Choosing an HVAC System: Homes vs. Businesses

HVAC systems for homes and businesses can differ in major ways. However, qualified technicians can install the appropriate unit for a particular space.

Design and Maintenance of HVAC Equipment 

Flexibility is a key component that differentiates the design and maintenance of residential versus commercial units. Residential units are designed to be used at a particular capacity with no modifications to be made in the future. Commercial systems are designed so that components can be added or removed to adjust the system’s cooling and heating capacity. Should a tenant move out of a large business building, the HVAC system can be altered to reduce energy waste.

While annual maintenance is always recommended for a residential unit, a commercial HVAC system demands more maintenance by its amount of workload alone. Failing to maintain a home unit may seem like a costly mistake when it comes time to replace it, but commercial units can potentially have replacement costs up to 5-10 times more expensive.

Location of HVAC Equipment

Due to the large size and noise of commercial HVAC units, they are often built in enclosed areas or on places like rooftops. Homes, on the other hand, can have their units installed adjacent to their structure or in places like the attic. Most HVAC companies can perform residential installations with ease. For commercial applications, though, it's best to make sure the company is certified and experienced in taking on this large task.

HVAC Temperature Control

Homes tend to have only one or two temperature gauges for managing comfort. Typically, an HVAC system for a home will only need to keep a few residents comfortable—possibly a dozen or more during holidays or family gatherings. However, commercial units need to keep hundreds of workers comfortable. Larger cooling and heating demands mean more custom and complex temperature controls. Some large buildings have a synchronized temperature control from a front desk or operations room, while others opt for individual controls on every floor of the building.

When choosing between HVAC installation companies, it's best to stick with one that knows the appropriate type of unit to deliver for every kind of customer. Rusty's Inc. has been providing quality installation and maintenance of residential and commercial systems for more than 61 years. Call (508) 775-1303 or fill out our contact form to schedule a service for your home or business.