A small business with a failed rooftop unit should call a licensed commercial-capable contractor and ask about access, parts and the cost of downtime before anything else. Climate Pros Tucson can match you with a licensed local pro.
How is commercial HVAC different?
Light-commercial buildings often use roof-mounted package units, larger electrical loads and a heavier run schedule than a house. Equipment may serve one tenant space or be shared across several. Cooling carries the load in Tucson: the airport averages about 3,424 cooling degree days annually and about 68 days at or above 100F.
What fails in summer?
Compressors, capacitors, fan motors, contactors and clogged coils are common. Dust loads coils quickly, and a failing unit tends to quit on the hottest afternoon, when it works hardest. Roof access matters too: a pro needs a safe ladder or roof hatch.
What belongs on a commercial quote?
- Make, model and age of each unit, with a description of the work.
- Whether a permit applies. Ask the contractor; the City of Tucson’s published residential list doesn’t cover commercial work.
- Who handles roof access, crane or lift needs and electrical work.
- Parts and labor separated, with warranty terms written out.
- Timing, including any after-hours work and the fee for it, stated as a dollar figure.
Climate Pros Tucson doesn’t set prices or schedules. The matched pro does.
What mistakes do owners make?
- Waiting for a total failure, then paying for rushed work.
- Skipping filters and coil cleaning on a busy unit.
- Comparing quotes that don’t cover the same scope.
- Treating a rooftop unit like a house system. Ask whether the contractor works on commercial equipment.
Should you sign a maintenance contract?
Maybe. A plan can make sense for a building that depends on cooling. Read what it covers: number of visits, parts, coil cleaning, and what happens during a breakdown. Ask who performs the visits and whether the company holds an Arizona ROC license. Check at roc.az.gov. See maintenance plan value.
Repair or replace?
Compare the repair cost, the unit’s age, its refrigerant and how often it has failed. Repeated failures in one season are a reason to ask for a replacement quote next to the repair quote, in writing.
Related: office building HVAC, retail HVAC and restaurant HVAC. See our commercial HVAC service page and the Tucson HVAC hub.
When to call us
If your commercial unit isn’t cooling, describe the building, the unit type and the symptom. Call (520) 353-2520 and we’ll match you with a licensed local pro.