Understandably, the commercial HVAC installation process tends to differ from residential work. If you're investing in a commercial HVAC system, you should be aware of these 5 differences.

Location

One of the most noticeable potential differences is the location of a commercial HVAC unit. Many businesses have flat roofs, and that makes it possible for commercial operations to place the external sections up high. Even if you don't have a rooftop space for a system, you may still be able to locate exterior components in a less-used space like the back of the business.

A lot of businesses also tend to have more open outdoor spaces for their HVAC units. This can be beneficial because you won't necessarily need to place components near trees or landscaping features that may interfere with operation.

Capacity Requirements

Commercial space is usually larger and more open than a residential one. Many also have higher ceilings. Open-air comes at an energy cost, though, even if you have a well-insulated building. A 1000-square-foot space with a 12-foot ceiling in ideal conditions will require more than 22,000 BTUs of cooling even with just a few people present. These projections go up as the space grows or if you have a building with less insulation or a less ideal location that receives more sun in a hot environment.

Multiple Units

Particularly if you have a lot of square footage in a building, you may reach the limits of what's cost-effective and feasible for a single unit to do. A commercial HVAC installation technician might encourage you to expand capacity by investing in one or more additional units. For example, a big-box retailer may need multiple units due to covering tens of thousands of square feet.

Protecting Assets

Typically, residential customers rely on HVAC setups for comfort. However, a complete commercial HVAC design may do more. Particularly, it can help you protect inventory, equipment, and rooms. However, this means you may need to have a more consistently climate-controlled setup.

Long-Term Maintenance Needs

An HVAC system in a commercial setting tends to run more often and longer. Naturally, this means it will have greater maintenance needs. You will almost certainly use bigger filters and have to replace them more often. On the upside, a commercial-grade installation will typically involve more resilient components and designs. As long as you keep an appropriate maintenance schedule, your commercial systems should provide decades of comfort. 

For more information, contact a local commercial HVAC contractor.