Wednesday, January 29, 2020

How Much Is Your Commercial Air Conditioning Unit Actually Costing You?

How Much Is Your Commercial Air Conditioning Unit Actually Costing You?



Understanding the true cost of any commercial air conditioning unit goes beyond simply looking at the purchase price. To determine a unit's true value, you must consider the amount of energy needed to maintain a comfortable temperature in the building. There's also the matter of the overall cost of maintenance, upkeep and repairs. Before investing in a new unit, here are some things that you need to know about getting the most from your existing system.

Projecting the Lifecycle Cost

The lifecycle cost is simply the amount of expense involved in owning and operating equipment for commercial air conditioning. The first expense is the purchase price, followed by any costs that have to do with installation. From there, the cost of the utilities necessary to operate the system must be considered. There's also the matter of any type of service contract that is secured for the system. Don't overlook the need to have repairs done from time to time, and allow for both parts and labor.

Understanding the lifecycle cost allows you to determine how your current system measures up to newer systems on the market. By calculating the cumulative expense of the current unit, it will be easy to compare the benefits of continuing to maintain the system versus replacing it. If you find that a new unit would not produce significant savings over your current system, then there is no need to invest in a replacement at this time.



Knowing When to Shut the Unit Down

Depending on the nature of your business, it may not be necessary to run the commercial air conditioning constantly. At certain times of the year, it may be more economical to make use of the cooler air outside. This is often true in the autumn and the spring, when the heat and humidity indexes are a little lower.

The thing to keep in mind is that using this economic approach does require that the system be left off for at least a few hours. Many units utilize a significant amount of energy in order to start up. This means having the unit off for no more than an hour may not produce much in the way of savings. By contrast, if letting fresh air in would keep the building interior at a comfortable temperature all morning and into the afternoon, then opening the doors and windows makes sense.

Look closely at how you are making use of your commercial air conditioning unit and see if there are ways to enjoy the benefits while also reducing operational costs. Regular maintenance and judicious use will often result in allowing the unit to keep running for a few extra years. That provides you with more time to research possible replacements, and be ready to move quickly when the time comes.

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