage needs to be able to handle large amounts of water quickly. This is because commercial buildings often have multiple AC units, which can produce a lot of water when they are running. If the drainage system can’t handle the volume of water, it will overflow and cause damage to the building and surrounding area.

Residential systems, on the other hand, don’t produce as much water as commercial systems. This means that the drainage can be slower and doesn’t need to be as efficient at handling large amounts of water which can save money on installation costs.

As you can see, there are significant differences between commercial and residential HVAC services. From size of system to maintenance needs and costs, these two types of systems vary in many ways. In order to make a decision on which one is right for your home or business, it’s important that you evaluate all aspects of each type before making a final choice. It is important to carefully assess your unique situation and request input and recommendations by professionals regarding what would be best suited for your location, needs, and budget.