In a series from Motili, the company highlights PropTech, CRE, multi-family, and single-family industry news. Motili takes a look at the differences between in-house versus outsourcing HVAC management.
In-house or outsource?
When it comes to HVAC systems, most companies have a comprehensive plan for keeping their HVAC management in-house. Typically, these businesses or building owners have a schedule of what to do and when inventory to support that schedule and will utilize their onsite maintenance staff to perform jobs.
There are several reasons why in-house HVAC management can work, including keeping costs at a minimum and keeping staff in place to maintain it.
Preventative maintenance
When looking at outsourcing HVAC, a building owner will bring in additional resources to help maintain the system
Yet, overall, in-house HVAC maintenance often poses a resource challenge for staff onsite. Preventative maintenance is important, but when looking at the overall numbers for preventative maintenance for HVAC specifically, it’s one of the most expensive mechanical systems in a multi-family building.
In contrast, when looking at outsourcing HVAC management, a building owner will be looking at bringing in additional resources to help maintain the system. Many HVAC contractors are asset challenged requiring more time, more personnel, and additional finances to properly tend to an existing HVAC system. The question for those considering outsourcing is “do we have enough resources in-house to maintain the system properly?”
Outsourcing Benefits
One of the many benefits of outsourcing HVAC system management is in providing an additional resource.
A professional HVAC technician can help support the needs of the building owner, bringing a new source of data and information about the health of the system while freeing up time for the building’s maintenance personnel to do other things.
Enhanced reporting
“One of the benefits of outsourcing HVAC maintenance is gaining access to the technology to provide enhanced reporting about the health of the HVAC system,” said Heather Tewahade, National Account Manager, Motili.
“That kind of insight is a differentiator in some cases. But outsourcing also provides additional resources at the ready to free up time for onsite staff - the benefits of the time buyback are huge to the building owner and staff.”