Resource Type: Articles

The Main Parts

In the simplest terms, an air conditioner removes warm air from the inside of your home or business and replaces it with cool air. That process involves the following elements:

• Refrigerant
• Compressor
• Condenser
• Expansion Valve
• Evaporator Coil

There are many different types of air conditioning systems including window AC units, ductless systems, and central HVAC systems. Despite the differences between all of these systems, they all essentially cool the air in the same way. In fact, air conditioning systems work nearly the same way that your fridge does to keep food cool. To learn more, take a look at how each of these individual elements work together.

Refrigerant

On a basic level, your air conditioner works like a circulatory system, pumping refrigerant instead of blood. As refrigerant moves through the system, it absorbs heat from the indoors and releases it outside. Through this process, the refrigerant has to change states from a vapor to a liquid. Luckily, refrigerant has a low boiling point, and that allows it to change from a liquid to a vapor without creating a lot of excess heat. 

Compressor

As the “heart”, the compressor pumps the refrigerant through the rest of the system. The cooling cycle starts when the compressor draws in refrigerant gas through the suction line from the evaporator. At this point, the refrigerant is a low-pressure gas that has absorbed the hot air in your home. The motor-driven compressor uses a piston to squeeze the refrigerant to increase its temperature and pressure, and that causes the refrigerant to turn into a hot, high-pressure gas vapor. Then, the refrigerant flows through the discharge line into the condenser. 

Condenser

Once the hot refrigerant vapor flows to the condenser, the condenser fan blows on the refrigerant to cool down the hot gas. As the refrigerant changes temperature again, it turns from a high-pressure gas vapor to a hot liquid, and it begins to move toward the expansion valve. 

Mitsubishi outdoor condenser units

Expansion Valve

The hot liquid refrigerant passes through a small opening in the valve and emerges as a cool low-pressure mist. This happens because the valve reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, and that speeds up the cooling process. The expansion valve also controls how much refrigerant can flow through the system, and that helps to boost the overall efficiency of the system. After passing through the valve, the low-pressure cool liquid mist moves to the evaporator coil. 

Evaporator Coil

The evaporator coil is made of a conductive metal such as copper, aluminum, or steel. First, that metal attracts some of the heat in the room, and then, that heat passes to the refrigerant. During this process, some water vapor from the room also tends to hit the outside of the evaporator coil. When the warm vapor hits the cold coil, it condenses into a liquid. That helps to reduce the humidity in the room, and your AC also deals with that excess water, often by collecting it in a pan. 

No matter what type of air conditioning system you have, the parts all need to work together to cool the room. Additionally, they must be regularly maintained to ensure your air conditioning system continues to work as efficiently as possible. If you’re not getting cool air, one of these parts may not be working properly and you should contact an HVAC technician as soon as possible. 

At NETR Inc., we have been providing high quality air conditioning services since 1989. As one of the leading providers of ductless AC in Boston and surrounding areas in Massachusetts, we can help you achieve the level of comfort you need in your home or business. Call us today at 781-933-NETR(6837).

HVAC Installation for Commercial Buildings

If you’re working in an office building, an apartment complex, a factory, or any other commercial space, you may want to put in a traditional HVAC system. Ducted systems connect to furnaces, or heat pumps as well as external air conditioning units. This traditional heating and cooling option uses fans to move warm or cold air from units in a utility room or on the roof of your building through the ductwork and into the rest of your space. 

HVAC Service & Maintenance for Businesses

Proper maintenance of your HVAC system helps you spot repair issues before they get out of control, and that can help you save money. Additionally, when you set up commercial HVAC services and maintenance, you get filters changed and critical components cleaned as necessary. Ideally, both traditional and ductless HVAC systems need regular service and maintenance. 

Commercial Ductless Options

Many businesses are gravitating away from ducted HVAC systems and choosing ductless heating and cooling solutions. Ductless mini splits feature a small outdoor unit that connects to one or more indoor air handling units. These units can increase efficiency by up to 25%, helping you to save on your heating and cooling bills. 

Benefits of Ductless HVAC for Commercial Buildings

Ductless systems offer a wide range of benefits. The outside unit has a slim profile, allowing it to fit in tight spaces or even on window ledges. The indoor air handling units can work in a variety of positions and come in different styles to match your decor. Both indoor and outdoor units run quietly, making them perfect for quiet office or residential environments. 

