6 Tips To Make Your Commercial HVAC System More Energy-Efficient

Energy costs can be a major expense for any business, and of all the equipment in a typical commercial building, HVAC systems are often among the highest energy consumers.

By boosting the efficiency of your commercial heating and air conditioning equipment, you can reduce your utility bills and provide a more comfortable environment for staff and customers.

This guide will cover cost-effective ways to improve commercial HVAC efficiency.

Install a New Energy-Efficient Unit

If your HVAC equipment is over 15 years old, installing a new, energy-efficient commercial HVAC unit may be the best way to keep your energy costs as low as possible.

Modern HVAC units can significantly reduce energy consumption, thanks to advanced coil designs, two-stage cooling, variable-speed blowers, economizers, and other innovations.

Systems like ductless mini-splits, heat pumps, and packaged units, which feature heating and cooling in one unit, can also significantly reduce energy usage compared to conventional systems that combine a split-system AC with a furnace.

All newly manufactured commercial HVAC systems for northern areas like Indianapolis must meet the most recent SEER2 and HSPF2 requirements, which specify minimum ratings of:

• 13.4 SEER2 for split-system or packaged AC units
• 14.3 SEER2 or 7.4 HSPF2 for split-system heat pumps
• 6.7 HSPF2 for packaged heat pumps

These SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings better reflect real-world performance than the previous SEER and HSPF ratings. Under the revised system, a heat pump with 14 SEER and 8 HSPF would be rated 13.4 SEER2 and 6.7 HSPF.

Schedule Routine HVAC Maintenance

Routine service is essential for reliable commercial HVAC performance. A full inspection and tune-up should be scheduled annually for heating and air conditioning systems.

Ideally, heating maintenance should be done in the fall to ensure the system is ready for winter. Typical maintenance tasks include:

• Testing safeties and controls
• Measuring temperatures and airflow
• Inspecting electrical connections
• Testing and adjusting the burners in a furnace or boiler
• Inspecting the coils and condensate drains on heat pumps

Air conditioning maintenance should be performed in the spring. Tasks will typically include:

• Testing electrical system, airflow, safeties, and controls
• Verifying refrigerant levels, pressures, and temperatures
• Testing the compressor, start capacitor, and relay
• Cleaning the condenser coil, evaporator, and condensate drain
• Testing the economizer or make-up air unit

Change Filters

Good air quality is important for the health of building occupants and the efficiency of your HVAC system. Clogged air filters can make HVAC equipment work harder and use more energy.

Standard pre-filters should be replaced every three months or more often if they look excessively dirty. HEPA filters should be replaced every six to 12 months to keep energy usage to a minimum.

For even better air quality, consider installing air scrubbers or air purifiers to remove dust, pollen, bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants from the indoor air.

Install Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats allow you to have more control over your HVAC system with intelligent programming options that can significantly reduce your heating and cooling costs.

By raising or lowering the temperature based on when your business is open or closed, you can minimize energy consumption without affecting the comfort of your customers or staff.

Add Insulation

A properly insulated building can maintain temperatures longer between HVAC cycles, reducing the load on your HVAC system.

If your commercial building doesn’t have insulation with at least an R-20 rating, consider adding more to keep your energy costs as low as possible.

Repair Leaky Ductwork

Leaky ductwork can allow heated or cooled air to escape to unconditioned areas. This makes the building less comfortable while forcing your HVAC system to work harder to maintain your desired temperature.

If you have leaky air ducts, professional ductwork repair and sealing can greatly improve your HVAC efficiency and comfort.

Commercial HVAC Maintenance in Indianapolis

Cut costs and maximize the efficiency of your HVAC system with commercial HVAC maintenance from our team at Northern Comfort Systems. We’re an eight-time Angi Super Service Award winner with great customer reviews.

We’ve served the Indianapolis area since 2001, guaranteeing:

• Trustworthy technicians
• Upfront pricing
• Free estimates on HVAC replacements
• 24/7 emergency service

Call us today to schedule commercial HVAC maintenance, repairs, or replacements in Indianapolis and surrounding areas.