Video · AC Replacement
Rooftop Unit Replacement Day, Filmed From the Roof Peak
On a rooftop unit replacement, most of the work happens before the crane swings. Here the boss perches on the roof peak filming on his phone while the crane truck sets up in the lot below.
Job footageSwiftPro
- Topic
- AC Replacement
- Length
- 0:13
- Posted
- September 2, 2026
- Shot by
- The SwiftPro crew, Northern Virginia
What you’re seeing in this video
The joke is the boss. A man in a black shirt and khakis sits right on the peak of a shingled roof, phone up, filming, while the on-screen line ribs the owner for documenting everything.
Below him, a red crane truck is setting up in the parking lot for the equipment lift. Before a new rooftop unit can go up, the crane has to be positioned, its outriggers planted on solid ground and the lift path cleared of people and cars. That setup often takes longer than the lift itself.
Why it matters in your house
- Rooftop units on commercial buildings often last 15 to 20 years with good maintenance. When one fails in summer, the crane's availability sets the schedule, so plan replacements ahead of the busy season.
- A crane lift usually closes part of a parking lot, loading area or sidewalk for a morning. Building managers should know the date early.
- Filming the job is the real point under the joke: photos of the curb, the old unit's data plate and the new connections give the next tech a head start.
How long does a rooftop unit replacement take?
The crane part is fast, often under an hour once it's set up. The full job usually runs a day: shutting off power and gas, recovering refrigerant, disconnecting the old unit, the lift, setting the new one on its curb, reconnecting and starting it up. If the curb needs an adapter for a different footprint, add time.
Want it done at your place? See AC Replacement at SwiftPro or call (703) 997-9757.
More videos from the SwiftPro crew
0:20HVAC Installation Time Lapse: Fast Clip, Careful Furnace Swap
0:47Rooftop AC Installation Starts on the Trailer: Rigging the Lift
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
0:22AC Replacement Surprises: The Pad Was the Real Project
0:21Signs You Need a New HVAC System, and Who Crawls Up to Check