Additionally, ductless systems feature a zone set up. If you just need to add heating and cooling to an addition on your commercial building, a ductless mini split system may be the best option.

Ductless HVAC for Entire Buildings

Whole building ductless HVAC systems feature one or more outdoor units and up to 32 indoor air handling units for each outdoor unit. Each individual unit can be operated separately and you can track usage and set master parameters to ensure your whole building stays as comfortable as possible. With a whole building ductless system, you can opt to have everything installed at once or you can choose zoned installation. In most cases, you can also sync these units to your building management software and control everything remotely. 

Ductless HVAC for Offices & Retail Establishments

If you own a retail establishment, you want your shoppers to feel comfortable while they’re browsing the aisles, and ductless units can help keep temperatures consistent in your brick-and-mortar store. The indoor air handling units are unobtrusive, so they don’t interfere with your display space, and the system comes in dehumidification capabilities, so you don’t have to worry about humidity ruining your inventory. 

When office workers feel comfortable, they tend to be more productive, and a ductless unit helps to ensure you can enjoy consistent temperatures throughout small offices as well as large office complexes. You can place individual units in different offices so that you can control temperatures separately and don’t have to worry about heating or cooling unused spaces. 

Ductless HVAC for Controlled Environments

Server rooms, data centers, telecom stations, mechanical rooms, and a variety of other places require cooling regardless of the outdoor temperature. Inverter technology helps to get rooms to their target temperatures faster and more efficiently, protecting your valuable equipment and keeping your energy costs as low as possible. 

Clean rooms need a minimum of dust and pollutants. Ductless systems facilitate this because the units are easy to maintain and feature heavy duty filters. Additionally, the air coming into the room doesn’t pass through a dusty duct which, helps to keep the room clean and sterile. 

Ductless HVAC for Restaurants

Restaurant HVAC can be challenging. You have to contend with  a heat generating equipment in your kitchen, exhaust issues from cooking fumes, lots of people in your dining room, doors opening and closing regularly, and countless other challenges. A ductless HVAC system gives you the ability to heat, cool, and ventilate your restaurant in a variety of zones so you can easily meet the different needs of all your spaces, while also providing whisper quiet operation so that you can safeguard the ambiance of your dining space.

Ductless Heating and Cooling for Apartments and Condos

Apartment residents need quality heating and cooling, as well as the ability to control the temperatures in their own units. With a ductless system, you can give your tenants that freedom, while also enjoying the benefits of fast and easy installation, quiet operating levels, and healthy ventilation.

Importance of Indoor Air Quality for Businesses

Indoor air quality tends to be significantly worse than outdoor quality, and to safeguard the health of your employees and customers, you need healthy indoor air quality. When dust, allergens, pollutants, and volatile indoor air compounds (VOCs) pollute your indoor air quality, your employees tend to have more allergic reactions and illnesses, which can reduce productivity and hurt your bottom line. Additionally, poor indoor air quality contributes to more mistakes and compromises concentration.

Save Money on Commercial HVAC

Commercial heating and cooling bills can be expensive. Luckily, you can take numerous steps to keep your energy bills as low as possible. Ideally, you should schedule an energy audit to find out where you’re losing energy, and you should maintain and upgrade HVAC systems and other electronic equipment as needed. Additionally, you may want to consider automatic thermostats and lights to help you reduce unnecessary energy consumption.

Most Common Commercial HVAC Issues

Incorrectly installed or poorly maintained HVAC systems can lead to high bills for commercial property owners. To save money, some business owners skip essential HVAC maintenance, which ultimately leads to costly breakdowns, debris filled filters, or other issues. To avoid common pitfalls, you should work with a commercial HVAC specialist who understands the unique challenges related to your industry and building type.

HVAC Case Studies for Commercial Properties

Case studies show how new HVAC systems help improve properties in your area. Commercial HVAC studies identify the main issue, explain the solution, and detail how the new ductless HVAC system made a difference. 

Reach Out to N.E.T.R. Inc. Today

If you own a commercial property or any kind of business, you need quality commercial HVAC services. Want to upgrade to a ductless system? Need HVAC for a new commercial property? Want service or maintenance for your existing HVAC system? Then, contact us today. At N.E.T.R., Inc., we work with a variety of businesses in different industries, and we would love to help you.

