Factors to Consider while Buying Commercial Air Conditioning System

Nowadays, there is barely any commercial space with no air conditioning systems. Almost all commercial areas from restaurants and shops to huge office buildings have one or two air conditioning systems installed. When there is a need for a new commercial air conditioner, business owners and service managers usually find it confusing to choose the right commercial air conditioner for their space. Like buying any other technical thing such as a car or computer, one needs to research brands to understand which one offers the best services.

Commercial air conditioners require special consideration for installation, repairs, and maintenance, as they have substantial differences from residential air conditioners. The key difference between cooling a commercial area and cooling a residential space is the amount of power required by the air conditioner. Businesses often have large areas than homes, hence air conditioners with larger cooling capacity are required at commercial places. As the human body gives off heat, commercial air conditioners should be capable enough to cool the extra heat released from number of people in a workspace.

When it comes to buying commercial air conditioners, brands such as Trane, Carrier, Mitsubishi, McQuay, and Daikin come on the top list. However, brands aren’t everything when it comes to selecting a commercial air conditioner. There are many other vital factors to ponder while choosing a commercial air conditioner.

What Factors should be Considered while Choosing the Best Commercial Air Conditioner for your Business?

I. Type of Commercial Air Conditioners

While picking the best commercial air conditioner, you must start looking for the best type of technology that suits your requirements and your area. The market is flooded with several brands and models having a variety of heating and cooling solutions for commercial spaces. As per a report by Research Dive, the global commercial air conditioning system (VRF) market is foreseen to grow at a healthy CAGR of 13.5% from 2020 to 2027 mainly owing to the growing demand for energy-efficient Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems among consumers, despite the turmoil created during COVID-19 pandemic. Business owners find it difficult to find the right type of commercial air conditioner for their commercial space due to a large varieties of air conditioner systems available in the market. Here’s a short guide that will give you a basic but essential knowledge about the type of commercial air conditioners. Commercial air conditioners can be classified into three key types:

1. Single-Split Air Conditioning Systems

For business spaces such as single room shops, small cafes or even small offices, single-split type of commercial air conditioners are usually the best pick. These type of commercial air conditioners are cost-effective, compact, and extremely efficient and ideal for fulfilling all the cooling requirements of small spaces. Moreover, multiple single-split systems can be installed to offer air conditioning for much larger spaces.

One benefit of installing multiple single-split commercial air conditioners is containment—if one of the systems breakdowns, the others continue to function without getting affected.

2. Multi-Split Air Conditioning Systems

The concept for multi-split commercial air conditioners is very similar to their single counterparts. One outdoor commercial air conditioner is usually connected to multiple indoor commercial air conditioners for allowing the units to cool down. Multi-split systems are often used by business owners who have shortage of space to manage single-split commercial air conditioners, or who wish to preserve their structure’s aesthetic charm.

These type of commercial air conditioners usually require a complex ductwork and might take time for installation.

3. VRF Systems

Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) air conditioning systems are usually used to offer all the heating and cooling requirements of medium to large commercial spaces. VRF systems can offer simultaneous heating of one area while cooling the other one, without too much pressure on its system.

 II. Capacity

While choosing an air conditioner unit for commercial spaces, cooling capacity of the system is of great importance. Ensure that the air conditioner vendor you choose is calculating it appropriately. Some vendors calculate the cooling capacity purely based on the square foot of area that needs air conditioner installation— which is not the ideal method. Instead, the vendor must perform an analysis of the area and operating conditions to identify the capacity it needs.

III. Distribution

Even a best commercial air conditioning system can end up with poor performance if the system is not rightly designed. For instance, if you install a ducted system, the ductwork layout should be properly designed. If you install a ductless system, the air handlers should be installed at appropriate locations.

IV. Quality of Installation

This is the most significant factor that business owners and facility managers usually pay less attention to.  The installation of commercial air conditioner plays a crucial role in its performance. A properly installed air conditioning system can give you consistent cooling for decades.

There are several installation errors that can hamper the performance of a commercial air conditioner. It is essential to hire a well experienced and an efficient commercial air conditioner installation expert to design and install your system.

Key Takeaway Message!

Proper air conditioning has become a necessity for every business space mostly in regions with humid and hot climates. Air conditioners not only help cool down the interior space but also absorb moisture during the evaporation phase and lowers humidity, thus facilitating a pleasing atmosphere for customers as well as employees. Hence, it is ideal to choose the best commercial air conditioning system that is efficient is offering best cooling experience at your business space.

About the Author(s)

Princy A. J

Princy holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. University at Chennai, India. After a successful academic record, she pursued her passion for writing. A thorough professional and enthusiastic writer, she enjoys writing on various categories and advancements in the global industries. She plays an instrumental role in writing about current updates, news, blogs, and trends.