Purchasing a new HVAC system for your St. Louis commercial building is a major capital expenditure. Businesses look to maximize their return on their HVAC investment by accurately budgeting for the purchase and ensuring their system performs efficiently at all times. Knowing your commercial HVAC life expectancy is the key to making informed decisions on the investment and taking steps to improve its efficiency.
Read on to learn more about factors that affect HVAC life expectancy. For more help, contact the St. Louis heating and air conditioning experts at Galmiche & Sons today.
What Factors Impact Commercial HVAC Life Expectancy?
The typical estimate for commercial HVAC life expectancy is between 12 to 15 years.
As per the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), commercial HVAC life expectancy varies by unit type:
- Air source heat pumps: 15 years
- Water source heat pumps: 19 years
- Rooftop air conditioners: 15 years
- Wall air conditioners: 15 years
- Air-cooled condensers: 20 years
- Steam or hot water boilers – 25 years
Depending on multiple contributing factors, most HVAC systems can last for anywhere from 15 to 25 years. Below are some of the factors that affect the commercial HVAC life expectancy.
HVAC Unit Size
An oversized or undersized commercial HVAC system can have a shorter lifespan as they overwork, leading to wear and tear. The unit size has to align with the building size as well as the size of the ductwork to maximize the efficiency of the commercial HVAC system.
Quality of Installation
Errors in HVAC installation can give rise to system flaws that impact the unit’s efficiency and increase the components’ wear and tear. Precise HVAC installation is vital to prolonging commercial HVAC life expectancy. Ensure your commercial HVAC system is installed by an experienced and licensed commercial HVAC installation professional.
Commercial HVAC Maintenance
The best appliances and systems, including the commercial HVAC, can fail without proper maintenance. Regular maintenance boosts the system’s efficiency, minimizes breakdowns, and can lower energy costs. Proper commercial HVAC maintenance involves a regular preventative maintenance schedule, timely repairs, and replacements as needed. For instance, the air filters of the system should be checked every two months and replaced if necessary.
Other preventative maintenance tasks include:
- Cleaning the internal and external components of the HVAC system
- Cleaning air ducts
- Replacement of worn parts
Here is an estimate of commercial HVAC life expectancy based on maintenance:
- No maintenance: 15 to 18 yrs
- Little maintenance: 18 – 20 yrs
- Some maintenance: 20 – 25 yrs
- High maintenance: 25+ yrs
Contact your St. Louis HVAC professionals at Galmiche & Sons to schedule an annual or bi-annual inspection of your commercial HVAC unit.
HVAC System Usage
A unit that constantly runs as opposed to a system used conservatively experiences higher wear and tear. Your building’s HVAC usage depends on the size of the building, business hours, occupancy, environmental conditions, production activities, among others.
Contact Our Expert Commercial HVAC Professionals in St. Louis
As the leading commercial HVAC company in St. Louis, we have handled multiple projects, right from designing, building, and installing HVAC systems to preventative maintenance packages and repairs. Contact the heating and air conditioning professionals at Galmiche & Sons today at 314-993-1110 to get custom HVAC solutions that your industrial or commercial space needs.