A ductless heating and cooling system helps you save energy compared to a system that relies on ductwork — on average, homeowners lose 25% of their energy just through the ductwork alone. However, not everyone is choosing between a ductless system and a traditional forced air system. Some consumers are trying to decide if they should opt for a ductless system or a wood or pellet-burning stove.

 So, how does going ductless compare with wood or pellet-burning stoves? Here’s what you need to consider.

The Need for Backup Heat Sources

In the 1970’s and 80’s, the early generation of ductless heating units, or heat pumps as they are also called, were not that efficient. In fact, people in very cold climates often needed a backup heating source, and many people choose to combine a ductless system with a wood or pellet burning stove. Now, however, that is not the case. 

The current generation of ductless heating and cooling systems come in a wide range of models with a variety of capacities. There are “all-climate” ductless units that work even when temperatures fall below -30 degrees Fahrenheit. With ductless systems, you can keep an entire home warm in cold climates, and if desired, you can even heat and cool a large multi-unit commercial space. 

That’s simply not possible with a wood or pellet-burning stove. Most people who have a wood or pellet-burning stove also have to invest in other heating options. They may need space heaters for areas where the stove doesn’t reach, or they may need central heating for the days when they run out of pellets or can’t tend to their wood burning stoves.

Efficiency

Because they move heat rather than generate it, heat pumps use far less electricity than most other heating options. In fact, heat pumps can create more energy than they consume in electricity. Pellet and wood-burning stoves can be efficient, but there are a lot of variables to take into consideration. 

If the stove doesn’t heat the whole home, you will need to waste energy on other heating sources. On the other hand, if your stove heats the whole home, it usually overheats the room that it is in, and you may find yourself opening windows and wasting energy that way. Additionally, if you don’t live near a reliable source of wood, transporting the wood also takes energy.

Purchase Price

Depending on the size of system you buy and how many ductless units you purchase, the costs can vary. When comparing the cost of a ductless unit with a wood-burning stove, it’s important to take into account the purchase price, but don’t let sticker shock deter you from looking closely at the operating costs.

Operating Costs

According to Efficiency Maine, a non-profit organization focused on energy efficiency education and advocacy in Maine and the Northeast, the cost of using pellets to heat a 1,500 square foot home is about $2,000 per year, while running an EPA-certified wood-burning stove costs about $1,500 per year. However, if you have a ductless heater, the annual operating cost is well below $1,350. That amounts to a savings of $150 to $650 each year to heat your home. Note that if you have a used or inefficient pellet or wood-burning stove, these numbers may be higher, and if you have a larger home, the savings will be more dramatic.

Placement

You can put ductless systems in spaces such as home additions, garage apartments, sunrooms, or remodeled sheds that aren’t connected to your ductwork, but you can also use pellet or wood-burning stoves in these spaces. That said, you can also use ductless units throughout your entire home. 

Ductless systems come in a huge range of styles that work with any decor. In all cases, these units are small and discreet, and they don’t have a large footprint. In contrast, stoves need a chunk of space in your home. With wood-burning stoves, you also have to account for accessories such as pokers and wood piles.

Installation

Both heating stoves and ductless heat pumps don’t require ductwork. That makes installation simple in both situations. However, the hole you have to put in for a wood burner is considerably larger than the small hole you need for a ductless unit.

Versatility

While pellet and wood-burning stoves only offer heating, ductless units can handle both heating and cooling. With a ductless unit, a heat pump uses refrigerant to move heat from one place to another. Then, during warm times of the year, the process is reversed — the heat pump moves heat from inside the home to the outside.

Other Eco Considerations

In addition to energy efficiency, you may want to think about how other elements of these two choices affect the environment. Unless you buy pellets in bulk, you are going to accumulate many, many plastic bags with a pellet-burning stove. With wood-burning stoves, you can find trees that are grown sustainably — that’s where the trees are harvested at the same rate that they grow. However, depending on your location and the type of wood you want to burn, that’s not always possible. 

Additionally, you need to consider indoor air quality. Wood smoke contains hundreds of chemical compounds that contribute to adverse health. In fact, in many urban and rural areas, wood smoke is a major contributor to air pollution. For this reason, some towns and cities restrict wood burning when local air quality reaches dangerous levels. This doesn’t even take into account the dust, bark, and wood chips.

Convenience

You can find pellet-burning stoves that feed themselves automatically, but with a wood-burning stove, you need to tend the fire. That’s not convenient. Additionally, you have to find space to store pellets and cords of cut wood. On top of that, you have to clean chimneys, lug around 

heavy bags of pellets, cut down or buy firewood, and clean up messes around the wood stove. 

