Commercial Air Conditioning What You Need To Know About Costs

Sometimes the internet can be so helpful and sometimes it can be a royal pain. It is excellent for purchasing commodity items with set prices and known shipping costs. It is not very helpful when you research large ticket items or services; there are so many variables that affect the price, and no one will make an estimate on a project “sight unseen.”

If you are planning Commercial Air Conditioning replacement for your building, you need to budget figures for planning purposes that come close to reality. Good luck wading through complicated square footage calculation x a dollar amount that ranges from $3/sf to $35/SF. That much variation is not helpful at all!

We are going to give you two simple calculations and a simple list of variables. We figure that if you manage a commercial property, you will be able to take limited information, complete some research, and make a projection for the budget. So, let’s dive in.

Two Simple Commercial Air Conditioning Calculations

• Square footage of the building x 25 = BTUs needed for air conditioning. Twenty-five represents the average air temperature change needed. If the outdoor temp is 100⁰ F, AC will need to bring the indoor air temperature to 75⁰ Example: 20,000 SF x 25 = 410,000 BTUs.
• BTUs / 12,000 = AC tons Air conditioners are sold in tons. Example: 410,000 BTUs / 12,000 = 34.2 tons

At least you have a base model to determine to price. But you are not finished quite yet.

Simple Variable

Tonnage is a starting point, but there are some variables that will affect the price. Variables may have a positive or a negative impact on your installation cost and operation cost.

Building Type

Several things about your building will impact the cost of installing new AC. Are you trying to cool a single-story strip center or a five-story office building, needing a crane to lift heavy equipment? Are you cooling a gym, with 12-foot ceilings, filled with people and machines generating a lot of heat, or an office farm with 8-foot ceilings with people doing rather sedentary work? The more complicated the installation, the higher the cost.

Types of Commercial Air Conditioning Systems

Various building types and business applications will require different types of AC systems. Here is a list of common AC applications.

• Package Units closely resemble residential HVAC systems (heating and cooling will use common components, and refrigerant gas passes between an outdoor compressor and an indoor blower. (Adding heating capacity to your AC system will impact your component cost.)
• Mini-split ductless systems are used to cool small zones, such as hotel rooms or apartments.
• Variable refrigerant systems cool large spaces and may use air, water, and/or refrigerant gas.

This is a simple list—there are many more system types. Since you know your building well, this gives you a better idea of the major type of system you will need.

Added Commercial Air Conditioning Features

So far, you have been looking at “base models,” but your long-term goals might require some feature upgrades. While doing research, watch for the cost of a few upgrades to help with budgeting.

• SEER rating. Air conditioner efficiency is rated in SEERs or seasonal energy efficiency ratings, the higher the SEER number, the more efficient the system. If your building requirements or operational requirements demand energy efficiency, watch for the SEER or SEER 2 rating that takes effect in January of 2023. Efficiency comes with a higher capital expense but is recovered quickly with lower utility bills.
• Air quality. Ultra-violet (UV) light damages the cell walls of living organisms—UV light causes sunburns. Installing UV light in the ductwork neutralizes (kills) microorganisms as they move through the system. Mold and mildew spores, pollen, bacteria, and viruses are reduced to dust and removed by air filters. The cost is low, and the benefit is high if you have room in the budget.
• Automated controls. Reducing access to the thermostat(s) is a good idea. Scheduling temperature changes for energy savings is wise. Wi-Fi access to building controls is convenient. Look at some of these system control features.

A few other variables will come out in your research, such as brand differentials and local labor costs, but normal research will uncover these indicators. This article did not declare a cost for your system; that was not the goal. We hope this gives you enough information to help you research the cost of replacing your Commercial Air Conditioning for budgetary purposes and to give you a starting point to begin shopping for the best contractor to install your new system.

Have Questions About Commercial Air Conditioning?

With our four decades of experience as a Commercial Air Conditioning contractor, AirPro Houston provides you with the skill and expertise to assist with HVAC System Replacement and HVAC Maintenance and answer questions about your Commercial Air Conditioning system.

We have several financing options available with great options with up to 72-month terms with approved credit. Call us today at  281-880-8805 and let us partner with you for all of your Air Conditioner Tune Up maintenance, repair, and installation needs.