If you’ve ever looked at the AC systems installed in medium to large businesses and commercial properties, you may have noticed a trend. Many business owners’ choose a rooftop installation and it’s become a popular choice. When you start to look closely, you may see AC units on the top of many commercial buildings and even apartment blocks. These modular units are more common in densely populated areas, where many buildings are in close proximity to each other. Why is this an increasingly popular choice and is a rooftop AC installation right for your business?
Saving Valuable Space
One of the more noticeable aspects of rooftop mounted modular AC units is that they save space inside the building. When a unit is placed on the roof, it’s easy to cool or heat a building without adding extra structures. Every foot of space costs money and placing large units in valuable space that could be used for income generation is wasteful. Many buildings in tightly packed areas simply don’t have sufficient space for separate units located at ground level. These units are expensive, placing them on a roof makes them less accessible, which reduces the chances of casual vandalism too.
Improving Energy Efficiency
The HVAC industry is evolving constantly and the systems manufactured today are far more efficient than their counterparts from only a decade ago. This is easy to track when you look at the AFUE and SEER ratings for the commercial HVAC systems available today. So, when you install a new energy efficient system on the roof, you can be sure that they are working optimally. The initial cost may be high, but the energy savings are considerable and there is no lack of performance. The key to getting the best out of your commercial HVAC system is to schedule regular servicing by a local heating and cooling specialist. This brings us to our next key point.
Easy Access to the System
When you’re running a business, you need to minimize distractions and downtime that can affect your profitability. When HVAC systems are installed in a rooftop location, they can be accessed without causing disruption to your core business. Of course, you’re not going to send your regular employees onto the roof to solve any issues that could occur. No, this is a task for your local certified and licensed HVAC specialist. They should have relevant experience dealing with commercial rooftop units. They will have the tools and experience to access and work on the root safely without causing disruption.
When you contact your HVAC contractor to work on your rooftop units, they may need certain access privileges to get started. Carrying out essential tasks, including installations, repairs, maintenance, and more are all possible without much input from the business owner. This isn’t the case if you’re using a typical split-system AC system and/or a heat pump. These types of systems typically have components mounted in a series of cabinets that have external and internal units. The external units are pretty easy to access, but an internal unit requires the technician to work indoors. This is when disruption occurs and that can be a significant distraction for your workforce and customers.
Lower Noise Levels
There’s no getting around the fact that larger commercial HVAC systems can be noisy. Some units are very large and they can generate a significant volume of background noise that many people cannot tolerate for long. If you’re running some kind of business with a lot of visitors, this could deter them from visiting your location in the future. This situation is very different when you choose to install the equipment on the rooftop.
When you have a rooftop HVAC system, you will notice that there is very little ambient noise from the equipment. This is especially true if you have a business location on the ground floor and some intervening floors between. When you operate your HVAC system, all you are likely to hear is the woosh coming from the vents when the system is working. This means that you can achieve your ideal indoor tempèrature without causing annoyance to customers or creating a distraction for your workers.
A Modular Approach
When you look at rooftop units on a commercial building, you can see multiple units stacked together. Each unit may be used for one business or floor in that building and they are modular. This is an ideal approach for a new business because your HVAC system can grow alongside your business. If you need additional heating and cooling for your building, you can simply add extra units to the roof. In comparison, a conventional furnace and split-system AC unit is not a flexible approach. The system you install cannot be expanded to accommodate future needs and you may need to relocate. If you’ve purchased the building, it makes more sense to go with a system that can be adapted easily to meet all your needs.
Protecting Your Investment
We briefly touched on this issue earlier when we mentioned protection against vandalism. But, it bears repeating because larger commercial HVAC systems are expensive when compared to a typical system found in even the largest homes. An energy efficient commercial system can save you money on energy bills, but the upfront costs are considerable. So, it makes good sense to protect your investment by placing these expensive units in a hard to reach location.
In Conclusion
As you can see, there are very real benefits to a rooftop installation for your commercial HVAC system. Of course, there could be issues to resolve in terms of paperwork and permissions, but the advantages certainly outweigh the disadvantages. For a growing business, installing a modular HVAC system that can expand alongside your operations is a major advantage. This allows you to scale your system to meet your needs without a huge upfront investment that may not be warranted. If you’re interested in a rooftop HVAC system for your business, contact your local heating and cooling specialist today.