- Central air functions by using ducts to circulate air from one room to another, cooling it and dehumidifying it in hot weather and circulating cool air and heating it up with electrical coils during the colder months. The chief advantage of central air is that it is easy to control, efficient, simple to monitor costs with and handles both hot and cold weather. The main barrier to installing central air is the difficulty and expense of installing air ducts.
- It can take many years for the installation of central air to pay for itself, so the primary reason to have it installed is to increase comfort. There are almost always state and local regulations stating allowable workplace temperature ranges. The control and ease of manipulation that central air offers makes it the standard method of heating and cooling used by the majority of businesses. Installation in very old buildings can cost upwards of $10,000, but the cost is lower the lighter the material used to construct the walls and the smaller the structure in question. The more ducts that need to be installed, the more expensive the construction will be.
- The contractor that you choose to install a central air system for your business will likely be the one that will have be maintaining it for the years to come. Choose one that is reputable--otherwise you may end up either overcharged on the installation, end up with an ineffective central air system or find yourself being taken advantage of on maintenance fees. Trade organizations such as the North American Technician Excellence or HVAC Excellence will certify central air contractors for skill and proven customer service.
- While central air is being installed, it can be disruptive to the work environment and may make the place of business uninhabitable until the installation is completed. If any work is being done, it's best to have it either performed during an extended vacation or when heating and cooling are not strictly needed, such as the mild months of spring and fall. Multi-level structures will require far more significant alterations than smaller ones to replaced old forced-air heating or cooling infrastructure.
- Sign on with a contractor that will give you special deals on regular inspections and minor repairs. Leaks will happen. Filters will have to be replaced regularly. The system will need to be vacuumed and cleaned. If your system isn't being maintained, it will break down--and you'll need to have parts of it serviced or replaced. Make sure that you have a service plan before signing up for installation. Be wary of vendors and contractors that try to sell you a system too powerful for the size of your structure. Oversized central air systems will need to turn on and off more often than appropriately sized ones and are liable to break down much faster than smaller ones.
