Commercial HVAC Maintenance

Owning a home and having a passing familiarity with a residential heating and air conditioning system is a good foundation for understanding commercial HVAC systems. However, the size and complexity of commercial HVAC systems require much more information and expertise on hand to oversee this important building system. The time and training necessary to maintain them will stretch the average facility owner’s schedule and focus.

Residential and commercial systems have the same goals: maintaining a comfortable temperature, usually between 72- and 74 degrees Fahrenheit, and relative humidity between 40 and 60 percent. They both serve the same functions: heating, cooling, ventilation, and removing moisture from extremely humid air. As part of the ventilation process, the system removes airborne contaminants from the air, making it much healthier. Beyond that, the commercial systems are vastly different from residential systems.

Size and Complexity Plays a Role in Commercial HVAC Maintenance

The size of HVAC systems is dependent on facility size and building use.

• A small retail shop in a strip mall might use a system similar in size to a residential system. However, a sprawling manufacturing plant or a 20-story office complex requires a much larger system or series of systems. Often, these systems work in tandem with other HVAC systems and are connected to electrical and fire protection systems.
• Residential systems use only a few configurations; a simple list includes a central ductless system or a mini-split ductless system, with either electricity or natural gas-powered systems. The configurations of commercial systems seem boundless in fuel type, delivery method, and function process.

Basic Types of Commercial HVAC Systems

• Mini-split ductless systems are very prevalent in commercial settings. These systems have an outdoor condenser unit, without an interior network of ducts. One condenser uses heat pump technology and brings heating and cooling to wall-mounted air-handler units in each space. Multiple spaces mean multiple thermostats and the comfort for each zone can be customized. Some large facilities use several of these mini-split systems together to efficiently condition lots of individual spaces.
• Variable air volume (VAV) systems are beneficial for multi-room buildings with vastly different heating and cooling needs—a kitchen and a dining room, for instance. The VAV system pushes the same temperature air at different rates to create efficiently conditioned spaces.
• Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems are useful for precise climate control. Is it necessary to heat one room and cool another? Or cool one room and leave an adjacent room unconditioned?
• Constant air volume (CAV) is excellent for large, open spaces with the need for a continual supply of fresh air at the right temperature. These spaces usually have a lot of people milling about and lots of activities.
• Heat pump systems function in the same manner as residential units, but the scale is often much larger. They do not generate heat or cold but move heat. During a cooling cycle, excess heat is transferred from the inside to the outside and the process is reduced for heating, capturing heat from the outside and bringing it into the inside. They are particularly effective in mild climates without extreme temperatures.

Proper Commercial HVAC Maintenance

The first step to maintaining a large HVAC system might be to locate all the rooftop units, the air handler room, the compressors, chillers, and boilers for the system(s). Maintenance will require identifying the filter sizes, and the refrigerant or fuels in use, and establishing an installation date for major components.

If you have neither the time nor expertise to adequately perform Commercial HVAC Maintenance, recruit some help from experienced technicians with specific training for systems like yours.

Want more information about Commercial HVAC Maintenance, we can help!

With our four decades of experience as a Commercial HVAC Maintenance contractor, AirPro Houston provides you with the skill and expertise to assist with the steps to obtain an Energy-Efficient Commercial HVAC.

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 Furnace Repair, Tune Up maintenance, and Commercial HVAC Maintenance needs.