When a commercial HVAC system develops a fault, repairing it can often be the most straightforward and cost-effective solution. But as equipment gets older, there can come a point where continually repairing the existing system is no longer the best long-term approach.

For Facilities Managers, deciding whether to repair or replace isn’t always straightforward. There are several factors that should be considered before making the decision.

How Old Is the Equipment?

Age alone doesn’t necessarily mean HVAC equipment needs replacing. A well-maintained system can continue to provide reliable service for many years.

However, as equipment gets older, efficiency can decline and components may become increasingly difficult or expensive to source.

Understanding the condition of the equipment is therefore more useful than simply looking at its installation date.

Are Faults Becoming More Frequent?

An occasional repair doesn’t necessarily indicate a wider problem.

If engineers are regularly being called to the same equipment, however, it may be worth looking at the bigger picture.

Repeated faults can increase maintenance costs and create disruption for building occupants. Reviewing the history of the system can help determine whether continued repairs remain commercially sensible.

Consider Energy Efficiency

Older HVAC equipment may not offer the same level of efficiency as modern systems.

Replacing ageing equipment can therefore provide an opportunity to improve system performance while potentially reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

This is particularly worth considering where equipment operates for long periods or serves heavily occupied areas of a building.

Has the Building Changed?

Sometimes the reason for upgrading HVAC has little to do with the condition of the equipment itself.

Office layouts change. Occupancy levels increase or decrease. New meeting rooms are created. Areas of a building may be given an entirely different purpose.

A system designed around the building ten or fifteen years ago may no longer be ideally suited to the way the space is used today.

Look Beyond the Next Repair

The decision shouldn’t simply be based on the cost of the next repair.

Facilities Managers should consider ongoing maintenance expenditure, system reliability, energy efficiency, replacement part availability and the future requirements of the building.

In some cases, repairing existing equipment remains the right solution. In others, investing in new equipment can provide better value over the longer term.

Get Expert Advice from Oasis

Our experienced commercial HVAC engineers can assess existing systems, identify their condition and help customers understand the options available.

Whether that means maintaining, repairing, modifying or replacing equipment, we’ll help you find a solution suited to your building and operational requirements.

If you have a HVAC project in mind call: +44 (0)121 733 7788 to speak to the team.

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