Is a Packaged Rooftop Unit Right for Your Building?
A packaged rooftop unit is the workhorse of Toronto commercial HVAC. Compressor, condenser coil, evaporator coil, blower, filters and a gas or heat pump heat section all sit in a single cabinet on one curb. Supply and return air drop straight through the roof into the ductwork below.
Buildings usually come to us for a packaged unit for one of four reasons: a split system that cannot keep up, a roof with no room for a separate condenser pad, a gas heat section that is failing, or a plan to convert to heat pump heating.
Packaged Unit vs Split System?
| Packaged RTU | Split system | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | All on the roof | Condenser outside, air handler inside |
| Indoor space | None needed | Mechanical closet or ceiling space |
| Service | All on the roof | Two locations |
| Typical use | Retail, office, restaurants, industrial | Small suites, retrofits with no roof access |
For most flat commercial roofs in the GTA, packaged wins on space and service. Splits still make sense for small suites in multi-storey buildings without roof access.
Gas/Electric or Heat Pump?
A gas/electric packaged unit cools with a compressor and heats with a gas burner. It is still the most common choice in Toronto because gas heat is reliable and cheap to run in deep cold.
A heat pump RTU heats and cools with the compressor, usually with electric or gas backup for the coldest days. It cuts on-site emissions, suits buildings with electrification targets and can qualify for Enbridge HER+ support. We price both options side by side so the choice is based on your building and goals.
What Sizes Are Stocked?
| Building use | Typical size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dental suite, small retail | 3-5 ton | See our 3-ton and 5-ton pages |
| Restaurant, small office | 5-7.5 ton | Kitchen load and make-up air change the math |
| Larger retail or office floor | 10-12.5 ton | See 10-ton rooftop units |
| Warehouse, big-box, industrial | 15-25 ton | Dual circuits, structural review |
Common 3-12.5 ton Lennox, Carrier and York units are usually in GTA distributor stock. Larger units and heat pump RTUs often need a factory order.
How Long Do Packaged Units Last?
Expect 15-20 years on a Toronto roof with quarterly maintenance. Coils, belts, capacitors and economizers are the wear items. Casings rust faster on roofs near highways and lake air.
Brands and Models We Supply
We are authorized for the main commercial lines, with OEM parts stocked:
- Lennox Landmark, Energence and LCG
- Carrier WeatherMaker and 50TC
- York Sun Choice, Predator and Sunline
- Trane Precedent and Voyager
- Daikin Rebel (including heat pump) and Maverick
- Rheem / Ruud and American Standard
Efficiency is rated by IEER for commercial units. Higher-IEER units cost more up front and often qualify for Save on Energy rebates. See commercial rooftop unit installation for how we size, lift and commission.
