Heights Plumbing, Heating & Cooling installs, replaces and services rooftop HVAC units for homes, multi-family buildings and condo properties throughout Northern New Jersey. Rooftop packaged equipment is the practical answer when there is no yard, no side setback and nowhere at grade to put a condenser.
This is work we do regularly, and it draws on the full team: our mechanical engineer sizes the system, our electrical engineer and crew handle the wiring, and we coordinate the crane or hoist and the roof access. We are licensed and insured under NJ HVAC Lic. #197400 with 56 years of industry experience behind the work.
No Ground Space for an AC Condenser? Look Up
In the denser parts of North Jersey, lot lines are tight. Row-style homes, two- and three-family houses, townhouses and condo buildings often have no usable side yard, or the only spot at grade sits directly under a bedroom window or right on a neighbor’s property line. Some associations do not permit ground-mounted equipment at all.
A rooftop unit moves the whole system out of that argument. It also removes the noise from the living space and frees the ground for parking and yard. The tradeoff is that access, structural support and weatherproofing all have to be done properly, because a rooftop install that leaks or vibrates becomes an expensive problem for the building below it.
What Our Rooftop HVAC Service Includes
A residential rooftop unit is usually a packaged system: compressor, condenser, evaporator coil and blower — and often a gas heating section — all in one cabinet that sits on a curb on the roof and connects to the building through supply and return duct penetrations. That single-cabinet design is what makes it workable where a split system has nowhere to go. We size the unit with a heat gain and heat loss calculation, confirm the existing curb dimensions, and specify a curb adapter when the new unit does not match the old footprint, so we are not cutting new roof openings unnecessarily.
Installation day is a coordinated job. We arrange crane or hoist access and the staging area, schedule around building and parking constraints, set the old unit down and the new one on the curb, adapt and seal the duct connections, flash and weatherproof the penetrations, and run the electrical ourselves — disconnect, wiring and controls. Then we commission the unit: verify refrigerant charge, airflow and temperature rise, check the safeties, and confirm the thermostat and any economizer or damper controls do what they should. We also repair and maintain existing rooftop units, on residential and commercial buildings alike.
Signs Your Rooftop Unit Needs Service or Replacement
- Cooling has fallen off across the whole building
- Water staining on the ceiling below the unit
- The cabinet or curb shows rust and open seams
- The unit is 15 years old or more
- Repeated refrigerant loss season after season
- Loud vibration transmitting into the rooms below
- Heating section locks out or short-cycles
- Parts for the model are no longer stocked
Noticing any of these? Call (201) 245-7772 or request service online. Same-day appointments across North Jersey.
Our Rooftop HVAC Installation Process
Roof and building survey
We measure the existing curb, check the duct penetrations and roof condition, confirm electrical capacity, and work out how equipment will get up and down.
Engineered sizing and specification
Our engineers run the load calculation and select a unit that fits the building, the curb and the available power rather than simply matching the old nameplate.
Logistics and approvals
We schedule the crane or hoist, arrange the staging area and street or lot access, and pull permits where the municipality requires them.
Removal, set and connect
Old unit removed, curb adapter installed if needed, new unit set and secured, duct connections sealed, penetrations flashed and weatherproofed, and all electrical wiring completed by our team.
Commission and hand off
We verify charge, airflow, temperature rise and safeties, confirm the controls and thermostat operate correctly, and review the maintenance schedule with you.
Rooftop HVAC Options We Offer
Packaged AC rooftop units
Cooling only, in a single cabinet. The common choice where heat is supplied separately by a boiler or existing furnace.
Gas/electric packaged units
Cooling plus a gas heating section in one cabinet, so a single rooftop unit covers the building year round.
Packaged heat pump units
Electric heating and cooling from one rooftop cabinet, worth considering where gas service is limited or you want to reduce fuel use.
Curb adapters and structural coordination
When the new unit does not match the existing curb, an adapter lets us reuse the opening. We handle the fit-up, sealing and flashing so the roof stays watertight.
Multi-family and condo building service
We work on two- and three-family homes, townhouse groups and condo buildings, coordinating with owners, boards and property managers on access and scheduling.
Commercial rooftop units
We also install and service commercial rooftop HVAC equipment for offices, retail and restaurant buildings. It is the same crew and the same rigging experience at a larger scale.
Why Choose Heights for Residential Rooftop Units
- Family Owned & Operated: A family business means more personalized service than you get from big chain providers.
- 56 Years of Industry Experience: Over 56 years of combined industry experience across plumbing, heating and cooling.
- Licensed & Insured: NJ HVAC Lic. #197400 and NJ Plumbing Lic. #1221100. Fully insured for residential and commercial work.
- Engineers On Staff: Our own mechanical and electrical engineers design systems and handle wiring, so you don’t need a second contractor.
- Same-Day Service: Schedule with us and we’ll provide service within 24 hours, arriving on time as scheduled.
- No Worries Pricing: Straightforward pricing with no surprise fees or up-charges. You know what you’re paying before we start.
Residential Rooftop Units Across Bergen, Essex & North Jersey
We provide residential rooftop units from our offices in Fair Lawn and Hillsdale to every municipality in Bergen County and Essex County, including:
We also serve Sussex County, Passaic County, Warren County, Morris County, Hudson County, Union County, Hunterdon County, Somerset County, Middlesex County, Mercer County.
Residential Rooftop Units FAQs
Why would a house have a rooftop unit instead of a regular condenser?
Usually because there is no practical ground space. Tight lot lines, no side yard, shared driveways, association rules and setback requirements all push equipment to the roof. It also keeps compressor noise away from bedrooms and patios.
Do you need a crane to replace one?
Most rooftop replacements involve a crane or a hoist, depending on the size of the unit and the roof access. We arrange it, confirm the staging area and street access ahead of time, and schedule it so the lift happens in a single visit.
What is a curb adapter and will I need one?
It is a transition frame that lets a new unit sit on an existing roof curb when the footprints do not match. It is common on replacements and it avoids cutting new roof openings. We measure the curb during the survey and tell you whether yours needs one.
Will the roof leak where the unit sits?
It should not. The unit sits on a curb that is flashed into the roof, and any duct or conduit penetrations are sealed as part of the install. If we find existing curb rot, failed flashing or open seams during the survey, we address it before the new unit goes on.
Do you handle the electrical for a rooftop install?
Yes. We have an electrical engineer on staff and our team does our own wiring for system installs, including rooftop disconnects, conduit runs and control wiring, so there is no separate contractor to schedule.
Do you service commercial rooftop units too?
Yes. Commercial rooftop HVAC is a regular part of our work across North Jersey, and we maintain and repair units on buildings we did not originally install.