Commercial Makeup Air Unit Services

Commercial buildings that exhaust large volumes of air, restaurants, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and retail spaces, need a reliable way to replace that air to maintain proper pressure balance and indoor air quality. Makeup air units (MAUs) supply conditioned fresh air directly into the building to compensate for exhaust. Interstate AC installs, services, and maintains commercial makeup air units for businesses and property managers throughout Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky.

Signs Your Business Needs Filter Service

If your building has commercial kitchen exhaust hoods, industrial ventilation systems, or high-volume exhaust fans but no dedicated makeup air system, you’re likely already experiencing the effects. Many commercial operators in the Nashville area don’t connect building pressure problems back to a missing or undersized makeup air unit.

Call our team if you’re experiencing any of the following::

Doors that are difficult to open or slam shut on their own due to negative pressure
Drafts or cold air infiltration around building entrances and loading dock areas
Kitchen exhaust hoods that don’t capture smoke, steam, or grease effectively
Inconsistent heating or cooling performance despite a properly functioning HVAC system
Elevated carbon dioxide or combustion gas readings in occupied spaces
Complaints of stale, stuffy, or smoky air in work areas near exhaust equipment
Flame rollout or pilot light issues on gas-fired equipment caused by insufficient combustion air

Negative building pressure doesn’t fix itself. A properly designed makeup air system restores pressure balance, protects occupant comfort, and ensures your exhaust equipment performs as designed.

Maintenance Programs

We offer proactive, tailored maintenance plans to ensure that your HVAC system performs at its best. Regular inspections and service minimize the risk of costly repairs.

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24/7 Emergency Services

HVAC problems can occur at any time, and our team of expert technicians are available 24/7 to address any emergency, providing the expertise needed to resolve issues quickly.

Benefits of Commercial Makeup Air Unit Installation

Buildings without dedicated makeup air rely on uncontrolled infiltration, cold air seeping in through gaps in the building envelope, to replace exhausted air. This leads to drafts, energy waste, comfort complaints, and in some cases, dangerous combustion conditions.

A properly installed commercial makeup air unit provides:

Restored building pressure balance

Supplying conditioned air at the same rate air is exhausted eliminates negative pressure, stops door and draft problems, and prevents uncontrolled infiltration.

Improved exhaust hood performance:

Commercial kitchen hoods and industrial ventilation systems perform to their rated capacity only when adequate makeup air is present. An MAU ensures your exhaust investment actually works.

Conditioned fresh air supply

Unlike uncontrolled infiltration, makeup air units temper incoming air, heating it in winter, cooling or dehumidifying it in summer, before it enters occupied spaces.

Indoor air quality compliance

ASHRAE Standard 62.1 governs ventilation rates for commercial occupancies. Makeup air units are often required to meet minimum fresh air requirements in high-occupancy or high-exhaust environments.

Energy efficiency

Controlled makeup air delivery is significantly more energy-efficient than allowing unconditioned air to infiltrate uncontrolled. Modern MAUs with energy recovery features reduce conditioning costs further.

Our Makeup Air Unit Installation Process

Interstate AC’s licensed technicians begin every makeup air project with a ventilation assessment, because sizing and placement are what determine whether an MAU actually solves your problem.

Here’s how the process works:

Ventilation and pressure assessment

We calculate your building’s exhaust volumes, identify pressure imbalances, and determine the required makeup air supply rate to achieve proper balance.

Unit selection and design

Based on the assessment, we select the appropriate MAU, direct-fired, indirect-fired, or cooling-capable, and design the supply air distribution to deliver air where it’s needed.

Installation

Our team installs the unit with roof or wall penetrations as needed, connects to your gas and electrical systems, and integrates with existing controls.

Commissioning

We balance the system, verify supply and exhaust air volumes, test all heating and cooling functions, and confirm building pressure has been corrected.

Documentation and training

We provide equipment documentation, service records, and a brief walkthrough for your facilities team on controls operation and filter maintenance.

Commercial HVAC Services For Business Owners

Makeup air is one part of a complete commercial ventilation strategy. Interstate AC also handles commercial exhaust fan installation and service, HVAC system replacements, and preventive maintenance agreements for facilities across Middle Tennessee.

If your current makeup air unit is underperforming, poor heating output, controls that aren’t responding, or a unit that’s simply too small for your current exhaust load, our team handles repairs and replacements as well.

Reach out to Interstate AC today if you’re interested in scheduling makeup air unit installation or service for your Southern Kentucky or Middle Tennessee facility. Call 615-802-2665 to speak with a specialist and set up an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every commercial kitchen require a makeup air unit?

Most commercial kitchens with Type I or Type II exhaust hoods are required by mechanical and fire codes to provide makeup air to replace what the hood exhausts. Without it, hoods underperform and negative pressure creates safety and comfort problems. Many jurisdictions in Tennessee and Kentucky enforce this as part of the mechanical permit and inspection process. Our team can review your current setup and advise on code compliance.

What’s the difference between a direct-fired and indirect-fired makeup air unit?

A direct-fired MAU uses a gas burner in the airstream to heat supply air, it’s highly efficient and common in industrial and food service applications where the supply air is not recirculated. An indirect-fired unit uses a heat exchanger to transfer heat without combustion gases entering the airstream, preferred in applications where air purity is critical. Interstate AC can help you determine which type is appropriate for your facility type and local code requirements.

Does Interstate AC install makeup air units across Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky?

Yes, Interstate AC provides commercial makeup air unit installation and service for facilities throughout Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, including Nashville, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Bowling Green, and Owensboro. Visit our areas we serve in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky page for more information.

Areas We Serve

We proudly serve regions in Tennessee & Southern Kentucky. Our team is committed to providing reliable, high-quality service wherever you are located within our coverage area. For more details about service availability in your specific location, please Contact Us or give us a call at (615) 802-2665

Antioch, TN
Ashland City, TN
Belle Meade, TN
Bellevue, TN
Brentwood, TN
Clarksville, TN
Columbia, TN
Dickson, TN
Donelson, TN
Fairview, TN
Forest Hills, TN
Franklin, TN
Gallatin, TN
Goodlettsville, TN
Greenbrier, TN
Hendersonville, TN
Hermitage, TN
La Vergne, TN
Lebanon, TN
Madison, TN
Mt. Juliet, TN
Murfreesboro, TN
Nashville, TN
Nolensville, TN
Pleasant View, TN
Portland, TN
Smyrna, TN
Spring Hill, TN
Springfield, TN
Thompson’s Station, TN
White House, TN

Bowling Green

Hopkinsville

Partner With Interstate AC

At Interstate AC, we believe success is built through strong partnerships. We work with skilled HVAC professionals who want consistent work, long-term growth, and a company they can rely on. If you’re ready to grow with a trusted HVAC partner, let’s connect.

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