Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - collectively known as HVAC - plays an integral role in most professional settings. It provides comfort for visitors, customers and employees, supports health and wellbeing, and boosts productivity. It helps protect the fabric of your business property, and in some cases is required to control critical variables - like in a data centre for example.
With such an important role to play, it’s vital that whoever designs, installs and/or maintains your system does so to the highest possible standard. But how do you know which HVAC company is the best option?
Here’s the essential criteria to look out for.
First off, you want a company that has a wealth of experience to its name, but is also up to date with the latest technology and industry innovations. Experience will allow them to design an effective solution that meets your specific needs, whilst current knowledge ensures they recommend the most energy efficient, cost effective equipment.
Importantly, experience and knowledge also help you stay compliant, whether that be under building regulations, or with regards to your legal obligations under F-Gas regulations.
Next look at the breadth of services they offer. There are plenty of companies out there that deal in domestic air conditioning, but that’s far removed from commercial and industrial HVAC. You also want to look at aftercare services. If a company offers install only, it raises questions on the quality of their work. It also leaves you unsure of ongoing costs. With a planned preventative maintenance contract however, you can budget for the long term.
To avoid poorly designed systems, substandard workmanship, and unforeseen expenses, choose a contractor that provides design, installation, commissioning, maintenance and repair services.
It is a legal requirement that any company working with stationary HVAC equipment hold a current F-Gas certificate, so at the very least make sure whoever you choose is REFCOM certified. For added peace of mind, the voluntary REFCOM Elite accreditation ensures best practice in refrigerant management.
You should also look out for Safety Scheme in Procurement (SSIP) certifications such as CHAS and SafeContractor, as these show commitment to occupational health and safety and risk management.
If necessary for your project, the BESCA Competent Person Scheme allows HVAC contractors to self certify works under Part L and Part F of Building Regulations.
Look for a company that works with leading HVAC manufacturers, like Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric and Fujitsu, as this will ensure you get commercial grade equipment at a reasonable price. Better yet, HVAC contractors that are members of a manufacturer partner programme have access to extended training and technical support, putting your job in even safer hands.
Do check though that the company is independent, and not tied to any particular manufacturers. This is the only way to guarantee they’re recommending equipment with your best interests in mind, not their own.
Finally, we come to the point that all too often dictates a decision. But if there’s one piece of advice we can give you, it's that with HVAC, quality is more important than cost. Of course, you don’t want to be paying extortionate rates, but if the costs seem too good to be true they almost certainly are.
Remember, you’re not just paying for equipment and installation. You’re paying for expertise and professionalism - and it’s always worth the extra investment to work with a supportive, responsive HVAC partner. Anything less will only prove a false economy in the long run.
We have over 10 years experience providing HVAC service in Loughborough and surrounding areas, hold accreditations with multiple governing bodies, and are members of the Fujitsu Partner Programme. It’s all part of the LAC commitment to excellence in service.
