Commercial RTU Maintenance Agreements in Colorado Springs
Commercial HVAC preventive maintenance for the rooftop units nobody sees until they stop. We set up an agreement around your building, your equipment, and your hours, so problems get caught on a scheduled visit instead of an emergency call.
Commercial HVAC financing through Optimus is available on new rooftop equipment. See financing options.
- Open 24 Hours / 7 Days
- NATE, EPA & NCI Certified Techs
- Licensed & OSHA-Compliant
- 50+ Years Combined Experience
Why Rooftop Units in Colorado Need Preventive Maintenance
A rooftop unit (RTU) does its job out of sight. The U.S. Department of Energy calls packaged rooftop units the workhorses of heating and cooling for one- and two-story commercial buildings, yet most of them only get attention when a tenant complains or the building goes cold. On the Front Range, waiting is expensive, because the roof is a tough place for equipment to live.
Sun at altitude. Colorado Springs sits around 6,000 feet, and UV is more intense at elevation. Over time it degrades wire insulation, rubber seals, and the coatings on outdoor components.
Freeze-thaw cycling. NOAA engineering weather data for the Colorado Springs airport lists an average of about 124 freeze-thaw cycles a year. Each cycle expands and contracts refrigerant lines, cabinet seams, and electrical connections a little, and over the years that loosens things.
Hail. The National Weather Service recorded 3-inch hail over southern Colorado Springs and Fountain on June 13, 2018, and 3- to 4-inch hail in southern Colorado Springs that August. Bent condenser fins and dented panels don't always cause an immediate failure, so the damage can sit unnoticed until the first hot day.
Dust, wind, and a long heating season. In a semi-arid climate, dust and debris load up filters and coils, and mountain towns like Woodland Park see high winds. Colorado Springs' normal year also includes nearly 5,900 heating degree days, so the gas heat section carries the building for months at a time.
What a Commercial RTU Maintenance Visit Can Include
Every maintenance visit starts with a full inspection, cleaning, and tune-up by certified technicians. Our techs hold NATE, EPA, and NCI certifications. What gets done on a given visit depends on your equipment and the season, but the work is drawn from the same list we use for rooftop repair: the parts that wear out predictably on a rooftop unit.
The point is simple. A worn belt, a weak capacitor, a dirty flame sensor, or a slow refrigerant leak is a small fix when it's found on a scheduled visit. Found at 6 a.m. on a January Monday, it's an emergency.
A visit can include
- Full inspection, cleaning, and tune-up
- Filter replacement and airflow checks
- Blower motor and fan belt checks
- Capacitor and electrical component testing
- Refrigerant leak checks
- Ignition system and gas valve service
- Burner cleaning and heat exchanger inspection on gas units
- Thermostat calibration check
Heating Checks Before Winter, Cooling Checks Before Summer
Rooftop units in this region work hard in both seasons, so preventive maintenance follows the calendar. How often your units are serviced is set in your agreement, based on your building. A common approach is to look at the cooling side before summer and the heating side before winter.
Before the cooling season: clean coils, check refrigerant for leaks, test capacitors and electrical components, check belts and the blower, change filters, and clear condensate drains so the unit doesn't leak water into the building.
Before the heating season: service the ignition system and gas valve, clean the burners, inspect the heat exchanger, confirm airflow, and check thermostat calibration. Gas heat at high elevation also has to be set up for the altitude it runs at; the National Fuel Gas Code calls for reduced gas input above 2,000 feet unless the manufacturer's instructions say otherwise.
Not sure your rooftop unit is heating correctly? Our article on why rooftop units stop heating walks through the usual causes.
Commercial HVAC Maintenance Contracts Tailored to Your Building
There's no one-size commercial HVAC maintenance contract. A single unit over a small office and a row of units over a restaurant or warehouse need different attention. We build each agreement around how many units you have, what kind they are, how hard they run, and when we can get on the roof without getting in your way.
We don't publish a price list, because the right agreement depends on the building. Agreements are tailored to your building. Ask us for a quote, or start with a free RTU assessment so we can see your equipment first.
For businesses that depend on their rooftop HVAC to stay open, we also offer priority response options. Ask about them when you request your quote. And when something does break between visits, our 24/7 commercial rooftop unit repair team is a phone call away.
Maintenance and the Life of Your Rooftop Unit
Rooftop units typically last about 15 to 20 years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy and our own experience, and ASHRAE's long-standing equipment life table lists a median of 15 years. Maintenance can't make a unit last forever, but skipped maintenance is one of the main reasons a unit lands at the short end of that range. Clean coils, good airflow, and tight electrical connections let the compressor and heat section run the way they were designed to.
When a unit does reach the end, a maintenance history makes the next decision easier. You'll know its condition, what it's cost you, and whether replacing the rooftop unit makes more sense than another repair. Our article How Long Commercial RTUs Last in Colorado covers that decision in detail.
Commercial HVAC Financing Through Optimus
A failing rooftop unit doesn't wait for next year's budget. Commercial HVAC financing through Optimus Commercial Financing helps qualifying businesses replace rooftop equipment now while preserving working capital and cash flow, spreading project costs into manageable monthly payments.
- Terms are available for qualifying businesses with financing options from $5,000 to $1,000,000.
- Businesses can explore commercial financing options with no impact to credit scores.
- Section 179 may help reduce overall project cost.*
Commercial financing is offered through Optimus Commercial Financing to qualifying businesses. All applications, rates, and transaction structures are subject to change based on the credit condition of the business applying. We reserve the right to retract or amend this credit offer at any time. *Please consult your tax professional regarding Section 179 eligibility. To learn more about Section 179 tax benefits, please visit irs.gov.
RTU maintenance FAQs
How often should a commercial rooftop unit be serviced?
It depends on the building and how hard the units run, and it's set in your maintenance agreement. A common approach in Colorado is to check the cooling side before summer and the heating side before winter. Units in dusty or high-use settings may need filters changed more often.
What does a commercial HVAC maintenance agreement include?
Each visit starts with a full inspection, cleaning, and tune-up. Depending on your equipment and the season, it can include filter replacement and airflow checks, belt and blower checks, capacitor and electrical testing, refrigerant leak checks, ignition and gas valve service, burner cleaning, heat exchanger inspection on gas units, and a thermostat calibration check.
Does preventive maintenance extend RTU life?
Regular maintenance helps a rooftop unit reach the longer end of its typical 15 to 20 year service life by keeping coils clean, airflow correct, and electrical parts in good shape. It can't make an old unit new, but it catches small problems before they damage major components.
How much does a commercial HVAC maintenance contract cost?
Agreements are tailored to your building, so the price depends on things like how many units you have and what they need. Ask us for a quote. A free RTU assessment is a good place to start.
Can a maintenance visit catch hail damage?
Yes. A technician on the roof can spot bent condenser fins, damaged panels, and loose electrical connections after a storm, which often aren't visible from the ground.
Do you maintain all rooftop unit brands?
Yes. Our technicians are trained to handle all major RTU brands and configurations.
Free Rooftop Unit (RTU) Assessment for Colorado Springs Businesses
Tell us a bit about your building and we'll reach out to set up a free on-site assessment of your rooftop units.
- Honest repair-or-replace advice
- Replacement, repair & maintenance agreements
- Certified, licensed, OSHA-compliant technicians