Commercial HVAC  Summary

It’s 2023 and most Americans are familiar with the basics of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, better known as HVAC systems. After all, we benefit from HVAC in our homes, vehicles, workplaces, and almost every public indoor space we frequent. The HVAC systems that function inside your residence are different than the system that service large commercial properties like malls, hospitals, schools, and large office facilities. Commercial HVAC systems like these need special care and maintenance that residential systems don’t.

Residential and commercial HVAC systems are similar in their basic function. They both:

• Require the movement of massive quantities of air; powerful blowers pull/push the entire volume of the space involved every few minutes.
• Use equipment that cools or heats the air on demand for both safety and comfort. This is primarily completed with heat pump technology. The refrigerant gas is employed to move heat between indoor and outdoor spaces, depending upon the season. Other mechanical components may use supplemental electrical or flame-based sources for additional heat.
• Clean the moving air in the process, removing a large percentage of the airborne particles from the indoor space.
• Use auxiliary functions, like the humidification and dehumidification of the air, if needed.

However, residential and commercial HVAC systems differ in a variety of significant ways.

Differences Between Commercial HVAC and Residential HVAC Systems

Residential HVAC systems are small, in comparison, and are stand-alone systems. While both complete the same functions, there are very few similarities beyond that. Let’s look at the unique characteristics of commercial HVAC systems.

• The amount of energy needed to supply HVAC systems in commercial systems is much larger than for residential HVAC systems.
• Often, heating and cooling functions are completed by entirely different pieces of equipment. Auxiliary functions, such as humidification and dehumidification, are also completed by separate equipment.

Commercial HVAC systems also employ various equipment that customizes the function for the needs of the facility. Such specialized equipment includes:

• Variable Air Volume Systems. VAR allows a single heating or cooling unit to supply varying amounts of air to a given zone. Mechanically controlled dampers can limit the volume of air pushed into a zone and therefore control the temperature in that zone.
• Split system. This is a ductless system that uses one compressor/condenser unit outdoors and one cabinet indoors, often in a mechanical closet, for the blower, evaporator, and filter. Package systems can serve multiple zones to provide heat or cooling. These systems serve well in very large commercial spaces; however, they require significant indoor space to be dedicated to HVAC equipment.
• Commercial Packaged Units. Packaged units perform both heating and cooling functions from one outdoor cabinet. The cabinet is often placed on the roof or on an outdoor pad. Package systems are often used to maximize indoor space, but this also moves the noise of the HVAC system outdoors.
• Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems. VRF systems are complex and utilize technology used in some of the other mentioned systems together. The same heat pump technology is used. One compressor/condenser unit provides coolant to as many as 64 indoor zonal cabinets. VAV systems use dampers for airflow. VRF systems use dampers to vary the flow of refrigerant gas to the indoor cabinets, providing customized comfort for many zones.

Every HVAC system needs preventative maintenance care, but commercial systems have different maintenance needs than residential systems. Schedule your preventative maintenance visit to save energy and money on utility bills, reduce the number of expensive repairs, and increase the lifespan of the system.

Need assistance with your Commercial HVAC System?

With our four decades of experience as an HVAC Repair contractor, AirPro Houston provides you with the skill and expertise to assist with the steps to answer questions about 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 new installation needs.