Commercial Rooftop Unit Replacement in San Diego
CSLB
License #669421
Since
1993
Insured
Bonded & insured
Serving
San Diego County
Rated
5.0 ★ on Google
Overview
What a rooftop unit replacement involves
A commercial rooftop unit (RTU) is a self-contained package system, compressor, coil, fan and often a gas furnace section, all in one cabinet, sitting on a roof curb and ducted directly into the building below. Replacing one is a different job from a residential split-system changeout: everything has to come off and go on by crane, the new unit has to interface with the existing curb and ductwork, and the building underneath is usually still occupied and operating.
Superior Air has replaced rooftop units on retail buildings, offices, restaurants and light-industrial space across the county for general contractors and property managers, coordinating crane logistics, curb work and building-automation integration as part of the scope, not as change orders discovered mid-project.
Scope
What's included in a Superior Air RTU replacement
Crane and curb
The two things that decide how the job actually goes
Crane logistics and curb condition drive schedule and cost more than the equipment itself.
| Factor | Consideration | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Curb condition and footprint | Whether the existing curb can be reused as-is, needs an adapter, or needs to be rebuilt for the new unit's dimensions and duct connections | |
| Crane staging | Street closure, parking-lot access or an adjacent lot, and whether overhead lines, other buildings or tenant hours limit the lift window | |
| Gas and electrical capacity | Whether existing service supports the new unit or needs upgrading, especially when switching between gas/electric and heat pump configurations | |
| Occupied-building constraints | Tenant hours, sensitive occupancies (medical, food service, server rooms) and whether temporary cooling is needed during the swap | |
| Controls and building automation | Whether the new unit needs to integrate with existing building-automation or is a standalone replacement |
Process
How an RTU replacement goes, start to finish
- 01
Site survey
On site
We inspect the existing unit, curb, roof access, gas and electrical service, and confirm crane staging options before quoting.
- 02
Written scope
Before ordering equipment
Equipment selection, curb strategy (reuse, adapt or replace), crane and scheduling plan, and any ductwork or controls work, in writing.
- 03
Equipment ordering and scheduling
Lead time varies by equipment
Commercial package units are typically special-order. We coordinate delivery with the crane date and building access.
- 04
Crane day
The core of the 1–3 day window
Old unit disconnected, refrigerant recovered, unit lifted off, curb prepped or adapted, new unit set and connected.
- 05
Startup and commissioning
Documented
Refrigerant charge, airflow, economizer and controls verified; Title 24 acceptance testing coordinated where the project requires it.
FAQ