Differences Between Residential and Commercial HVAC ...

12 Aug.,2024

 

Differences Between Residential and Commercial HVAC ...

Commercial and residential HVAC systems are both responsible for heating, cooling, and ventilating a home or business. Although these systems accomplish the same functions, they work in vastly different environments, and they use slightly different equipment to achieve their goals. Here is a look at the major differences between residential and commercial HVAC systems. 

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Sizes

Most commercial buildings are significantly larger than residential structures. As a result, commercial HVAC equipment tends to be larger and more powerful than residential HVAC equipment. However, in small commercial buildings, the HVAC system may be comparable in size to a residential unit. 

Setup

In most cases, residential HVAC systems feature an outdoor compressor and an indoor evaporator along with a furnace or another heating solution. You may hear this setup referred to as a &#;split&#;. In contrast, commercial HVAC systems feature a &#;packaged&#; unit which contains everything to heat and cool the commercial building. However, when homeowners decide to use a heat pump, they also get a single outdoor unit paired with several indoor air handling units to meet both their heating and cooling needs.

Placement

Generally, the indoor HVAC equipment in most homes is placed in a basement utility room or in a small closet or laundry room on the main level designed to hold that equipment, and the outdoor unit sits in the backyard or on the side of the house.  

The outdoor unit for a commercial system traditionally goes on the roof of the building. The roof provides ample space for the unit and reduces noise pollution compared to placing the unit on the ground. Additionally, when equipment is on the roof, it can be serviced easily without forcing the business to suspend operations.  

However, many commercial buildings are now making the shift to ductless HVAC systems, and these units feature a very quiet outdoor unit with a small footprint. That allows commercial property owners to place the unit on the ground next to the building, on window ledges, or on roofs.

Zones

Commercial HVAC systems are much more likely to have zones controlled by their own thermostats than residential systems. This allows commercial buildings to meet a variety of diverse heating and cooling needs depending on what&#;s happening in the building. Traditionally, most homes have a single thermostat to control their entire HVAC system, but many homes are now switching to ductless HVAC systems with zones.  

A modular setup in commercial buildings also allows HVAC technicians to install commercial HVAC systems piece by piece, rather than all at once. Technicians may also be able to handle repairs zone by zone to minimize disruption to business activities. 

Ventilation

For the most part, commercial buildings have more complex ventilation needs than homes. This stems partly from the fact that homeowners can easily air out their spaces by opening their windows, while many commercial buildings are less likely to have windows that are convenient to open. Additionally, commercial buildings that house restaurants, manufacturing facilities, or other businesses that generate a lot of exhaust or chemical-laden fumes need a lot of ventilation simply to stay safe and healthy. 

Drainage Systems

While heating and cooling a space, HVAC systems collect moisture from the air and generate condensate. In both residential and commercial HVAC systems, the condensate gets expelled from the system via a tube that drips into a pan. Again, however, this equipment is larger and more complicated for commercial buildings than for residential homes.  

Maintenance

Finally, due to the differences in equipment and set up, commercial HVAC systems are more challenging to repair and maintain than residential systems. When hiring an HVAC technician to install, maintain, or repair the HVAC system in your home or business, you should find someone who is experienced with your type of HVAC system.  

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Commercial Heat Pump Manufacturer.

At N.E.T.R., Inc., we work with both residential and commercial HVAC clients in North Andover, Boston, and the surrounding areas. To set up a repair or to learn more about meeting the heating and cooling needs of your home or business, contact us today.

Difference Between Commercial & Residential HVAC

When you&#;re looking for a reliable company to take care of your commercial HVAC system, don&#;t trust just anyone. Although your business&#; HVAC system serves the same purpose as your heating and cooling system at home, there are some key commercial and residential HVAC differences that you should be aware of. While it may be easy to call a number you see on an HVAC company&#;s truck, doing your research first makes sure they will service commercial HVAC systems as well as residential ones.

The team at Novak Heating, Air, and Duct Cleaning explains the differences between residential and commercial HVAC systems and why it&#;s important to only trust qualified pros on your business&#; heating and cooling systems.

6 Differences Between Commercial and Residential HVAC Systems

HVAC is not a one-size-fits-all kind of industry. Systems are often built custom with a team of mechanical engineers to create the optimal comfort experience. Your home may have a different HVAC system than your neighbor&#;s house, just like one business might have different HVAC needs than another business down the street. If you are looking for a commercial HVAC systems company, make sure they are experienced in dealing with these types of systems because there are many differences between residential and commercial systems.

1 &#; Location

When you have a business, you want to make as much use of the floor space as possible, and using a room to house a furnace can be a costly expense. Most commercial HVAC systems are mounted on rooftops. This is also because larger commercial HVAC systems are noisier than residential models. By placing these systems on the roof, you eliminate noise pollution and save floor space.

2 &#; Size

The size of your home&#;s HVAC system is based proportionally to the home&#;s size. However, commercial HVAC systems are so large, they require more space. It&#;s not just the units themselves that are larger. Commercial HVAC systems have much larger components that demand more space. If you wanted to make a large hardware store comfortable, it would take dozens of small residential HVAC systems to match the power of one commercial unit.

3 &#; Complexity

Although they might be the same size, a factory might have different climate control needs than a big box store. A commercial building that manufactures materials will have different needs than a warehouse storing perishable foods. That is, businesses need to run at a cooler or hotter temperature inside to preserve the materials or to make a room colder to prevent the factory equipment from overheating. Many commercial properties require different temperature zones. There are many complex factors that go into designing commercial HVAC systems.

4 &#; Drainage

A residential HVAC system contains one drainage pan to eliminate condensation. Commercial HVAC systems contain multiple pipes and pans to create a drainage system to ensure complete evaporation and eliminate the possibility of overflowing. These large and complex drainage systems require planning and careful installation.

5 &#; Manufacturing

Residential units are usually a split system, with one inside and the other outside. You cannot expand or add to your home&#;s heating and cooling systems, you can only replace them. A commercial HVAC unit is designed to be modular. Both systems are often housed in one unit and can be easily added upon. Commercial properties often adapt and conform to the business operating within them. One year a building might be a grocery store and the next year it might be a gym. The HVAC system requirements for these different kinds of businesses affect how the building should be heated and cooled, so the HVAC system needs to be easily changed.

6 &#; Maintenance Requirements

Because a commercial system is much larger and much more intricate, it&#;s more likely parts will break and things will need to be repaired. You may find that you need maintenance and repairs more frequently on a commercial system than on a residential system and that these repairs can cost much more. It&#;s important to hire certified technicians that are familiar with the complex nature of your commercial HVAC system. Experienced commercial technicians use state of the art equipment to troubleshoot the problems. Highly trained professional technicians make sure your system is running as efficiently as possible and can make repairs quickly.

Trust Novak With Your Cedar Rapids Commercial HVAC Systems

Both businesses and residential properties can trust their commercial properties in Cedar Rapids to Novak Heating, Air, and Duct Cleaning. We have experienced technicians and the right certifications to handle both kinds of systems. We provide quality installation, maintenance, and repairs to make sure that your commercial HVAC system runs smoothly and keeps your employees and customers comfortable. Contact us today to learn more about our commercial HVAC system services.

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