Rooftop Unit Replacement in Orlando

Curb-matched rooftop unit replacement across metro Orlando

A rooftop unit past 12–15 years old, running R-22 refrigerant, or on its second compressor-related failure is usually past the point where another repair makes financial sense. Replacement at that stage is not a downgrade in service — it is the move that stops the string of emergency calls and gets a building back onto a predictable efficiency and maintenance curve. We handle replacement as its own discipline, distinct from new construction installs, because the whole point is matching what is already there so the swap does not turn into a structural change order.

Before quoting a replacement, we measure the existing curb footprint, check the disconnect and panel capacity against the new unit’s amp draw, and inspect the ductwork transition for damage or undersizing that has been quietly limiting airflow. Newer, more efficient units sometimes have different electrical characteristics than what they are replacing even at the same tonnage, so this check happens before we write the quote, not as a surprise change order once the old unit is already off the roof.

Repair or replace — how we make the call honestly

We will tell you plainly which side of this line a unit is on before quoting anything. Repair generally makes sense when the unit is under 10–12 years old, the failure is a single component, and the repair cost is under roughly 30% of what a replacement would cost installed. Replacement generally makes sense once a unit is past 12–15 years old, has failed on the compressor more than once, or is still running R-22 — a refrigerant that keeps getting more expensive and harder to source every year. See RTU repair if you are not sure yet which category your unit falls into; a diagnostic visit answers that question directly.

The curb-match replacement process

• Site survey and measurement — existing curb dimensions, electrical service, gas piping and ductwork transition documented before ordering the new unit.
• Unit selection — a same-footprint or close-match unit specified so it sets on the existing curb without structural rework, sized to actual building load rather than a blind like-for-like tonnage swap.
• Scheduling around building hours — occupied buildings get scheduled for after-close or off-peak windows wherever the building’s operation allows it.
• Crane pick and swap — old unit removed, curb inspected and resealed, new unit set, typically completed in a single day for a single-unit job.
• Electrical, gas and controls tie-in — reconnected and tested, including any control sequence differences between the old and new unit.
• Commissioning — refrigerant charge, gas pressure and airflow verified and documented before the crew leaves.

What replacement costs in Orlando

Pricing runs primarily on tonnage, the same as new installation, with curb condition and any needed electrical or ductwork corrections as the variables. A well-maintained curb and adequate existing electrical service keep a job toward the lower end of its range; a curb needing rework or an electrical service that has to be upgraded push it toward the top.

Minimizing downtime during a swap

Most single-unit replacements complete in a single day, with the building losing conditioning for a window of a few hours during the actual curb swap rather than the full day. Multi-unit properties get sequenced so at least partial conditioning stays online throughout the project. We coordinate crane scheduling for early morning when possible to reduce parking lot disruption for businesses that stay open during the work.

Weather is the one variable outside anyone’s control on a scheduled swap. Florida’s summer storm pattern means a crane pick planned for a specific morning sometimes has to shift by a few hours or, occasionally, a day if lightning is in the immediate forecast, since setting a rooftop unit during an active storm is not something any responsible crew does. We build a small weather buffer into multi-day project schedules for exactly this reason rather than promising a fixed date and having a summer thunderstorm blow up the plan.

Protecting the new unit

A new replacement unit is a meaningful investment, and the fastest way to shorten its life is to skip maintenance until something fails again. A preventive maintenance contract starting right after installation is the difference between getting the full 12–15 year service life out of a unit and ending up back in a replacement conversation in eight years.

Where we replace rooftop units

We handle curb-matched replacements throughout Orange County and the surrounding metro, including College Park, Maitland, Longwood and Ocoee, with no trip charge anywhere on our normal route.