# Commercial Heat Pump Installation in Sacramento > Light commercial heat pump installation in Sacramento: rooftop and package units, curbs, lifts, electrical service, controls and permits. Get an estimate. URL: https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/commercial-heat-pump-installation/ Rooftop and package heat pumps for small commercial buildings, scoped around the curb, the lift, the electrical service and the hours the space is in use. [Tule Sacramento Heat Pump](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/) installs light commercial heat pumps across Sacramento County, south Placer County, east Yolo County and El Dorado Hills, with the work carried out by licensed and insured contractors. The scope is small buildings: packaged rooftop units and ground-mounted package or split heat pumps of the size found on offices, shops, small clinics and similar spaces. Central plants, chillers and engineered multi-zone systems are outside it. ## What light commercial means on this page Light commercial equipment sits between a house system and a building plant. It is usually a single packaged unit, or a few of them, each serving its own part of the building through ducts. A building of this size may have started with a gas pack, a rooftop unit that heats with a gas burner and cools with an air conditioner in one cabinet. A heat pump package unit does both jobs with the same refrigeration circuit, reversing in winter. The physical swap looks similar to a gas pack replacement, but the electrical load, the controls, the condensate and the refrigerant rules differ enough that the scope is worth writing out in detail. ## What happens on the first visit The site visit collects what the quote depends on. - **The existing unit.** Model plate, age, tonnage, fuel and the curb it sits on, measured, because the new unit’s footprint decides whether an adapter is needed. - **Access.** Roof height, hatch or ladder access, parapets, and where a crane could set up, including parking lots, alleys and overhead lines. - **The load.** How the space is used now: number of people, lighting, cooking or computer equipment, and west- or south-facing glass. A shop that became an office, or the reverse, may not need the old tonnage. - **Electrical service.** The disconnect, the conductors, the breaker and the service itself, compared with what the new unit’s nameplate requires. - **Controls.** The thermostat or building controls, the occupied schedule and any economizer on the current unit. - **Operations.** When the space can be without conditioning, and who needs to be told. The result is a written scope with the equipment, the lift, the curb work, any electrical changes and the permit named line by line. ## Rooftop units: curbs, lifts and the roof itself ### The curb A rooftop unit sits on a curb, a raised frame that seals it to the roof and lines up its supply and return openings with the ducts below. When the new unit’s openings and outline match the old curb, the swap is direct. When they do not, a curb adapter sits between the two so the roof opening and the ducts stay in place, which avoids cutting and re-flashing the roof. ### Getting the unit up Unless the roof is low enough for other rigging, a rooftop unit goes up by crane, and the crane’s position, the reach and the weight of the unit are planned before the day. The lift can need a section of parking or street kept clear, and in some locations that takes its own permission. A weekend or early-morning lift is one of the things that changes the price. ### Protecting the roof Old and new units are moved across the roof surface, so walk paths and the area around the curb are protected. The condensate line is run to an approved drain point rather than left to spill onto the membrane, where standing water and algae shorten the roof’s life. Get the roof, curb and service checked before you choose a unit A site visit measures the curb, the lift and the electrical service, so the quote names the real scope instead of a guess at it. ## Sizing for a building, not a house A commercial space carries heat that a home does not: more people at once, lighting for long hours, refrigerators, ovens or rows of computers. Those internal gains can make cooling the dominant load even on mild days, which is one reason the old unit’s tonnage is a starting clue rather than the answer. ### Sacramento design conditions The California Energy Commission’s design data puts the 1% cooling condition at 98°F for the Sacramento airport station, 100°F in Roseville and 103°F in Rocklin, with the 0.2% heating condition at 31°F at the airport. NOAA’s normals show about 14 days a year at 100°F or hotter in Sacramento and essentially no nights at 20°F or below on the valley floor. The [heat pump sizing guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-sizing/) explains how loads are built from those figures. ### Heating and defrost Winter heating is rarely the constraint here (the [hot weather guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-hot-weather/) covers the summer side), but damp, near-freezing mornings in tule fog season frost the outdoor coil and set off defrost cycles. On a rooftop, defrost water has to drain off the unit without pooling or refreezing on the roof. The [defrost and backup heat guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-aux-heat-defrost/) covers how backup heat is staged during those cycles. ## Electrical service and controls ### Electrical capacity A heat pump package unit often draws