Video · Church HVAC
Church AC Unit Replacement, From Crane Lift to Curb Adapter
Replacing a church's rooftop AC unit is a one-day crane job when it's planned right: old unit out and recycled, a curb adapter fitted, and the new unit set and running by afternoon.
Job footageSwiftPro
- Topic
- Church HVAC
- Length
- 1:16
- Posted
- August 11, 2026
- Shot by
- The SwiftPro crew, Northern Virginia
What you’re seeing in this video
A crane swings a commercial rooftop unit over a brick building while Tyler Griffin, SwiftPro's owner, records a selfie update in a black SwiftPro polo. He explains that the old unit has already gone off with a scrap company to be recycled.
Up top, a tech in a blue long-sleeve shirt, cap and mask works inside the old roof curb next to a ladder. A curb adapter has just been lifted in and mounted on that old curb, because a new unit's footprint rarely matches the one it replaces.
The crew started at 7 a.m., and Tyler says the plan is to have the new unit installed and running that afternoon.
All right, we are just lifting the unit right now onto the roof. My name is Tyler Griffin. I'm in the owner of SwiftPro Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing, a local HVAC and plumbing company here serving Northern Virginia. We love partnering with churches, projects big and small, among other things.
We don't do a lot of commercial work, but churches are it's a unique way to serve the community as a non-profit, and it's our pleasure to partner with them on their HVAC and plumbing projects. So, something we love to do, a great way to connect with the community as well. So, we've got a whole team out here, technicians, and then our partner through the crane company, Ferguson, delivering the equipment, a scrap company that just took away the old unit that will recycle all the old metal, get to good use, and team is up there on the roof right now waiting for this unit to be put over into place and mounted to the curb adapter that was just lifted into place and mounted to the old curb. And as you replace old units with new units, the sizing is a little bit different, so there's some adjustments that need to be made.
So, the team is working hard here, been here since 7:00 a.m., and uh we'll have the new unit all installed and working this afternoon.
Why it matters in your house
- A curb adapter saves cutting a new hole in the roof. It bridges the old curb to the new unit's size, so the roof opening and the ductwork below stay where they are.
- For a church, timing is everything. Planning the crane, the equipment delivery and the haul-away for a weekday keeps services and gatherings on schedule.
- Rooftop units on a building that sits empty much of the week still need regular checks. Filters, belts and drain pans are easy to forget when nobody's there to notice.
How long does it take to replace a church rooftop AC unit?
For a like-for-like swap with good planning, usually a single day. The crane lifts the old unit off and the new one on in a few hours, and the rest goes to the curb adapter, gas, electrical and startup. Permits, crane scheduling and equipment delivery add lead time before that day, so plan weeks ahead.
Want it done at your place? See Church HVAC at SwiftPro or call (703) 997-9757.
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