Should I Repair Or Replace My Commercial Rooftop Air Conditioner?

The graphic shows a white and blue glacier background and in the center is the title of the blog, which reads, "Should I Repair Or Replace My Commercial Rooftop Air Conditioner?"

Engineered designed rooftop air conditioners to be highly durable equipment to withstand the weather. However, your rooftop AC unit will eventually decrease performance.
You might ask yourself, “Should I repair or replace my commercial rooftop air conditioner?”
Commercial AC units are a significant investment. So you don’t want to replace them unless it makes the most financial sense. 

As the leading HVAC company in Colorado Springs, Polar Bear Mechanical has served the community’s business owners for years. If your commercial rooftop AC seems to be malfunctioning, call us. We’ll run diagnostics and help you decide if it’s more worth it to repair it or replace it. Keep reading to learn more about whether to repair or replace a commercial rooftop AC unit!

The image shows several rooftop air conditioners on top of a commercial building.

What Is The Lifespan Of A Rooftop AC Unit?

Typically, a rooftop AC unit should last 15 to 20 years. However, weather damage, improper maintenance, deterioration from snow, type of AC model, and amount of use can reduce this. Schedule regular maintenance appointments with an HVAC specialist to ensure your air conditioner operates properly for as long as possible. Your HVAC professional can identify potential problems and address them before they become irreversible during maintenance appointments.

The images shows commercial rooftop AC unit and a very blue sky in the background.

Common Rooftop AC Problems

Considering whether it makes more sense to repair or replace your rooftop AC unit, consider the following factors.

  1. Age
    • If your commercial air conditioner is between 15 and 20 years old, you might consider replacing the unit. As units age, it takes more and more money and maintenance to ensure they operate decently. However, if the unit is still functioning perfectly fine and doesn’t have any damage, you may still be able to get a couple more years out of it.
  2. Overall Performance
    • If your customers or employees constantly complain about hot and cold spots, inefficient cooling, or the inability to maintain constant temperatures, you know there’s something wrong. Speak with an HVAC technician to determine if the problems are fixable or if you need to invest in a new unit.
  3. Efficiency Reduction
    • As a business owner, you must have confidence in your air conditioning system to perform efficiently. In addition, your responsibility is to ensure your employees and customers are comfortable in your commercial space. So, if your electricity bills have suddenly skyrocketed or you’re unable to cool your room, you should hire a professional to investigate the problem.

If your AC system is using too much energy to operate, toward the end of its life expectancy, or needs a costly repair, it’s probably best to replace it. 

Repairing vs. Replacing An HVAC System

As a business owner, you know that your rooftop heating and cooling system is a significant investment. So, you want to enlist the help of HVAC professionals to help you decide if it just needs some repairs or if you should look into purchasing a new unit.

Constant repairs can cost you more than a new packaged rooftop unit, so you need a thorough understanding of the current state of your unit. Consider the following factors when replacing or repairing your commercial rooftop air conditioner.

  1. Cost
    • If the cost of repairs is at least half the cost of a new unit, it makes more financial sense to purchase a new AC unit.
  2. Size
    • Depending on the size of your commercial building, you’ll need a cooling system of a specific size. Without a properly sized rooftop AC, you’ll never be able to cool your space efficiently. Have an HVAC technician make sure you have the right-sized unit installed.
  3. Energy Efficiency
    • If you invest in a brand new air conditioner, you can invest in a more energy-efficient model. Plus, more energy-efficient units usually cost less to operate. 

The image shows old commercial AC units installed on top of a building.

So Should You Repair or Replace Your Commercial Rooftop Air Conditioner?

As experienced HVAC technicians, the team at Polar Bear Mechanical can run diagnostics on your current commercial rooftop unit and help you decide if you should repair or replace it. We understand the importance of having an efficient and affordable cooling system. We’ll use our resources and experience to help you achieve a unit that meets your needs. If you’re having trouble deciding whether you should repair your current AC system or replace it, call our HVAC technicians today!

Contact Polar Bear Mechanical Today

As the top HVAC technicians in Colorado Springs, our goal is to bring quality service, expert solutions, and affordable options to our neighbors. Book your service with Polar Bear Mechanical Today!

Request a Free Consultation

Not sure if your HVAC system needs servicing? Schedule a free estimate with our expert technicians.

Colorado Springs' Best HVAC Company

At Polar Bear, We Care! We are experts in all things HVAC. From furnace installation to AC Tune-Ups and everything in between, you can trust your heating and cooling systems to the best.

Over 200+ 5 Star Reviews

Frosty93
Frosty93
Read More
It was our first time using this company, and we had an outstanding experience. They diagnosed our boiler problem and fixed it same day. Very friendly service and showed up exactly when the appointment was set. I highly recommend them.
Sally-Marie Martinez
Sally-Marie Martinez
Read More
Very knowledgeable, friendly and want to do things right the first time. I won't go anywhere else after finding Polar Bear Mechanical. I will be a customer for life. Thank You Again.
Bethany Tessmann
Bethany Tessmann
Read More
Best decision! They were so easy to work with, quick to respond, affordable, and super nice. The HVAC work they did on our basement finishing project looks great and was done so quickly. Will definitely be using them again for other home projects.
James Admire
James Admire
Read More
John and team have been impressively knowledgeable and have been very attentive to any issues. Have come at multiple times very fast, for some emergency issues.
Previous
Next

Share this post with your friends

More HVAC Education