Understand Types Of Commercial HVAC Systems To Select The Best

Unless you are the King of Great Britain, rising fuel bills have affected everyone. You might be there feeling helpless when your HVAC system guzzles up energy without delivering much. It feels like your money is going down the drain. No one would want their energy bills to skyrocket, right?

Routine maintenance of HVAC is no big deal, but constant breakdowns with high bills call for a professional boiler upgrade. You need to make a comparison to find the best types of efficient commercial HVAC systems that save money and do not break down often.

Selecting a reliable one will also keep the EPC(Energy Performance Certificate) ratings, commonly called energy efficiency, in check. It will help your business stay compliant with the UK’s energy standards.

In this article, you will walk through different types of energy-efficient commercial HVAC systems. We’ll break down the pros and cons of each HVAC system. The table at the end will help you visually compare the types of HVAC systems and make the correct choice for your commercial building.

Understanding the Basics of Commercial HVAC

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning for any building. Commercial buildings require a heavy-duty system with reliable central heating installation. It provides both heating and cooling of the buildings within one structure. Which types of HVAC systems your business needs is a tricky question, but when you understand the basic types of HVAC systems, you can make an informed decision.

Through a well-defined process, the heating system works when it is cold outside, and the cooling system maintains a cool temperature during scorching summer months. Ventilation is necessary for heating and cooling scenarios so that indoor air quality is healthy. No one wants to suffer from bad air quality in their homes. Agreed?

Let’s move on to the various types of commercial HVAC systems.

Split System

Think of the split system as the starter kick of HVAC— These HVAC systems are basic but reliable. The simplest form of commercial HVAC best suited to smaller commercial sites is named the split system. With an indoor unit and one outdoor unit, the split system works great. It can either be a single or multi-split system, but the basic components include

• Furnace
• Air conditioning
•  Thermostat

How Does a Split System Work?

It works in dual ways, providing heat and cooling when needed. If it is hot outside, the air conditioner pulls the warm air from inside and pushes it outside with the help of refrigerant coils, a dedicated duct system and an efficient air filter. While in the heating mode, the furnace burns and pushes heated air inside through the ducts and air handlers to maintain the inner heat. Air quality in these types of HVAC systems is also maintained, so there is always a healthy balance of indoor air from this HVAC system.

Pros

• It is easy to use if it is just a single outdoor unit
• Both single- and multi-split systems are less costly to maintain than complex systems like heat pumps and multi-zone HVAC systems.
• Since it has very few components, including the heat pumps, there is less breakage, which leads to lower maintenance costs.

Cons

• These, particularly the single split systems air conditioning systems, have just a single compressor; tuning on or off is always on full power. It can be costly overall.
• A single unit for cooling or heating means there is a chance of uneven temperatures for rooms farther from the main unit. There is no option to create zones.
• Separate ducts are required for this type of commercial HVAC, and so many ducts increase the cost. Such space issues due to HVAC systems can also cause an increase in monthly rents for commercial buildings.
• Reliance on refrigerants means more carbon emissions, so multi-split systems are not good for our planet.
• Multiple networks of ducts mean more chances of duct sealing and cleaning, too. It increases the operational cost of a split HVAC system.
• Single split systems are preferably opted for smaller commercial places. Multi-split systems, however, can undertake the cooling process and maintain healthy indoor air quality for larger commercial areas. Opting for a single split system for a large building can not only reduce the efficiency of your single split system but also increase the cost.

Chillers

As the name says, the chillers are like friends who always give you the coolest advice. Such an HVAC system for commercial needs is best for large commercial buildings. It is impressive to see these chillers keeping up with the heat recovery systems and keeping their surroundings chilled without breaking a sweat.

How Does A Chiller Work?

You will like the phenomenon behind the working of chillers. It is very simple but provides massive cooling by letting chilled water flow through pipes. An amazing show of heat pump systems is involved! Cold water absorbs the building’s heat as a sponge would do. Later, it sends the heat off through towering condensers. The whole system includes the heat pump, chillers and the cooling tower.

Pros

• Chillers provide consistent coolingwhich is ideal for large areas, making them perfect HVAC systems for bigger commercial spaces and huge privatebuildings.
• It has the most extended use and the right energy consumption for sprawling commercial spaces.

Cons

• Nothing comes easy, and the same is the case with these chillers. These commercial air conditioners have a huge price tag with them.
• As they can cover gigantic areas to cool, they are notorious for having a room hog because of their cooling towers and pumps.

District Cooling

District cooling is like the communal Netflix account of the HVAC system. A single central system cools down multiple buildings like college campuses or villa compounds.

How Does District Cooling Work?

As the name says, a central plant called the district cooling plant chills the water and transfers it to each building through insulated pipes. Each building has its air handling units, which use this chilled water from the district cooling to deliver chill vibes throughout the compound.