With a ductless system, you can set it and forget it. Many systems (especially commercial units) also come with software that lets you set different controls for each individual unit of the system.

Lifespan

In many cases, ductless units installed in the 1970’s and 80’s are still going strong today, but as a general rule of thumb, most units are designed to last about 20 years. Pellet and wood-burning stoves can last longer, but if you hold onto them too long, you will likely miss important efficiency upgrades.   

At N.E.T.R., Inc. we help commercial and residential clients install ductless systems. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact us today.

Ductless HVAC systems come in a wide variety of designs and capacities, and they can work in numerous environments. When you invest in a ductless system, you immediately save up to 25% just by getting rid of your ducts. On top of that, ductless systems use inverter-driven compressors, which can speed up or slow down the system based on your heating and cooling needs. In contrast, traditional systems cycle on and off repeatedly, which wastes energy. 

Now that you’ve decided you want a ductless system, you just need to decide which system is right for you. While making your selection, there are several points to keep in mind.

Heating and Cooling

If you like, you can buy a mini split that just does cooling. For instance, if you live in a hot climate and you want to convert the attic to a living area or cool the garage during the summer, a mini split can meet your needs perfectly. However, if you want to completely replace your current HVAC solution or if you live in a cold climate, you probably want a mini split with a heat pump. 

Note that when ductless systems first came out, they didn’t have the power to provide adequate heating in cold climates, and as a result, homeowners in these climates had to augment their ductless systems with a backup heater. Luckily, that is no longer the case. When you invest in a ductless system with Mitsubishi H2i® technology, you can heat your space effectively without a backup heater when temperatures are as low as -13º F, and these systems tend to let in fewer drafts than baseboard heating.

Area

While narrowing in on the right ductless system for you, consider how much space you want to heat and cool. If you simply need to heat and cool a single room, you are likely going to choose a different system than you would if you were putting in ductless system to heat and cool an entire home. Similarly, if you’re investing in a ductless system for a multi-unit commercial building or an apartment block, you need system that works in that environment. 

Once you identify the area you need to heat and cool, you need to find the right capacity unit. If you opt for a unit that has too much power, you’ll end up wasting energy, but a unit without enough power won’t be able to meet your heating and cooling needs. A certified technician can help you hone in on the “goldilocks zone” in terms of heating and cooling capacity with your ductless system.

Number of Zones

On top of thinking of the total space you need to heat and cool, you should think about how many zones you want to have. In some cases, zones are dictated by the building’s structure. For instance, two areas split by a large wall usually need to be separate zones. If you’re putting a ductless system into an apartment building, each apartment may be its own zone or each apartment may have two or more zones in it. 

In other cases, you may want to define zones based on how often you use certain spaces. To explain, imagine you don’t use a certain room in your home and you don’t want to waste money heating or cooling that space. In that situation, you may want to turn that room into its own zone. When you work with a quality HVAC contractor, they can help you identify the optimal number of zones for your space. In terms of zoning, ductless systems fall into one of two categories: 

• Single Zone — If you just need to heat or cool a small space, a single-zone system is all you need. These ductless systems have an indoor and an outdoor unit. They can work in additions, garages, attics, basements, or other parts of your home that aren’t connected to your duct work, but they can also heat and cool a small building, a studio apartment, or similar spaces. Unfortunately, most single-zone systems can’t be converted to multi-zone systems, so you need to make this choice carefully.
• Multi-Zone — Multi-zone systems consist of a single outdoor unit and numerous indoor air handling units. All the indoor air handling units can be controlled separately, meaning you can turn off units that are not in use or you can set different temperatures for different areas.

Design of the Indoor Unit

Indoor air handling units can come in a variety of colors and designs to complement your interior, but they also boast a variety of mounting styles. The main mounting options as are follows: 

• Wall-Mounted Units — These units attach directly to the wall. They tend to be the most efficient when located on exterior walls, relatively near the ceiling, and many people opt to place them above doorways. However, they can be placed on interior walls as needed, with extra cabling.
• Floor-Mounted Units — If you’re dealing with sloped ceilings and low walls like you find in a finished attic, you may want to opt for a floor-mounted indoor unit. Typically, these units are installed on the base of the wall, near the floor rather than on the floor itself.
• Ceiling Cassettes — Fitted into the ceiling, these units tend to provide broader coverage than wall or floor-mounted units, and many homeowners like their discreet style. Some models feature up to four outlets that you can adjust, open, and close as desired.
• Suspended Units — Suspended by the ceiling with threaded rods, these indoor units are ideal in rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that can’t be fitted with wall units. They also work well in large spaces such as gyms, commercial showrooms, hotel lobbies, and restaurants. In rooms where cubicle walls may disrupt airflow from wall or floor units, suspended units are also ideal.

