Rooftop Package Unit Installation Across Puget Sound
Rooftop package units, the self-contained heating and cooling boxes you see on flat commercial roofs, are the backbone of comfort for strip retail, offices, restaurants, and light industrial buildings across Puget Sound. When one fails, tenants are uncomfortable and business slows, so the install has to be right and it has to be quick to schedule.
A package unit combines the compressor, coils, blower, and often gas heat into one cabinet that sits on a roof curb, which makes replacement cleaner than a split system but puts a premium on correct curb fit, crane logistics, and airflow. This page covers what a rooftop unit installation involves, when replacement makes sense, and what drives the cost for building owners and property managers.
What a rooftop unit installation includes
We confirm the replacement unit matches or adapts to the existing curb, plan the crane pick and roof access, and coordinate the swap to minimize downtime for the tenant. The install covers setting the unit, connecting gas, electrical, and any economizer or controls, and tying into the existing supply and return duct drops.
We verify airflow, gas heat operation, and refrigerant charge before handing the building back, because a package unit that is charged wrong or starved for return air fails early and runs up the operating cost.
- Curb fit verification and adapter curb where needed
- Crane pick planning and roof access coordination
- Electrical, gas, and controls connection
- Economizer setup for free cooling where equipped
- Duct drop connection to existing supply and return
- Airflow, charge, and heat verification at startup
When to replace a rooftop unit
A package unit past 15 years with a major failure, a failed compressor, or worsening efficiency is usually a replacement rather than a repair, especially when parts for the model are getting scarce. Repeated service calls in a single season are a strong signal the unit is at the end of its useful life.
For property managers, planning the replacement rather than reacting to a total failure means scheduling the crane and the tenant downtime instead of scrambling during a heat wave with a dark storefront.
Signs to watch for
- The unit is 15 or more years old with a major failure
- A failed compressor on an aging unit
- Repeated service calls within a single season
- Rising energy costs as efficiency degrades
- Tenant complaints of no heating or cooling
- Parts for the model are discontinued or hard to source
What rooftop unit installation costs and what drives it
Rooftop package unit installation is a commercial-scale project, and cost scales with the tonnage of the unit, the crane and rigging required, and whether the existing curb can be reused. Larger units and difficult roof access move the number the most.
We quote by the specific unit, curb, and access conditions rather than a per-ton shortcut, and we account for the tenant downtime window in the plan.
What drives the range
- Unit tonnage and heating and cooling capacity
- Crane size, rigging, and roof access difficulty
- Whether the existing curb fits or needs an adapter
- Gas, electrical, and controls or economizer scope
- Efficiency tier of the replacement unit
Permits and commercial efficiency programs
Rooftop unit replacement requires mechanical and electrical permits, and we pull them and coordinate inspection with the jurisdiction. Gas appliance work may also trigger Puget Sound Clean Air Agency notification depending on location, which we handle where it applies.
Commercial customers should also ask about utility efficiency incentives. PSE, Snohomish County PUD, Seattle City Light, and Tacoma Power run commercial programs that can offset higher-efficiency equipment, and we help identify what a building qualifies for before committing to a unit.
How the install works
- 1
Same-day estimate and roof survey
We survey the existing unit, curb, and roof access, confirm the replacement spec, and provide a written estimate with a downtime plan.
- 2
Permitting and scheduling
We pull the mechanical and electrical permits, book the crane, and schedule the swap around the tenant's needs.
- 3
Removal and set
We rig out the old unit, adapt the curb if needed, and set the new unit level and sealed to the curb.
- 4
Connection and startup
We connect gas, electrical, and controls, tie into the duct drops, and verify airflow, charge, and heat operation.
- 5
Commissioning and inspection
We commission the economizer and controls, walk the manager through operation, and close out the permit with the inspector.
New rooftop units carry the manufacturer parts warranty, and we register the equipment. Our installation workmanship, including the curb seal and connections, is warranted separately, and correct charge and airflow at commissioning are what protect the compressor coverage.
Brands we work on
- Carrier
- Lennox
- Trane
- Day & Night
- Daikin
Rooftop Package Unit Installation questions, answered
Can you reuse my existing roof curb?
Often yes, if the replacement unit matches the curb footprint. When it does not, an adapter curb bridges the difference. We confirm the curb fit during the roof survey so there are no surprises on crane day.
How much downtime will the swap cause?
A straightforward like-for-like replacement is usually a single-day swap, with the tenant affected mainly during the crane pick and tie-in. We schedule around the business and give you a realistic downtime window in the estimate.
When should I replace rather than keep repairing a rooftop unit?
When the unit is over 15 years old, has a major failure like a compressor, or is generating repeated service calls in one season. At that point repair spending usually exceeds the value of keeping an inefficient unit running.
Are there rebates for commercial rooftop units?
Often. PSE, Snohomish County PUD, Seattle City Light, and Tacoma Power run commercial efficiency programs that can offset higher-efficiency equipment. We help identify what your building qualifies for before you pick a unit.
Do you handle the crane and permits?
Yes. We coordinate the crane and rigging, pull the mechanical and electrical permits, handle any air-agency notification for gas work, and schedule inspection so the project is fully managed.
Related services
We serve homeowners across eight Puget Sound counties, Everett to Puyallup. See our full service area.
Authorized dealer for all major brands
We repair all major brands, whether or not we installed the system.
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