Temperature control is a vital aspect of maintaining a productive work environment. Not only is comfort important, but many inventory warehouses need a certain temperature to maintain quality of products. Regardless of the size or use for your facility, cool and comfortable temperature is necessary year-round. While many facilities currently use separate units for their heating and air conditioning, there may be a simpler solution for you.
Heat pumps are available for commercial facilities and act as a two-in-one solution for heating and air conditioning. Heat pumps can reverse the flow of refrigerant, allowing them to cool air during the summer and heat air during the winter. This single system can save on maintenance costs and will function year-round no matter what you set your thermostat to every day.
Heat pumps work by moving environmental air inside or outside to facility depending on whether you want to heat or cool. They are more energy efficient because they use the heat and energy from outside to more easily heat and cool large spaces. While heat pumps may be a bigger initial investment, the energy savings you’ll gain from switching will pay for the unit in no time. If you’ve been considering an HVAC upgrade, there may be several reasons why a heat pump might work better in your favor. Here’s what you should look for when shopping for a commercial grade heat pump:
ENERGY STAR rating
Heat pumps are on average more efficient than traditional HVAC units. However, not all heat pumps are created equal. If you’re going to spend extra on a heat pump upgrade, look for one with the ENERGY STAR mark of approval. These units can run produce nearly twice as much heat using the same amount of power.
Your facility’s location and climate
As with any other heating and cooling system, your climate plays an important role on how efficiently certain heat pumps will run. Heat pumps work less efficiently when temperatures drop, so if you live in a colder climate you need to look for systems rated for cold weather. If you live in a warm climate, however, this will not need to affect your purchasing decision.
Your facility’s design
Just like with a traditional HVAC system, your heat pump must be able to meet the demands of your unique facility design. Building characteristics such as the insulation, square footage, and the number of windows you have will affect the size and needs of your heat pump. The best way to make an informed purchasing decision is by talking to your MaintenX technician for expert advice. They will likely do a load calculation based on these elements to determine the right size heat pump for your space.
Heat pumps can be a great cost-savings investment on your facility, especially as the cold winter months approach. Talk to a MaintenX technician today to learn about options for your building.