Controls

Whether you’re investing in a single-zone ductless unit for a small area of your home or a large multi-zone ductless system for a large commercial building, you need to decide how you want to control the system. With a residential ductless system, you may want to look for a system that has programmable thermostats attached to each indoor unit as well as remote controls, so you can manually adjust the settings without moving. 

When you’re installing a ductless system into a whole building, you may want remotes for each individual air handling unit, but then, you may also want a branch circuit or a manifold controller. On top of that, you should look for a system that comes with software that lets you oversee the usage in each zone and generate heating and cooling bills for individual tenants, and ideally, you want that software to sync with your building management software for easy maintenance. For instance, the CITY MULTI ductless system offers all these advantages.

Noise Levels

As you look at different units, consider looking into the amount of noise created by both the indoor and outdoor units. To create a quiet and calm atmosphere, consider investing in a Mitsubishi unit. Even large commercial systems are surprisingly quiet. The outdoor unit runs at about 56 decibels, which is the amount of noise you’d expect from an electric toothbrush, and the indoor units run at about 24 decibels, the equivalent of wind gently rustling through leaves on a tree.

Ventilation & Humidity Control

As you talk with HVAC professionals about your options, keep in mind that ductless units don’t just heat and cool. They also ventilate and control humidity. Ask about that process to see if it works for your needs. Ideally, you want a system that improves your indoor air quality but that also brings in ample air from the outside while integrating energy recovery tools.

Brand

Although many brands of ductless systems exist, only one is top selling. With a Mitsubishi ductless system, you can improve your efficiency by up to 50%, you can cool single or multi-zone rooms, and you can choose from more than 25 ENERGY STAR qualified models or nine ENERGY STAR most efficient models.   

In addition to choosing the right ductless system for your needs, you also need to choose a quality installer, and that’s where we come in. At N.E.T.R., Inc we have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, we’re also a member of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, we are Mitsubishi Diamond Elite installers, and we are certified through NATE (North American Technician Excellence). Beyond that, our technicians are responsible, courteous, and knowledgeable. We can talk with you to help you determine the best ductless system for your needs. To learn more, contact us directly. 

Do your old appliances, heating system, cooling system, or water heater need to be replaced? Are you paying too much for your heating and air conditioning costs? With so many things draining your bank account, you don’t want to pay more than you need to in utility costs, and if you’re concerned about your carbon footprint, you probably don’t want to waste energy unnecessarily. 

However, it can be expensive to replace your existing inefficient appliances or heating and cooling systems. If you’re in that situation, you will be happy to know that Massachusetts has a great rebate program that may help defer the cost of replacing your old appliances, heaters, and more. Check out the details below: 

What Is Mass Save?

Massachusetts oil and gas companies, including Berkshire Gas, Blackstone Gas Company, Cape Light Compact, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Eversource, Liberty Utilities, National Grid, and Unitil have collaborated together to make energy efficient upgrades available to communities, businesses, and residents in Massachusetts. The group offers a wide range of training programs, information, incentives, services, and rebates. 

The rebate program is funded by a service charge on customers’ energy bills, and it is administered by electric and gas sponsors that work closely with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. The goal is to help residents of Massachusetts save energy and money. This joint collaboration has helped Massachusetts become the most energy efficient state in the nation according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

What Kind of Rebates are Available?

