Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems – also known as “HVAC” systems – are a crucial part of any residential or commercial property in Ottawa.
HVAC systems provide better indoor air quality by exchanging air within a space using air from outside.
Features and benefits of having an HVAC system include temperature control and removing moisture, smoke, odours, dust and more!
HVAC systems are made for both residential and commercial properties. This means that there are some differences between the two systems.
HVAC systems require a skilled technician to properly install them. Especially for commercial HVAC systems, due to the structure of the system, the installation is more complex than a residential HVAC installation.
Commercial HVAC vs. Residential HVAC
There are differences between HVAC systems for residential and commercial properties, largely depending on the type of building as well as the size, scope and functionality.
Size
Residential and commercial HVAC systems vary greatly in size.
Commercial spaces are larger and accommodate more people in them at once. These systems are built to provide heating, cooling, and ventilation for many people.
Residential HVAC systems are more compact to accommodate a smaller amount of people and space.
The size of the HVAC system is important because if it’s too small for the space it is trying to function in, it will constantly run and overwork itself trying to reach the necessary temperatures.
If it’s too large, it won’t function as well and fail to remove the humidity in the room.
Installing the incorrect HVAC size for your space can have a bad effect on monthly hydro bills as well as requiring more HVAC maintenance down the road to keep the system working efficiently.
Placement
HVAC systems include everything from a furnace, air conditioner to ductwork and registers/vents. The placement of everything included in a commercial HVAC and a residential HVAC system is different.
For commercial HVAC systems, the air conditioner is usually placed on the roof of the building, whereas the air conditioner for a residential HVAC system is installed outside the house on ground level.
As for the heating system of an HVAC system, commercial properties will either have it installed in a boiler room or on the rood as well. Residential properties will likely have the furnace installed in the basement of their home.
The difference in placement is also be attributed to accessibility and convenience for maintenance and care. The usual areas that HVAC systems are installed for commercial buildings may not be conveniently located for a residential home.
HVAC System Components
Commercial HVAC systems, due to their size, have both heating and cooling components combined into an individual unit. Multiple thermostats are placed around various parts of the building to manage the temperature.
Residential HVAC systems are broken down into multiple components. The air conditioning part typically has two prime components, an outdoor compressor and an indoor evaporator. The heating component is separate and usually self-contained in the basement with a furnace.
Ventilation
The “V” in HVAC stands for ventilation, which aims to provide better indoor air quality for the space by bringing in fresh air from outside.
Residential buildings typically have windows that open and other sources of ventilation to provide fresh air for the space.
On the other hand, commercial buildings or structures do not always have these same sources. Commercial HVAC systems include exhaust components so that the building is being properly ventilated for better air quality indoors.
Advanced HVAC Commercial Installations & Services
Advanced HVAC is committed to providing high-quality HVAC systems and services to the Ottawa area. We are a proud member of the Ottawa Construction Association, specializing in commercial HVAC installations and services for any size of business.
Commercial HVAC systems require a different set of skills for installation. Our TSSA certified technicians can service all commercial HVAC brands and models.
Contact us for all your commercial HVAC needs in Ottawa and to learn more about our priority emergency services!
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