Pros

• We know sharing is caring, and you are saving. It is ideal for large complexes with multiple buildings.
• These are energy efficient because they are centralised and can be monitored for wiser use of energy resources.

Cons

• The upfront cost is enormous, including the initial setup cost.
• The major drawback of the district cooling is that if the central plant needs repair, everyone’s left a bit heated by this water-cooled system, which has server rooms outside and acts as a district HVAC unit.

VRV or VRF Systems

Here comes the fancy commercial HVAC system, with personalized zones by the name of Variable Refrigerant Volume, truly ideal for those types of commercial HVAC needs where you need to give every one his own space to chill out.

VRF systems or more commonly Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) or Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) have the power to adjust the refrigerant flow so that each zone or room in your commercial space just gets the needed amount of cooling by using the variable air volume phenomenon.

How Does a VRF Work?

Variable Refrigerant Flow has an outdoor unit that is connected to multiple indoor units, and hence, it controls refrigerant flow to keep all zones perfectly or ideally chilled as per their zoning. Professional installation for commercial businesses is essential to mark a seamless installation process to enjoy efficient VRF systems and tackle indoor heat issues.

Pros

• Completely personalized colling with Variable refrigerant flow marks it as an ideal commercial HVAC system for hotels where there is no one-size-fits-all.
• Discretion is their best friend. VRV system does its job without making any noise. With such quiet performance, the VRV system is an ideal commercial HVAC system for practical use in buildings that require peaceful gatherings or conferences.

Cons

• Personalization in these types of HVAC systems comes with a high maintenance cost, as these systems require skilled technicians to keep them running smoothly.
• We can name them Cadillac of HVAC systems. Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) is pricier than other HVAC systems, but it matches their ability to provide cooling elements to large indoor environments.

RTU (Rooftop Units)

Rooftop units are multitaskers. They are the no-fuss commercial HVAC setup. When we talk about them, we know they are self-contained HVAC units and can handle both heating and cooling. They stay out of sight, out of mind, on the roof. How cool is that for being an HVAC system for commercial needs?

How Does an RTU Work?

Such HVAC units use typical refrigerants and are mostly useful for a single floor or zone, making them best for small commercial spaces. Their work is simple: they pull the air in and run it through coils for either heating or cooling, depending on what you choose. Simply saying they work as air handlers and are a quick fix for small commercial building owners. With a reliable heat pump, these air conditioners can do wonders as commercial HVAC units.

Pros

• No internal space is consumed, so this air conditioning system is a big space saver for commercial buildings.
• If you need more cooling and better indoor environment, you can add another RTU to scale it up.

Cons

• These HVAC systems are on the rooftops of commercial buildings; they are prone to getting direct weather hits. They definitely need TLC. Regular maintenance is essential because of the harsh weather episodes. However, fewer installation costs can balance this con as well.
• If you are directly under the RTU, the ceiling can hum and rattle; these HVAC systems tend to disturb people living on the upper floors.

Comparison Table Of Different Types Of Commercial HVAC

How To Choose Right Types Of Commercial HVAC System

For any commercial building HVAC systems, you can make a wise selection by getting a comparison given above. Still there are some factors that you need to undertake before making a decision.

Focus on these before you select the commercial system to provide air conditioning to your space.

• The size of the building and layout
• Climate and energy efficiency goals
• Budget constraints
• Maintenance requirements
• Future expansion plans

With these points kept handy, you will ensure that there is less regular maintenance and that there is constant air volume so the space inside the commercial building remains healthy. Lesser installation costs and reliable HVAC equipment can cut the expenses of office buildings.

Expert Tips for Choosing The Right Types Of Commercial HVAC Systems

To select the commercial building heating systems, we all need to follow some expert tips so we can make an informed decision.

• Ensure that you hire a qualified commercial HVAC system professional for all installations.
• You must think beyond your short-term savings and focus on the long-term benefits. Commercial HVAC system cost is a major factor that sometimes makes or breaks the current budget, but you have to make a wise selection.

Financing Options For Commercial Spaces

You can explore financing options and government incentives from a number of resources. Financing on air conditioning is on the trend now, and while it is in demand, your need to get a reasonable HVAC system financier will lead you to get commercial buildings in check with reliable indoor units. You can get the best deals for your purchase in a single split system.

Air Conditioners and Air Quality

Consider air quality and employee comfort before choosing the right HVAC for your commercial needs. Ensure the cooling cycle is sustainable for larger or smaller commercial buildings; the correct use of heat pumps and heat exchangers can improve the air quality. Commercial units must have the right HVAC system so the air filters itself of any harmful germs circulating inside.

Key Takeaway

After reading the above article, you may know the types of different HVAC systems and can select which HVAC system you can use for your commercial buildings. You must consult an HVAC expert to select the energy-efficient option and reduce fuel costs. Your one small step in choosing an HVAC system for your commercial buildings can increase your savings and help make our planet greener by keeping it under proper maintenance. 0