To determine your eligibility for refrigerator and clothes washer rebates, Mass Save requires a home site visit. To learn more or schedule an appointment, you can contact Mass Save directly by calling 866-527-7283. If you live in the Cape Cod area, you should reach out to Cape Light Compact at 800-797-6699. When you replace appliances or HVAC systems, you can look forward to the following potential rebates as of 2018: 

• Clothes Washer – Up to $400 rebate
• Electric Clothes Dryer – Up to $50 rebate
• Dehumidifier – Up to $30 rebate
• Single Room Air Conditioner – Up to $40 rebate
• Thermostat – Up to $100 rebate
• Refrigerator – Up to $200 rebate
• Gas Water Heater – Up to $800 rebate
• Propane Water Heater – Up to $600 rebate
• Oil Water Heater – Up to $500 rebate
• Electric Heat Pump Water Heater – Up to $750 rebate
• Gas Boiler Reset Control – Up to $225 rebate
• Gas Heating Systems (Furnaces and Boilers) – Up to $1600 rebate
• Gas Heat Recovery Ventilator – Up to $500 rebate
• Oil Heating System (Furnaces and Boilers) – Up to $500 rebate
• Oil/Propane Boiler Reset Control – Up to $100 rebate
• Propane Heating System (Furnaces and Boilers) – Up to $2500 rebate
• Electric Mini-Split Heat Pump – Up to $300 rebate
• Electric Central Heat Pump – Up to $500 rebate
• Electric Central Air Conditioning – Up to $250 rebate

Early Heating and Cooling Replacement

The Early Heating and Cooling Replacement program has very specific qualification requirements, but the rebates are much higher. To qualify, you must also have a home site visit to assess eligibility, but for the early air conditioner or heat pump rebates, you can schedule an appointment with an AC Check Trained Contractor instead of working directly with Mass Save. 

To get these rebates, your system must meet the following specifications: 

• 30+ year old boiler
• 12+ year old boiler
• 12+ year old central air conditioning system
• 12+ year old central heat pump 

As of 2018, if you meet the above requirements, you may qualify for these rebates: 

• Oil Heating Systems (Furnaces and Boilers) – Up to $1900 rebate
• Propane Heating Systems (Furnaces and Boilers) – Up to $3250 rebate
• Gas Heating Systems (Furnaces and Boilers) – Up to $3250 rebate
• Electric Central Air Conditioning or Central Heat Pump – Up to $1000 rebate

How Do You Apply for These Rebates?

Applying for these rebates is easy. You can either go online to www.masssave.com/rebates and fill out the online form, or you can download the mail-in form. The form is fairly simple to fill out. You need your personal info and energy account info, and you may also need to upload supporting documentation. 

Generally, it takes approximately six to eight weeks to process your application. Make sure your form is completely filled out to avoid any delays in processing. When you purchase a ductless heating or cooling system through N.E.T.R., we can also help you learn more about this program.

Commercial Rebates

There are also rebates available for commercial equipment. For instance, you can get $1000 back on Commercial Gas Kitchen Equipment. There are also programs for Commercial Gas Heating Equipment and Controls. Check the website for more information on these programs, or contact us at N.E.T.R. 

At N.E.T.R., we have been helping residential and commercial clients upgrade their heating and cooling systems to more efficient options for years. We would love to help you. To set up an appointment, ask questions about ductless systems, or learn more about potential rebates, contact us directly.

If your business relies on refrigeration to store food or other items, you need a quality commercial refrigeration system. The right choice varies depending on your business’s needs. To ensure you get the best fit for your needs, keep the following elements in mind when choosing a commercial refrigeration system.

Storage Needs

The amount of cold storage you need plays a large role in the commercial refrigeration system you should select. Think carefully about the items you need to store at the moment, but also keep in mind how your cold storage needs are likely to change as your business grows. 

As you consider the volume of refrigerated space you need, also think about how you can optimize your space. For instance, you may need a refrigerator that can fit under a countertop, a refrigerator that makes the most of vertical space, or a refrigerator that relies on an outdoor compressor to safeguard your working space.

Accessibility 

Spend some time thinking about how your refrigeration system is going to affect your workflow, your customer’s shopping experience, your displays, and other elements of your business. Then, choose the commercial refrigeration system that complements your activities the most effectively. 

When considering your accessibility needs, work through the following types of questions: Do you want a large fridge or freezer that you can walk into at your restaurant or potentially even drive a forklift into at your manufacturing facility? Do you need a fridge to keep produce fresh and easily accessible to your kitchen staff? Are you looking for a refrigeration system that allows your customers to access cold or frozen food in your grocery store? Do you need to meet other accessibility objectives?

Style

Commercial refrigeration systems come in a wide range of styles. Your storage needs, workflow, merchandising plans, and business objectives determine which style of refrigerator or freezer you need. In many cases, you may even need a few refrigerators in different styles to meet all of your needs. 

