Project Examples
HVAC and Mechanical Lift Examples
2 min readUpdated July 2026
HVAC lifts are the most common work HCW performs. A typical rooftop package unit swap means removing the failed unit from its curb, setting it aside, and placing the replacement on the same curb, usually within a single visit while the mechanical contractor handles the connections.
What a rooftop unit swap actually involves
The crane is on site for a short part of a long day. The mechanical contractor disconnects power, gas and refrigerant lines and breaks the unit loose from the curb before we arrive. Our part is the two picks: the old unit off, the new unit on.
The variable that decides everything is where the truck can sit. A package unit on the back of a strip building may be a short reach from the alley or a long reach from the front parking lot, and those are two different setups with two different capacity numbers off the chart.
We look at that before the day of the lift when we can. A photo of the roof from the street and a rough measurement from the parking area to the curb is usually enough to tell us which crane to bring.
A documented example: a 20-ton package unit swap
In April 2025 we worked with Mercury Air on a package unit swap at Altitude Lake Havasu, an indoor trampoline park in Lake Havasu City. The building is a large open-span structure, so the unit sits well in from the edge of the roof and the reach was the governing constraint rather than the weight.
That job is the kind of work this page describes. The mechanical contractor owned the connections. We owned getting the old unit off the curb and the new one seated square on it, without setting anything down on a roof that was not built to carry a point load.
Where these jobs go wrong
The three recurring problems are all avoidable. The first is a curb that does not match the new unit, which is discovered when the unit is hanging over it. The second is a setup position chosen on the day that turns out to be short on reach. The third is scheduling in July, when a rooftop is genuinely dangerous by mid morning.
We ask about curb dimensions and unit weight up front, we agree a setup position before mobilizing, and in summer we start early. None of that is complicated. It is just not optional.
Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a rooftop unit swap take?
The crane portion is usually short, often under two hours for a straightforward two-pick swap. The full day depends on the mechanical contractor's disconnect and reconnect work, which we schedule around.
Do you handle the disconnect and reconnect?
No. We handle the lift. The mechanical contractor handles power, gas, refrigerant and controls. We coordinate arrival so neither trade sits waiting.
Can you set a unit if the roof is set back from the parking lot?
Usually yes, that is what reach is for. Tell us the distance from where the truck can park to where the unit sits and we will confirm which crane covers it.
More Project Types
- HVAC and Mechanical LiftsRooftop units, air handlers, condensers, and mechanical equipment set for HVAC contractors and homeowners.
- Package Unit PlacementSetting rooftop package units square on the curb, with the gasket seated and the duct openings lined up. Crane and operator for HVAC contractors.
- Rooftop Equipment LiftsExhaust fans, kitchen hoods, evaporative coolers, ductwork, and mechanical equipment lifted onto commercial and residential roofs.
- Truss and Structural WorkHow we sequence roof truss sets, beams and structural members with framing crews in Lake Havasu City and Mohave County.
- Spa and Residential LiftsHow we place spas and hot tubs over block walls and structures in Lake Havasu City backyards without damaging the property.
- Industrial and Equipment PlacementHow we set generators, machinery, tanks and commercial equipment in Lake Havasu City and across Mohave County.
- Rigging and Construction Lift JobsHow we rig and set containers, machinery, roofing loads, solar racking, signs, poles, boats and boulders in Lake Havasu City and Mohave County.
- Tight Access ProjectsHow we work narrow lots, side yards and restricted setups in Lake Havasu City where a standard setup will not fit.
- Over Structure ProjectsHow we lift loads over houses, walls and patio covers in Lake Havasu City, and what has to be checked first.
Ready to schedule your lift?
Tell us the load, the site and the timing. We will confirm capacity, access and a window.