Air conditioning units are necessary for any commercial building when creating an ambient and work-friendly environment for its employees. Commercial air conditioners help purify the air that enters buildings and maintain a controlled temperature during weather extremes.
Employers rely on efficient commercial air conditioners and proper installation to provide the facility with adequate humidity, temperature, and ventilation control fit for working. Therefore, you must ensure that the commercial air conditioner you have and the installation process meet your facility’s needs and stipulated guidelines.
Highlighted below are eight vital steps involved in the installation process of a commercial air conditioner.
1. Assess the Space Size
The first critical step in your air conditioning installation process is determining the building’s floor space or size. Most commercial buildings have large, spread-out areas that typically demand vast amounts of power to satisfy the heating and cooling needs. Large premises run a risk of short cycling and incurring energy wastage when an incorrectly sized air conditioner is installed. Furthermore, installing the wrong size of unit will attract high energy bills and require extra time for repairing or upgrading.
Larger commercial spaces demand a higher number of air conditioning units, unlike smaller defined areas. At Beyer Mechanical, we have a team of professional technicians that will carry out the load calculation of your facility to establish the number of commercial units you need. Additionally, the professionals will calculate the appropriate size of the commercial unit size your facility might require.
2. Select the System Type
Commercial buildings have different types of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems compared to those used in residential homes. Several factors will inform what system type you select for your facility, including its size, configuration, and heating or cooling needs. For instance, the single split unit is famous for shops, cafes, restaurants, server rooms, and small offices. It includes an exterior and interior system linked by a copper pipe. The latter heats or cools air with the heat exchanger while the former lets heat dissipate.
A multi-split unit consists of numerous indoor units linked to one extensive outdoor unit. The system effectively heats and cools large floor spaces, multiple floors and provides different climatic conditions. You can select a quiet multi-split unit for larger office spaces, while showrooms and dealerships can run on larger and louder systems. Such an HVAC unit permits temperature control for every room without subjecting the whole facility to one selected climate control.
Other systems include the variable refrigerant flow (VRF) or volume (VRV) that contain multiple condensers united to a larger condensing unit. VRF or VRV systems are available as heat pumps or heat recovery systems commonly utilized for medium and large spaces. You can opt for an affordable and effective commercial HVAC unit like the variable or constant air volume system (CAV). However, the VAV or CAV units are only useful in single-zone facilities and act by maintaining or varying airflow through a single-duct supply unit.
3. Assess the Building Position
The building or facility’s geographical location will guide your HVAC unit’s installation process because it may offer unique cooling or heating capabilities. The installation technicians will assess what designers of the building considered when constructing the facility. For instance, designers continually use window and roof positioning strategies to reduce the commercial space’s heating or cooling needs. Therefore, technicians during the installation process use the building position to select a unit that will serve it appropriately and reduce wasted energy.
4. Analyze the Temperature Conditions
When installing an HVAC unit in a commercial building, technicians should consider internal processes that affect the ambient temperature. Commercial spaces typically house manufacturing areas or kitchens, where heat is generated and raises the temperatures of the surrounding rooms. Therefore, professionals will install air conditioning systems with zone-controlling capabilities for such situations rather than a centralized unit.
5. Select the Appropriate Size of the AC unit
After analyzing the temperature conditions, space, size, and building position, the technicians will size the new AC system. The air conditioning unit’s sizing does not refer to the machine’s physical dimension but assessing the facility’s cooling and heating needs. Professional installation technicians will help you find a system with adequate functional capacity.
If you select a small air conditioning unit, the system will need to run continuously to maintain a cool and conducive working environment. Consequently, continuous HVAC running will attract high-energy costs and maintenance charges because the device is under strain. Conversely, a more extensive system size will increase the off and on cycle due to the building’s rapid cooling and heating. Such a situation might increase humidity in the air inside the building, making it challenging to dehumidify it.
Technicians use several factors to determine the appropriate size of your commercial air conditioning unit. Such determinants include the building size, layout, thermal characteristics, and position. Furthermore, you should provide the professional installer with your personal and employee preferences to achieve a work-suited environment.
6. Conduct Proper Duct Installation
The air conditioning duct layout is critical in determining the distribution of hot or cold air through your premises. Professionals must ensure the ductwork is in good shape before deciding whether to repair damages and properly install it in all the necessary sections and regions. Our technicians will assess the duct systems and help you set up a custom unit after building renovation. At Beyer Mechanical, we install ductless slit mini-systems, split units, refrigerant flows, ventilation systems, and other cooling and heating devices you might need.
7. Installation of the HVAC Unit and Thermostat
During the installation process of an air conditioning system, the technician must ensure that safety and efficiency are achieved. The professionals should install the unit on strong walls to support its weight and offer sufficient space to allow for repairs and maintenance. Additionally, the unit should be far from heat sources, direct sunlight, and places that might experience gas leaks. The AC unit’s electrical connections should follow the proper guidelines to avoid unnecessary power trips and accidents.
Brand-new air conditioners come with thermostats that require installation to control the temperature in your facility. If a thermostat already exists, the technician will assess it and ensure the existing thermostat has a satisfactory connection with the new HVAC system. Furthermore, you can have separate smart thermostats for your facility for different floor levels and rooms.
8. Testing and Quality Assessment
Once the AC unit’s installation process is over, the technician will carry out a final check to assess the machine’s quality. The professional will examine every section of the commercial air conditioning system to ensure it runs efficiently. The technician will fix all the issues before leaving your facility. Additionally, the professional will guide you and your maintenance team on how to operate the system.
Lastly, the technician will inform you how long the system is expected to run and the maintenance frequency. Typically, most systems require at least one maintenance routine a year. However, the frequency is relative and relies on the type of system installed and the business you are running.
You should always feel welcomed to engage and reach out to our support team to schedule an installation of a commercial air conditioning system on your premises. At Beyer Mechanical, we are committed to providing our clients with the necessary solutions to their heating and cooling needs through high-quality devices. Our team of technicians and experts will ensure that your business runs smoothly by facilitating a conducive environment. We also service commercial HVAC, do engineering, clean ductwork, and offer design services for new builds and remodels to the San Antonio region.