Here are some of the most common styles:

• Walk-in refrigerators and freezers
• Reach-in refrigerators
• Prep table with refrigeration cabinets
• Drop-in coolers
• Back bar coolers
• Open-air coolers
• Deli cases
• Refrigerated display cases

Additionally, there are specialty refrigeration systems designed to perfectly meet the needs of businesses in certain industries. These include commercial wine coolers, bakery display cases, sushi cases, milk cases, glass chillers, medical refrigerators, floral coolers, and more. 

You also may need to customize your commercial refrigeration system with shelves, drawers, bins, or other storage solutions, and an experienced commercial refrigeration expert can help with those decisions. To ensure you get the best option for your needs, you should work with a company that has extensive experience helping companies meet their unique commercial refrigeration needs. 

Blast Chillers

A blast chiller brings down the temp of items before you put them into cold storage. Some commercial refrigeration systems can accommodate warm items and bring them down to optimal temperatures for cold storage. However, walk-in coolers are generally not designed to bring down the temps of warm items. As a result, when you put warm items into these refrigerators, they increase the temperature and potentially put other items into a dangerous temperature zone. In these situations, you may need to complement your commercial refrigeration system with a blast chiller. 

Energy Efficiency

When looking at different refrigeration systems, don’t just consider the upfront cost. Also, think about the long-term costs associated with running the equipment. To save money on energy costs in the long run, you should invest in the most energy efficient system you can find even if the initial price tag is a bit higher than less efficient options.

At N.E.T.R., Inc., we provide commercial refrigeration services to businesses in Boston, North Andover, and the surrounding areas, and we can also help your business meet its HVAC needs. To learn more about the right commercial refrigeration system for your business, contact us today.

A commercial HVAC system requires a significant investment, and to ensure you get the best system for your needs, you should choose your commercial HVAC contractor carefully. Don’t just choose the contractor who offers the lowest quote. Instead, safeguard your investment and your business’s bottom line by looking for a contractor with the following traits. 

Experienced

When choosing a commercial HVAC contractor, look for someone with experience. They don’t just need HVAC experience. Instead, they need extensive experience working with commercial clients. Remember, commercial buildings tend to have vastly different HVAC needs than homes, and you need a contractor who understands how to meet the heating, cooling, and ventilation challenges in a commercial environment.  

To get a sense of how a prospective contractor has helped commercial clients in the past, look for case studies. You can ask the contractor directly for case studies or check to see if they have posted any case studies for commercial HVAC clients on their website. Then, review the studies to get a sense of the contractor’s innovation and commitment to quality. 

Knowledgeable About Current HVAC Technology

Experience is a must, but you also need an HVAC contractor who is up-to-date on current HVAC technology. Commercial HVAC equipment is constantly changing and becoming more efficient. For instance, in the past, heat pumps were only efficient in relatively moderate climates, but now, heat pumps can perform extremely efficiently in subzero temperatures. They also offer zone controls, integration with building management software, modular installation, and other advantages.  

If you hire a commercial HVAC contractor who has been steering clients toward the same system for decades, you may not get the best fit for your needs. To tell if a contractor has current knowledge about HVAC systems, make sure they are licensed. In most areas, you need to complete continuing education courses to keep your license valid. 

References

To get a sense of a contractor’s skills and work ethic, ask them for references. Reading case studies can work in lieu of getting references, but consider asking the contractor if you can reach out to some of the clients featured in their cases studies so you can get additional feedback.

Licensed and Insured

As indicated above, you should choose a licensed HVAC contractor, but you should also look for professional who is insured. If your contractor isn’t insured, you have limited legal recourse if they damage your property or make a mistake during installation. Contractor’s liability insurance helps to protect both you and the contractor from the financial impact of installation issues.  

Additionally, contractors can’t obtain necessary work permits if they aren’t licensed and insured, and when you’re improving a building, you are legally required to have work permits and submit to inspections from the building inspector.  

To be on the safe side, you may want to ask your commercial HVAC contractor about their insurance. In most cases, contractors can’t get licensed unless they are insured — so if a contractor is licensed, you can feel comfortable moving forward with them. 

Numerous HVAC Options

Commercial buildings have a variety of different HVAC needs, and your needs help to dictate which commercial HVAC system is right for you. To ensure you get a custom fit for your needs, you should choose an HVAC contractor who has experience working with a range of commercial HVAC systems including both ducted and ductless systems.

