Can Your Building Handle Heat? How to Prevent Meltdowns This Summer
Welcome to South Jersey’s Hot Seat
Managing a commercial property in South Jersey during the summer isn’t a leisurely stroll—it’s a high-stakes juggling act. Between volatile temperatures, aging infrastructure, and demanding tenants, there’s not much room for error when the mercury rises.
Last July, the National Weather Service recorded heat indexes over 100°F across South Jersey. And those weren’t isolated events. Heatwaves are increasing in both frequency and intensity, with the Northeast region experiencing an average of 15 more days above 90°F per year than just three decades ago, according to NOAA. That’s a lot of extra load on your building’s HVAC system.
If your system isn’t prepped by the time the first big heat wave rolls in, you’re looking at more than just sweaty tenants. You’re risking system failure, astronomical energy bills, and potentially even lease violations.
Why NOW Matters: The Clock Is Ticking
When it comes to HVAC systems, reactive maintenance is a losing game. Catching up after the system starts to strain is expensive, stressful, and often avoidable.
The U.S. Department of Energy states that proactive HVAC maintenance can boost efficiency by up to 15%, while extending equipment lifespan by several years. If your rooftop units are getting long in the tooth—or if your filters haven’t been changed since snow was on the ground—now is the time to act.
Here’s something many property owners overlook: many commercial leases include “habitability” or “essential services” clauses. If cooling fails when temperatures soar, tenants may have grounds for rent reduction, withholding, or even early termination of their lease.
Peak Demand Charges: Your Hidden Budget Buster
If you think summer electricity bills are just about kilowatt-hours, think again. South Jersey commercial properties served by PSE&G, Atlantic City Electric, or municipal utilities are subject to demand charges—fees based on the highest rate of electricity consumption during peak periods.
These charges can account for 30% to 70% of a commercial electricity bill, and they’re often triggered when your HVAC system kicks into overdrive after struggling to keep up. Poorly maintained or undersized systems tend to cycle inefficiently, which can drive those peak rates through the roof.
This isn’t just about comfort—it’s about cost control. A properly tuned system with calibrated thermostats, clean coils, and accurate controls runs smoother, faster, and with less energy waste.
Real-Life Lesson: Repeated HVAC Failures = Real Losses
In a documented case from Texas, a property management firm suffered multiple HVAC compressor failures due to poor duct design and lack of preventive maintenance. New compressors were installed one at a time, but without addressing the underlying airflow problem, they kept failing. Eventually, the building’s anchor tenant began threatening to walk.
The lesson? Piecemeal fixes rarely solve systemic problems. Smart building owners address the full picture by consulting with Elite Heating and Air Conditioning before it turns into a pattern of costly emergencies.
What Elite Sees Behind the Scenes
At Elite Heating and Air Conditioning, we’ve helped hundreds of South Jersey buildings weather summer extremes. The most common culprits we see every May and June?
- Clogged filters from spring pollen and construction dust
- Overflowing condensate drains after thunderstorms
- Cracked belts and leaking refrigerant lines carried over from the heating season
- Units running 24/7 because of malfunctioning thermostats or dirty coils
Too often, we’re called in once tenants start complaining—or worse, when the system has already failed. By that point, the damage is done: emergency service rates apply, tenant satisfaction plummets, and repair costs skyrocket.
The Overlooked Angle: Air Quality = Productivity
It’s not just about temperature. In commercial office settings, especially post-COVID, tenants are increasingly asking about indoor air quality (IAQ).
ASHRAE and the EPA both emphasize the role of HVAC systems in maintaining healthy air by removing contaminants, controlling humidity, and cycling fresh outdoor air. A Harvard study found that better ventilation and air quality can improve worker performance by up to 61% in cognitive tests.
If your building hasn’t had a ventilation review since before 2020, summer is the perfect time. Poor airflow doesn’t just make people uncomfortable—it can impair focus, increase absenteeism, and lead to more complaints.
Control What You Can
You can’t stop a heat wave, and you certainly can’t control electricity rates. But you can control how your building’s HVAC system responds.
Whether you manage a retail plaza in Marlton, a logistics hub in Vineland, or a multi-tenant medical facility in Cherry Hill, investing in preventive maintenance now helps you avoid headaches later. Early action protects your budget, preserves your equipment, and most importantly—protects your tenant relationships.
Talk to Elite About a Customized Commercial Care Plan
No two buildings are alike. That’s why Elite Heating and Air Conditioning offers Customized Commercial Care Plans, tailored to your property’s size, age, occupancy, system type, and risk tolerance.
We’ll assess your existing infrastructure, identify vulnerabilities, and build a preventive maintenance strategy that includes seasonal tune-ups, emergency response coverage, and performance reporting. Whether you have 3 rooftop units or 30, our plans ensure you’re not caught off guard when the temperature spikes.
Call Elite Heating and Air Conditioning, 856.489.8664 to schedule an evaluation of your commercial HVAC system today!
Don’t let summer test your building’s limits—join the commercial property owners who plan, prepare, and stay cool with Elite.
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