Every business looks for ways to cut costs, and, there’s certainly nothing wrong with being vigilant. It allows for more products to be made available to consumers at a lower cost, gives businesses the power to explore and expand, and, provides more employment opportunities. The challenge for companies is to find where streamlining makes sense and where it doesn’t — especially over the long term. For big items, this complicates the question because it’s often a sizable expense.
When you walk into work and expect it to be cool and comfortable, free from the outside heat, there’s nothing worse than feeling sticky and oppressed. It’s even worse when the proverbial writing is on the wall and telltale signs abound, signaling the time is near for your commercial air conditioner.
Repair or Replace Your Commercial AC?
For most business owners, there’s no way to determine if their commercial unit is just in need of a simple repair, or, replacement. The truth of the matter is, it almost doesn’t matter which you choose, because it’s still an expense. What adds to the frustration is that you don’t know what you don’t know. That is to say, if the advice you’re being given is truthful, and, if it is, how much are you really comfortable spending?
When is it time to replace? Certain telltale signs indicate it’s time to consider replacing heating and cooling equipment, or improving the performance of your overall system. It may be time to call a professional contractor to help you make a change if [certain signs and symptoms are present]. —Energy Star.gov
Regardless of your comfort level with such expenses, you have to consider the impact it can have on your business. When employees are uncomfortable, bad things happen — productivity drops and errors go up. That’s an inverse relationship you want to avoid, but, how do you know when to repair and when to replace? Here are some things to consider:
- How old is the unit? Though units are designed with a lifespan of 15 to 20 years, the extreme heat, dirt, and dust will all take a toll. Even a system that’s about 10 years old can suffer enough damage to shorten its life significantly.
- Exactly what’s broken? Quite often, problems that appear to be a big deal can be easy to fix and inexpensive to repair. This is particularly true of electrical issues. However, if the compressor is bad or is going bad, the unit probably isn’t worth trying to salvage.
- What’s the quality of performance? The quality of performance will tell you a lot about an air conditioner. If it’s run for years with very few, minor problems, it’s probably worth fixing. Conversely, if it has a history of poor performance, chances are it won’t get better.
- Has there been regular maintenance performed? Proper maintenance does a whole lot to extend the life and performance of any system. Even well maintained units will need repair from time to time. If it’s not been regularly maintained, wear and tear is typically more severe, speeding-up the need for replacement.
Another consideration is to weigh cost versus time. If the repair is relatively inexpensive, of course, it’s better to fix it and get as much use out of the unit as possible. However, if this is just one more in a long line of previous repairs, the unit is definitely on a serious decline. The extra money you spend now can save you much more in the future. If your commercial air conditioning unit isn’t working properly, it’s time to have an experienced technician check it out.
