Are you a multi-family property developer or property manager? Then you need to know about multi-family HVAC systems! These systems provide centralized air to the renters and/or homeowners inside your building, without it impacting the other units in the building.
Read on to learn more!
What Is a Multi-Family HVAC System?
Having centralized heating and cooling for multiple tenants means one resident can cool their homes while another could technically heat theirs if they wanted to. It takes the air conditioning and heating purchase out of the resident’s hands and puts it into yours–this means you’ll also be liable for providing maintenance and other services to these systems for each and every tenant.
Therefore, you’ll want to ensure you work with an experienced contractor for multi-family HVAC installation and services. Fortunately, Dayco is here to help!
How Do I Know What Size I Need?
The sizing of the multi-family HVAC units you will need will depend on a number of factors. You can’t just assume “the bigger than better.” When sizing a single central air conditioner, technicians look at a number of factors to conduct what’s called a cooling load.
We look at the square footage of the space it’s serving, sure, but we also look at the number of windows and doors in the space, how high the ceilings are, and even the average humidity levels in the home. In most multi-family properties, this won’t vary much unit-to-unit, but of course, your property could be an exception.
Therefore, to find the right sizing for your units, you absolutely want to get in touch with an experienced professional.
Do I Need Regular Inspections?
Absolutely, yes! Professional HVAC inspections are a part of our maintenance program. We look at both the outdoor and indoor units, checking for signs of wear and tear, and changing the air filters as needed (this should be done by each individual tenant depending on their indoor air needs, however, this isn’t always the case!)
How Long Do Units Last?
The good news is, that multi-family HVAC systems are modular–this means that if one tenant’s system accumulates wear and tear faster than another’s, you do not have to replace the whole system, just that one resident’s unit.
That said, when properly maintained, the average air conditioner has a useful service life of 10-15 years. Beyond this point, you’ll want to consider replacing the system.
How Do I Know If I Need Repairs?
It’s important to communicate with your property’s tenants–many of the signs of an air conditioner in disrepair will occur with the indoor unit, not the outdoor unit. These signs can include strange noises, lack of proper airflow, lack of cooling power, strange odors coming from the vents, ice appearing on the air conditioners or vents, and anything outside of the normal operation of an air conditioner.
If one of your tenants reports a problem, chances are that problem could be impacting other tenants too–and even if not the best thing you can do is contact our team right away for reliable repairs.
To learn more about multi-family HVAC systems in Acworth, GA, contact Dayco Systems!
