Commercial HVAC Replacement & Installation in Chatham-Kent
Commercial HVAC Replacement & Installation
Postma replaces and installs commercial HVAC equipment across Chatham-Kent, Sarnia-Lambton and Windsor-Essex. We install all major brands of equipment and have 35+ years of experience installing rooftop units (RTUs), boilers, make-up air, unit heaters, chillers, refrigeration and many other common equipment types based on your building’s needs.
How a Commercial Changeout Works
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Step 01
Site Assessment We measure the existing unit, check the curb, confirm roof access and crane placement, and review the electrical service and gas supply. This is where surprises get found, while they are still cheap. |
Step 02
Sizing and Selection We size from a load calculation rather than solely copying the nameplate on the old unit. Buildings change use, add insulation, and get renovated, so the original sizing may be wrong by the time it needs replacing. |
Step 03
Scheduling Crane, permits, equipment delivery and your operating hours all get booked together. From ordering the equipment to arranging the crane to installing the equipment, we handle the process from start to finish to ensure a flawless installation and minimize any time involvement, or unneeded stresses, on your end. |
Step 04
Install and Commission Old unit removed and refrigerant recovered, curb adapted, new unit set, connections made, controls programmed, startup and airflow verified, warranty registered and the old equipment hauled away. |
What Drives the Cost of a Commercial Replacement
Two buildings can get quotes on the same tonnage unit and land thousands of dollars apart. These are the common reasons why pricing can differ substantially between buildings.
| Cost Driver | What It Depends On |
|---|---|
| Curb fit | If the new unit matches the existing curb footprint, the changeout is straightforward. If it does not, you need a curb adapter or a new curb, plus roofing work and possible structural review. This is the single most common cost difference between two quotes on the same unit. |
| Crane and access | Crane size is set by unit weight and how far it has to reach. A tight parking lot, overhead power lines, or a unit in the middle of a large roof all mean a bigger crane and more setup time. Some sites need a road closure or lane permit. |
| Efficiency tier | Base-model equipment costs less up front and more to run. We quote the options side by side with the operating cost difference so the decision is made on total cost rather than the purchase price alone. |
| Electrical and gas | A higher capacity unit can require a larger disconnect, feeder or breaker, and a bigger gas heat section can require a resized gas line. We handle both in house, which avoids waiting on a separate electrical contractor mid project. |
| Controls integration | Tying a new unit into an existing building automation system is usually simple, but mixed brands and older protocols can add work. We are a Reliable Controls authorized dealer and do this in house. |
| Timing | Overnight and weekend work costs more in labour than a weekday changeout, but for a business that cannot close it is usually cheaper than the lost revenue. Emergency replacement after a failure costs more again, because equipment selection and crane booking happen under pressure. |
| Brand of Equipment | The brand of equipment itself can drive differences in pricing. While we stand behind all of our installations, HVAC equipment is no different than other industries where certain brands carry a premium price because of their reputation and the quality of their product. Certain brands, like Lennox, Daikin or Carrier, also offer extended parts warranties relative to other manufacturers, which can lead to pricing above others. With 35+ years of experience, we make it a focus to have a discussion with our customers and provide multiple options – the cheapest piece of equipment is not always the best decision. For example, some brands sell the unit itself at a lower cost but have high-priced aftermarket parts, which can lead to the overall cost of the equipment over its lifecycle being higher than other brands that were more expensive upfront. |
Planned replacement costs less than emergency replacement. When a unit fails in July, you take whatever equipment is available, at whatever crane time can be booked, at whatever the schedule allows. Buildings on our preventative maintenance program get condition based replacement forecasts a year or more ahead, so the replacement can occur on a planned basis during the shoulder season.
Keeping the Building Running During a Replacement
| Approach | When It Applies |
|---|---|
| Off hours changeout | Most single unit replacements can be removed and set overnight or on a weekend, with the building running before you open. Standard approach for retail, restaurant and office. |
| Phased replacement | On multi unit rooftops we replace in sequence so the building is never fully without heating or cooling, and so capital can be spread across budget years. |
| Temporary equipment | Where a space genuinely cannot go without conditioning, such as care facilities, data rooms and food processing, temporary heating or cooling covers the gap. |
| Shoulder season scheduling | Replacing in spring or fall means a day without that unit costs almost nothing. This is the cheapest form of downtime management and it only requires planning ahead. |
Equipment We Replace and Install
- Packaged rooftop units, gas/electric and heat pump, single zone and multi zone
- Condensing and atmospheric boilers, pumps, and hydronic distribution
- Make-up air units, energy and heat recovery ventilators, exhaust systems
- Walk-in cooler and freezer refrigeration, condensing units and rack systems
- Air cooled chillers, VRF and VRV systems, ducted and ductless splits
- Unit heaters, infrared and radiant tube heating, high bay destratification fans
- Building automation and controls, including Reliable Controls systems
- Ductwork modifications, diffuser layouts and air balancing to suit the new equipment
Commercial Replacement FAQ
Can you replace a rooftop unit outside business hours?
Yes. Crane time, roof access and permits get scheduled in advance so the old unit comes off and the new one goes on overnight or over a weekend, with the building running before you open.
Do I have to replace with the same size unit?
No, it is not a requirement that your new equipment be the same size as the old equipment being swapped. Renovations, added insulation, changes in occupancy and different equipment loads are all factors that may move the number away from what was originally installed.
How long does a commercial replacement take?
A straightforward single rooftop changeout on an existing curb is normally a one day job. Curb adapters, electrical or gas upgrades, controls integration and multi unit projects extend it. We give you the schedule with the quote so you can plan around it. Larger systems, or more complex equipment like VRF systems, may require a multi-day installation.
What are the lead times on commercial equipment?
Common rooftop and boiler sizes are generally available within 1-2 weeks. Larger equipment, high efficiency models and anything custom configured can run several weeks or longer. This is the main argument for planning replacements rather than waiting for a failure.
Do you handle permits, disposal and refrigerant recovery?
Yes. Permits, regulated refrigerant recovery, removal and disposal of the old equipment and warranty registration on the new equipment are all included. We also pull all the necessary electrical permits, which is typically skipped by other contractors. If you have a competing quote, it is important to confirm that the quote includes all of this as it is common to not have a full apples-to-apples comparison. Our prices always include all of these services such that the price we quote you is the price you’ll pay.
Can you do the electrical work as part of the replacement?
Yes. We are a licensed electrical contractor as well as a mechanical contractor, so disconnect, feeder and breaker changes are handled by our own crews on the same schedule rather than waiting on a separate trade. We also pull all necessary electrical permits given we are licensed with the ESA. See commercial electrical.
Will you service the equipment after you install it?
Yes. Our commercial service department carries the warranty on what we install and can put the new equipment on a maintenance agreement from day one, which also keeps the manufacturer warranty valid. See our preventative maintenance.
Should I repair this unit or replace it?
It depends on age, repair history, refrigerant type, parts availability and what downtime costs you. We quote both so you can see the crossover rather than guessing at it. There is a full breakdown of how we assess this on our commercial HVAC page.
See all commercial HVAC services, or our commercial HVAC new construction services for new builds and fit-outs.
Planning a replacement, or already dealing with a failed unit? Call 519-354-9491 or send us the make, model and location and we will quote it. Postma handles crane, permits, electrical, gas, controls and disposal in house, with overnight and weekend changeouts so your building keeps running.