Commercial air conditioning for working buildings.
Fitting out premises or replacing tired plant? Speak to Ted.
Call 07940 953486 nowA business space puts different demands on air conditioning than a house does. A shop floor fills and empties through the day, a restaurant kitchen throws heat into the dining room, a meeting room can go from empty to twelve people in minutes, and a comms cupboard produces heat around the clock. The right system is the one that copes with that pattern quietly and without running flat out all afternoon.
Ted McCarthy Services has spent more than three decades fitting and looking after cooling in commercial buildings from a base in Hemel Hempstead. Jobs run across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and London, including St Albans, Watford, Luton, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes.
Matching the equipment to the premises
In retail and hospitality, ceiling cassettes are the usual answer: they sit flush in a suspended ceiling and push air out on four sides, so a single unit can cover an open floor evenly. Where the look of the space matters, a ducted system keeps the hardware out of sight and leaves only discreet grilles. Office buildings with many separately controlled rooms often suit VRF, which runs a whole floor or building from one outdoor plant. A small unit, salon or single office may only need a wall-mounted split.
Server and comms rooms are treated separately from the rest of the building, because the load never switches off at night or at weekends. Keeping that equipment within its safe temperature range is the priority, rather than comfort.
How a commercial project runs
Every project begins with a free survey. We look at the floor area, glazing, occupancy, heat from equipment and lighting, where the outdoor plant can sit, and how pipework and condensate can be routed without disrupting trade. You then get a written quotation covering equipment, installation and commissioning, with no hidden costs.
Once the system is commissioned, a maintenance contract keeps it in shape: planned visits, F-Gas leak checks where the system needs them, and a written report after each visit that you can file for your own records. Contract customers get priority response and access to the out of hours line. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00.
- Offices, retail units, restaurants, pubs and cafes
- Server and comms room cooling
- Ceiling cassette, ducted and VRF systems
- Wall-mounted and multi-split for smaller units
- Panasonic, LG and Midea equipment
- Free site survey and written quotation
- Refcom F-Gas certified, fully insured
- Planned maintenance contracts after handover
Why choose us
A specialist you can trust on site.
More than 30 years in commercial cooling
Refcom F-Gas certified engineers
Written quotation before any commitment
Contracts with priority response
Recent work
Examples of for offices, shops and hospitality projects.
How it works
A simple, transparent process.
01
Initial call
Tell us about the premises, the problem rooms and your timescale.
02
Site survey
Loads, plant position and pipe routes assessed on site, free of charge.
03
Written quotation
Equipment, installation and commissioning set out clearly.
04
Installation
Work sequenced around how your business operates.
05
Handover and contract
System commissioned, explained, and maintained if you choose.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of business premises do you fit air conditioning in?
Offices, shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs, salons, gyms, surgeries, schools, warehouses and server or comms rooms. The equipment changes with the building, but the approach is the same: survey first, then a written quotation.
Which systems are used on commercial jobs?
Ceiling cassettes are common in shops and restaurants because they sit flush and spread air in four directions. Ducted systems hide everything above a ceiling. Larger offices with many zones often suit VRF, where one outdoor plant serves many indoor units. Smaller premises may only need a wall-mounted split or multi-split.
Can the work be done without closing the business?
That is discussed at the survey stage. Pipe routes, unit positions and the order of work are planned around how the premises operate, and timing is agreed with you before the quotation is signed off.
Which brands do you install?
We work with Panasonic, LG and Midea equipment and recommend the range that suits the space, budget and how the system will be used.
Can you look after the system once it is in?
Yes. Commercial maintenance contracts include planned visits, F-Gas leak checks where the system requires them, and a written report after each visit. Contract customers also get priority response and use of the out of hours line.
Does the system heat the building too?
Yes. Every system we install is a heat pump, so the same indoor units warm the space in colder months.
Service areas
Commercial air conditioning across Hertfordshire & the South East
Local commercial air conditioning engineers covering Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and the edges of London. Pick your town for area-specific information.
Helpful reading
Guides related to for offices, shops and hospitality
Commercial air conditioning systems explained
There is no single "commercial system", just a range of technologies suited to different building sizes and layouts.
VRF vs split systems for commercial buildings
VRF scales to large, zoned commercial buildings; split systems stay simpler and cheaper for smaller or standalone spaces.
Wall-mounted vs ceiling cassette air conditioning
The two most common indoor unit types work very differently once you look past the price list.
Close-control cooling for server and comms rooms
Server rooms need cooling that runs continuously, holds a tight temperature band and tells someone immediately if it fails — comfort cooling logic doesn't apply.
Ready to get started?
Speak directly to Ted for professional advice and a free quotation.