An AC change-out lives or dies on the lift. The unit has to come off the truck, clear the roofline, and land square on a curb that is often the same footprint as the crate. We do this several times a week, so the part your crew is worried about is the part we do every day.
Most residential change-outs are a 17-ton boom truck and under two hours on site. Commercial package units, tight courtyards, and anything past the second floor is where the 35-ton and 40-ton machines earn their keep.
What we need before we roll
- Unit weight. Off the spec sheet or the crate label. Most residential condensers run 150 to 400 lb; commercial packages go well past a ton.
- Roof height and setback. How high the deck is and how far in from the curb line the unit has to travel.
- Where the truck can sit. Driveway, street, alley. Overhead power lines are the single biggest thing that changes the plan.
- Curb ready or not. If the curb or pad is not finished we can still set it aside, but you will pay for a second trip.
How it usually runs
We show up, set outriggers, and your crew rigs while we spec the pick. Old unit comes off, new unit goes on, we pull the boom in and clear the site. Most single change-outs are done inside a two-hour window, which is why we can usually fit an emergency into the same week.
If a tenant is without cooling, say so when you call. We will tell you honestly whether we can get there today or whether you are better off calling someone else.