Provides Written Estimate

Finally, as you start to talk with various contractors, get quotes for purchasing and installing your new HVAC system. Ideally, you should only work with a company that is willing to provide you with a written estimate. Then, you know exactly what to expect and you can make a more informed decision about the contractor you select.  

At N.E.T.R., Inc., we are experienced with both residential and commercial HVAC clients. We have case studies posted on our website so that you can learn how our services have helped to improve comfort and efficiency for our commercial clients. We are also licensed and insured for your safety. To get a quote or to talk about your business’s HVAC needs, contact us today.

When you are investing in a new heating system for your home or office, you have several different options. Two of the most popular options are ductless systems and electric baseboard heaters. If you’re trying to choose between these two systems, check out how they compare in a few key areas.

Zone Controls

Both baseboard heaters and ductless heating units can feature zone controls. You can attach a thermostat to each of your baseboard heaters, just as you can connect separate thermostats and remotes to the indoor air handling units that come with your ductless heating system. Thanks to the zone set up, both electric baseboard heaters and ductless heating can work in a home addition, an attic, or similar areas, but they can also work in large buildings full of a variety of units and lots of floor space. Although baseboard electric heaters and ductless systems match up well in this category, they have a lot of differences in other categories.

Combined Heating and Cooling

With electric heating, you only get the heating. You don’t get the benefits of cooling unless you install a separate air conditioning system, and because there’s no central system to tap into, you either must put in an HVAC system with ductwork or you must set up separate wall units in each individual room of your home or commercial building. 

In contrast, when you opt for a ductless system, you can put in units that handle both heating and cooling. In fact, ductless units first became popular for their cooling capabilities, and it’s only in relatively recent years that homeowners in cold climates have been turning to these systems for their heating needs as well. Note that the heat pumps associated with ductless systems can provide heating in temperatures as low as -13° F.

Energy Efficiency

Baseboard electric heating can be an efficient way to heat your home, but to work correctly, these units usually need to be installed on walls underneath windows. In this position, they can combat the cold air that comes through the window. 

According to the Department of Energy, ductless systems can reduce your electricity usage by 50% compared to baseboard heaters. Unfortunately, baseboard heaters often tend to be installed incorrectly, and as a result, they lose heat between the unit and the wall. If your baseboard heaters are installed incorrectly, these numbers may be even higher, and your savings may be more pronounced.

Safety Factors

In this area, ductless systems and electric heaters are fairly comparable. Neither system burns fuel internally, and by extension, you don’t have to worry about explosions or the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. You also don’t have to deal with leaky radiators or the chance that a radiator might burst.

Humidity Levels

Often, baseboards heaters tend to produce a very dry heat, and after long periods of disuse, they may produce a burning smell when you turn them on. You don’t face either of these issues with a ductless system. In fact, many ductless systems have a humidity setting. As a default, these systems add moisture to the air, but you can also set them to “dry” as needed. If you’re tired of itchy throats, irritated noses, and the other issues that tend to pop up in overly dry atmospheres, you may want to make the switch from baseboard heaters to a heat pump connected to a ductless HVAC system.

Installation Considerations

With baseboard heaters, you have a very limited option on where to install them. They must be by a window along the floor. In contrast, if you opt for a ductless system with a heat pump, you get a lot more flexibility on where you install the indoor units. 

Ductless systems feature an outdoor unit with one or more indoor air handling units. Often, the indoor units are installed near the ceiling along the top of an exterior wall, but you can also choose units that go in the wall near the floor, units that are flush with the ceiling, or units that hang suspended from the ceiling. The ceiling units can come with multiple outlets, so you can control where the hot air goes in your room.

No Ducts

Although the most popular electric heaters are baseboard heaters which don’t have ductwork, there are a few electric forced air heaters that connect to ductwork. Unfortunately, ducts also lose hot air. If the ducts are in your attic or under your floor, the warm air escapes into these unused spaces, and it doesn’t get to your living areas. That drives up your bills, promotes inefficiency, and increases your carbon footprint. This pattern never happens with a ducted system, so you don’t have to worry about losing heat in that way. 

At N.E.T.R., Inc, we are highly qualified installers of ductless heating and cooling systems. We have extensive experience working with both commercial and residential clients, and we can help you decide which system is right for your needs and your budget. To learn more about ductless heating or to get a quote, contact us today.