Learning About Commercial Air Conditioning Units

How Residential AC Units Are Different From Commercial Units

21 August 2020

Floyd Carroll

If you are training as an HVAC contractor or simply want a refresher, then you will probably want an idea as to how residential AC units are different from those in commercial environments. These units are less powerful, less adjustable, and are placed differently. 

Less Power

One of the most important differences between a residential and a commercial AC unit is that the former is generally less powerful and less efficient. Commercial AC units need to heat or cool large work buildings that can vary considerably in terms of their heat. This includes restaurants, warehouses, large office buildings, and other commercial buildings. Meanwhile, residential AC units are generally sized down so that they aren't taking up too much energy to overpower the home they cool. This means that residential AC units are smaller, less complex, and generally easier to work with.

Less Adjustable

Another difference between residential and commercial AC units is that residential units are generally made so that you only repair or replace them, rather than add or remove certain aspects over time. This is to say that commercial AC units are made to be modular, while residential AC units aren't. This means that when you are called on to manage a commercial AC unit, you can expect more variability in the work than when you are called on for residential AC units, as businesses may want additions, different tubing set-ups, and other modifications that aren't possible with residential AC units. However, this also means that changes to a residential AC unit generally require a complete replacement of the system.

Different AC Locations

Finally, one important difference between residential and commercial AC units is that commercial AC units are typically placed on the roof of the business that owns them, while residential units are generally on the side of the house. Sometimes, you will find residential AC units that are on the roof, such as in particularly hot areas or just households that have flat roofs. In general, however, you can expect more stairs involved when working with a commercial AC unit, as businesses generally prefer to save space by putting their AC unit on the roof.

These aren't the only differences between residential and commercial AC systems, and certain things may depend on your area. However, in general, you can expect residential AC units to be easier to work with as they are smaller, less complex, and easier to access. If you need to adjust a residential AC unit, you'll have to replace it, while commercial AC units can be modified easily.

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