HVAC questions - replace or relocate 5 ton Trane unit? Contractor rec's?

Hi. We have a 14 year old, 5 ton Trane HVAC unit on our roof. It works just fine. Sadly, the intake / condenser grill is located extremely close to our building’s edge, and a new, taller building is about to be constructed right up against that side. The GC doing some other work for us advised that it needs to be relocated, as did a structural engineer and an HVAC contractor we had take a look. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find anyone to actually DO the work. The HVAC contractor who came out is a one man operation and said it would require a crane and is just too big a job for him. And the other FOUR HVAC contractors I have called to come out and give me an estimate are not calling me back. …Which I don’t understand! Is it because it is too big a job? I have called all the folks I have found recommended here. Is it that they are more repair guys, or deal with smaller systems? The guy I did get out said it would require permits, too, because it is so big. Is this correct? Any advice and recommendations would be VERY appreciated. I’m obviously at a loss. Also, given the age of the system, we wondered if it might be best to just get a NEW unit, since the cost of relocating the old one would be so high anyway. Who do I call for that? I’m not interested in a mini-split. (Do I need a mechanical engineer for permits??) Thanks!

tanner

in Heating and Cooling 11 years and 9 months ago

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thenets | 11 years and 4 months ago

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If you still need to talk to an HVAC contractor and get the job done, contact [tameernyc.com](http://tameernyc.com “tameernyc.com”). They guarantee to beat Home Depot/Lowes prices and are very quick to respond. 516 858 0555.

steam_man | 11 years and 9 months ago

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Ha ha. You Jersey guys always have to show how tough you are. Here in the city we get a cherrypicker and call it a day.

brucef | 11 years and 9 months ago

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Steamman My bad. Most residential here is on a pad or post Sandy, up on brackets. Roofs are usually light commercial, and you go up the stairs and out the bulkhead door.

steam_man | 11 years and 9 months ago

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Most definitely.

tanner | 11 years and 9 months ago

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And Steve, would permits be required for a new unit as well, even if they are smaller?

steam_man | 11 years and 9 months ago

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An architect to file the job and an expediter to assist in pulling permits (or figure in your budget to have your contractor hire the expediter).

tanner | 11 years and 9 months ago

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Dave, I’ll stop by there this week. Thanks. And Steve and brucef, thanks for the advice. The HVAC contractor who did stop by said that he thought permits needed to be filed because the unit is over 3 tons–whether we relocate or get a new one. Is that so? If so, who do I need to hire for this? Thanks.

steam_man | 11 years and 9 months ago

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tanner, We can help you with your project. Please feel free to call the office at (718)608-6100\. As brucef has given you some good advice, please have an idea of what your budget is for mechanical work within the context of his post. One last thing I want you to look into: When an adjacent building owner is modifying their building in such a way that it will affect existing venting on neighboring property, the adjacent building owner is required to make modifications to the existing venting at their cost. This is part of the NYC Building Code. Now I know this holds true in terms of chimneys and vents. I am not sure about intakes. You’ll have to look it up on DOB’s website or perhaps a kindly architect here on Brownstoner might weigh in. -Steve PS- brucef how do you get them on the roof once you hump them up the stairs? 5 ton RTUs typically don’t fit through a roof hatch.

brucef | 11 years and 9 months ago

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Without seeing your layout, it is hard to give finite guidance, but I can give general advice. A five to unit today would require dunnage, ironwork from masonry to masonry. It sounds as though you currently do not have this arrangement. If you do have ironwork, it is hard to imagine that the existing unit or a replacement couldn’t be slightly moved or re-oriented to provide the required clearances. Regarding replacement of your existing condenser. New equipment can be specced much more efficiently than older technology. This is both planet friendly and, in the longer term less expensive. I would not consider re-installing a unit of that … vintage. The labor to reinstall – evacuation of old refrigerant, new line set, nitrogen pressure check, vacuum draw down, release/supply old style refrigerant, is non-trivial. Much better to apply that expense to a new unit. The downside is different. New condenser uses modern (diffrent) refrigerant, which is highly sensitive to moisture and contaminants from old refrigerant, so new line set and new air handler are probably in the cards. High SEER condensers use circuitry controlled air handlers so ditto, new air handler. Five ton HIgh SEER condenser is 200-300 lbs. In NJ we carry them up, using manpower. Ironwork if it has to go across a fair distance is long and heavy – so crane becomes necessary. If you have a flat roof, normally the ironwork goes diagonally across two adjacent parapets, and is easily carried up and installed. This may all sound intimidating, but I really think you should go new. There is a good chance that the old re-installed unit will fail in the foreseable future. Refrigerant/parts may very well be unavailable, leading to a changeout during hot weather when the tech quality of the install is just so-so. We are not licensed in NYC, so you will need to get a NYC firm interested in your job.

daveinbedstuy | 11 years and 9 months ago

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I’d walk down and ask for you but I jest left town for the weekend.

daveinbedstuy | 11 years and 9 months ago

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There is a house that just had this done (with the crane) on Henry bet remsen and Joeralemon or Jorealemon and State…west side of street and still has some large construction boarding up. You might stop by and ask them who did it.