Repair a business air conditioner when one part has failed and the unit has been reliable. Think about replacing it when breakdowns keep coming and the lost trade keeps growing.
What a Breakdown Costs a Business
A home can sit through a warm afternoon. A business often cannot. Track the real cost of each breakdown in these four places:
- Hours you closed early or opened late.
- Customers who left a room that was too hot.
- Staff time spent waiting, or sent home.
- Stock that needs cool air, such as food or goods that spoil in heat.
Write these numbers down after each breakdown.
Count what each breakdown costs you, not just the repair bill. Then compare that with a written replacement cost.
If You Have More Than One Unit
Many shops and offices run several units. Each one has its own age and its own repair history, so judge them one at a time.
Keep a simple list with these facts for every unit:
- Where the unit is and which space it cools.
- The year it was made. The data plate on a unit often shows it.
- Each repair so far, with the date and the cost.
Ask whoever inspects a failed unit to look at the others too. Replacing the oldest unit first can spread the cost over more than one budget year.
The ENERGY STAR home guide lists signs that point toward replacement. One reads, “Your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old.”
Another reads, “Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up.” The guide is written for homes, so treat it as a starting point for a business.
Plan the Work Around Your Opening Hours
Any repair or replacement takes some time, and the time matters more when customers are waiting. Before you agree to a job, ask the contractor three questions:
- How long will the work take?
- Can it be scheduled outside your opening hours?
- What will the space be like while the unit is off?
Summer is long and hot here. Climate-zone.com, citing NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals for Bullhead City, gives a July average high of 111F and low of 81F.
The same page lists average highs above 100F from June through September. While the unit still works, plan a replacement for a time when your own trade is quiet. Waiting for a breakdown in a hot week leaves you less choice.
If Your Business Has a Rooftop or Package Unit
If your business has a rooftop or package unit, ask how a contractor would choose the size of a new one for your space. Ask any contractor whether they work on your type of unit.
The U.S. Department of Energy lists oversizing, improper charging and leaky ducts as installation problems. It says they reduce efficiency and shorten equipment life. Oversizing means the unit is too big for the space. Charging means the amount of refrigerant in the system.
The same Department of Energy page says proper maintenance of commercial central air conditioners is essential for effective and efficient operation. Keep your maintenance records with your list of units.
ENERGY STAR’s light commercial page cites the Consortium of Energy Efficiency: at least 25 percent of all rooftop HVAC units are oversized.
What a Newer Unit Changes
A newer unit can use less energy. ENERGY STAR says certified light commercial HVAC equipment is approximately 17 percent more efficient than standard equipment.
This is a national figure, not a promise for any one building. Savings depend on your hours of use, your space and how well the unit is sized and installed.
To compare options, see our AC repair and AC installation and replacement pages.
We found no reliable price range for a business unit, because cost depends on size and type, so ask for written quotes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will a replacement take?
That depends on the unit and the building, so no general figure is fair. Ask each contractor to put the expected time in writing.
How do I know if a business unit is too big?
Ask whoever sizes a replacement to explain how they chose the capacity and what load they measured. Oversizing is a known problem for rooftop units, as the national figure in this guide shows.
Is a newer business unit more efficient?
ENERGY STAR says certified light commercial HVAC equipment is approximately 17 percent more efficient than standard equipment. That is a national figure and applies only to certified units, so ask whether the unit a contractor proposes is certified.
Contact Horizon Air LLC
Horizon Air LLC is a local, family-owned business founded in 1976 and based in Fort Mohave. It serves homeowners and commercial customers: offices, shops and eateries. It is Licensed, Bonded & Insured, ROC 344248.
To reach Horizon Air LLC, call (928) 768-3761 or send a message. We serve Fort Mohave, Bullhead City, Mohave Valley and Golden Valley.
Horizon Air LLC
