VRF systems move refrigerant to small indoor units instead of moving air through big ducts. They are efficient, quiet and zone beautifully. They are also more expensive up front and need ventilation handled separately. Here is how we choose.
VRF is right when
- The building has no room for ductwork: mid-century buildings, historic retrofits, low plenums.
- Zoning matters: many tenants or rooms with different schedules and loads, like medical offices or multi-tenant buildings.
- Heat recovery pays: a building with simultaneous heating and cooling (a server room and a lobby) can move heat instead of making it.
Rooftop units are right when
- The building is a big open box: retail, warehouse, open office. One or two zones per unit is fine.
- The budget is tight and the roof already has curbs.
- Service simplicity matters: any commercial technician can service a packaged RTU; VRF needs factory training.
The ventilation question
VRF does not bring in outside air. It needs a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) alongside it, which adds cost and is the part that gets left out of a cheap VRF proposal. Ask about it.
What we do
Load calc, zoning analysis, both options priced with ten-year operating cost. The building tells us.
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The most common question from facility managers, and the answer is yes, for about a third of the year, if anyone ever made them work.
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If your quarterly report says "filters changed, system operational," you are paying for a filter delivery. Here is what should be in it.
Tell us about the building. We will come measure it.
A project manager replies the same business day. Maintenance clients reach a technician on the 24-hour line.