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 are looking for more details, kindly visit Commercial Air Source Heat Pump.

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.

While both residential and commercial HVAC systems serve the same purpose of heating, ventilating, and cooling, they vary drastically in terms of mechanism and parts. This is because addressing the need for comfort in a home varies drastically when compared to a workspace. Following are 7 major differences between residential and commercial HVAC units:

1. Size

A residential HVAC unit is much smaller as compared to a commercial HVAC system as it needs to cool or heat a much larger space. Commercial systems are also different in terms of components like thermostats, condenser fan, compressor, evaporator, blower, and dampers. As both the systems are required to serve the needs of different areas, the amount of power they consume to function also varies dramatically.

2. Placement

While a residential HVAC unit is typically placed in the backyard or the sides of the house, a commercial HVAC system is placed in swamp coolers or on the building&#;s roof for the following reasons:

• An HVAC system that is placed on the roof makes a great space saving solution.
• It avoids noise pollution in the building.
• It is a perfect solution for maintenance as none of the activities are disrupted during repairs and replacements.

3. Complexity

Apart from the size, residential and commercial HVAC systems also vary in structure. Commercial systems need to be more adaptable depending on the type of building where they are being installed, the number of occupants and the use of the building whether it is periodic or constant. Other factors that determine the complexity of commercial HVAC systems are the end-use of the structure and the things that are being manufactured or sold in the building. These are the major reasons commercial systems feature a complicated mechanism as compared to residential units that require less power to alleviate exhaust.

4. Drainage

Every component of an HVAC system is larger than that of a residential unit including the drainage system. As residential HVAC units serve a much smaller area, the entire system drains in a single pan that is placed outside the house. A commercial HVAC system consists of multiple pipes and pans for the draining purpose to ensure complete evaporation and to eliminate the possibility of overflowing.

5. Mechanism

The mechanism of a commercial HVAC unit depends on the structure where it is going to be installed. The manufacturing and installation of a commercial HVAC system are modular whereas a residential unit is manufactured as a standalone system. Since commercial HVAC systems are modular, all the parts are housed together and it allows for easy maintenance and upgrade. In a residential HVAC unit, all the parts are split between the indoors and the outdoors and it cannot be modified or expanded.

6. Equipment

The HVAC equipment used in smaller residential structures differs drastically as compared to the massive HVAC equipment that is installed in commercial establishments. Commercial systems are customized for effective heating and cooling and are very intensive. The humidity and temperature needs of a residential dwelling do not vary much which is why the HVAC equipment used in the two systems is very different.

7. Maintenance Cost

The maintenance cost of commercial HVAC systems is more than a standalone residential unit for various reasons such as complexity of components, the size of the system and the difference in mechanism. For a commercial unit, you need highly experienced and skilled technicians to ensure a perfect installation, efficient maintenance and energy efficiency. Different HVAC technicians specialize in different HVAC systems as both the units feature a unique mechanism and function differently.

While both the systems are designed to accomplish the same goal, ensuring a comfortable and healthy space requires periodic HVAC maintenance checkups by technicians who specialize in the particular system you own.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Commercial Air Source Heat Pump. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.