Video · AC Replacement
How Is an AC Unit Replaced on a Commercial Roof?
How is an AC unit replaced on a commercial roof? In a set order: gas and power off, refrigerant recovered, old unit lifted off its curb, new one set and reconnected. This clip shows it through the tech's own eyes.
Job footageSwiftPro
- Topic
- AC Replacement
- Length
- 1:09
- Posted
- August 16, 2026
- Shot by
- The SwiftPro crew, Northern Virginia
What you’re seeing in this video
The camera rides with the tech, so all you see are hands, arms and boots. On a roof still wet from rain, a hand turns the gas valve at the rooftop package unit, an adjustable wrench lying close by.
A tool bag and coiled hoses sit on a walkway pad, the protective strip that keeps foot traffic from wearing through the roof membrane. Then the new rooftop unit stands on its curb with its service panels open under a blue sky, waiting on its connections.
Why it matters in your house
- A package unit with a gas valve heats as well as cools, so the swap includes a gas leak check and a burner test, not just the cooling side.
- Curbs don't always match. If the new unit has a different footprint, an adapter curb goes in so the duct openings line up and the roof stays sealed.
- Walkway pads matter on any roof with equipment. If yours is missing them, foot traffic to the unit will eventually wear a leak into the membrane.
How is an AC unit replaced on a flat roof?
Power and gas get shut off, the refrigerant is recovered, and the old unit is disconnected and craned off its curb. The curb gets inspected or adapted, the new unit is set, and power, gas, drain and controls are reconnected. Startup checks gas pressure, heat, cooling and airflow before anyone climbs down.
Want it done at your place? See AC Replacement at SwiftPro or call (703) 997-9757.
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0:14Crane Lifting an AC Unit Onto the Roof: Be the Crane
0:13How Long Do AC Units Last? A 30-Year-Old Unit Still Running