Air conditioning: Practical concerns for AC systems

Once you’ve decided on the most appropriate air conditioning system for your business premises you will need to ensure proper installation and compliance with legal requirements and standards.

Proper installation is critical for getting optimal efficiently from your air conditioning system. You’ll need to consider the following:

• Allowances should be made for drainage from the indoor unit for cooling and heating modes
• Outdoor air conditioning units should be well-ventilated, easy to access and placed on solid level ground
• DIY AC systems are available, though to be sure that your system is most efficient and fully compliant with regulations, it’s probably best to use qualified air conditioner installers.

All air conditioning systems with an effective rated output of more than 12kw must be regularly inspected by an energy assessor at least once every five years. In addition, the government’s Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme enables businesses to claim back 100% of the cost of eligible air conditioning installations and equipment from their annual tax bill.

Comparing offers

Armed with the preceding information you will be well-equipped to compare supplier offers. You can start right away with the form at the top of this article; just tell us what you need and you will receive up to four free quotes from carefully selected business air conditioning suppliers within 48 hours.

• Ask for a description of the supplier’s long-term repair and maintenance service plan
• Ask about washable carbon filters to help reduce odors
• Check energy efficiency ratings. Air conditioners are graded from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient)
• An AC system’s British Thermal Unit (BTU) rating provides an indication of what it will cost to run. For instance, a 9,000 BTU machine costs about 9p per hour while a 12,000 BTU machine costs about 12p per hour.