a cooling load close to the unit it replaces, but electric backup strips add to it. The nameplate’s minimum circuit ampacity and maximum overcurrent protection set the conductor and breaker size, and if either exceeds what is there, the electrical work goes into the quote. Some older buildings also need a service review before more electric load is added. The [electrical panel guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-electrical-panel/) explains how capacity is checked. ### Schedules, thermostats and economizers A commercial unit runs to an occupied schedule, and a heat pump set to swing hard each morning can bring backup heat on when it is not needed. Setback temperatures, recovery times and backup heat lockouts are set at startup. Where the unit has an economizer, which brings in outdoor air for free cooling on mild days, its dampers and sensors are checked so it does not stick open in summer heat or wildfire smoke. ## Permits, Title 24 and refrigerant rules Replacing commercial HVAC equipment takes a building permit from the city or county where the building is. Title 24 Part 6 has separate nonresidential requirements, so the forms and verifications differ from a house change-out and are confirmed per project. In the City of Sacramento, the minor-permit list covers residential HVAC for one- and two-family homes only, so commercial work is not on that list and its permit path is confirmed with the City’s Building Division per project. The [permit and Title 24 guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-permit-title-24/) covers the residential side in detail. ### The refrigerant change The EPA’s Technology Transitions rule limits new residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump systems to refrigerants with a global warming potential below 700 from January 1, 2025. New equipment therefore uses A2L refrigerants such as R-454B or R-32, which are classed as mildly flammable and come with their own handling and leak detection requirements. The [refrigerant guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-refrigerant-r454b/) explains what changed. ## Utilities, rates and rebates The electric utility depends on the address. SMUD serves most of Sacramento County, Roseville Electric serves Roseville, and PG&E serves West Sacramento, Davis and Rocklin, while PG&E supplies gas throughout. Commercial rate schedules differ from residential ones, so any operating-cost comparison with the old gas pack uses the building’s own schedule. The [heat pump vs gas furnace guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-vs-gas-furnace-sacramento/) shows how that comparison works for homes. SMUD’s heat pump HVAC rebate is written for homes individually metered by SMUD, so it does not cover a commercial meter. Other programs are checked per project and never assumed. ## What drives the price of a commercial installation Light commercial jobs vary too much from building to building for one price range to mean much, so the quote is built from the scope. The parts that move it most: - **Tonnage and efficiency.** Larger and more efficient units cost more, though not in direct proportion; the [SEER2 and HSPF2 guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/seer2-hspf2-ratings/) explains the ratings. - **Curb adapter.** Needed when the new footprint does not match the old curb. - **The lift.** Crane size, setup time and any street or lot space it needs. - **Roof access.** Height, hatch access and how far equipment travels across the roof. - **Electrical work.** New conductors, a larger breaker or a service change. - **Controls and economizer.** Replacing, rewiring or recommissioning them. - **After-hours work.** Early-morning, evening or weekend scheduling. - **Title 24 requirements.** Forms and any verification the nonresidential rules call for on that project. ## Related resources Owners of a house rather than a business will find the residential path on [package heat pump replacement](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/package-heat-pump-replacement/), and a building that wants to keep gas heat in reserve can look at [dual fuel heat pumps](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/dual-fuel-heat-pump/). Once installed, [heat pump maintenance](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/heat-pump-maintenance/) keeps filters, coils and drains in order, and the [placement and noise guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-placement-noise/) covers clearances around ground-mounted units. ## What's included - A site visit covering the roof or pad, the existing curb, the electrical service and the current controls - A load review for the space as it is used now: occupancy, lighting, equipment and sun exposure - A curb fit check, with a curb adapter written into the scope when the new unit's footprint differs - A lift plan for rooftop equipment, with the crane or rigging named in the quote - Electrical review of the disconnect, conductors and breaker against the new unit's nameplate - The gas supply capped at the unit when a gas pack is replaced by an all-electric heat pump - Controls and thermostat set for the occupied schedule, including any economizer the unit carries - Condensate routed to an approved drain point instead of across the roof membrane - Pressure test, evacuation and refrigerant charge to the manufacturer's specification - The permit, inspection and the Title 24 compliance forms the jurisdiction asks for - Startup checks of cooling, heating, defrost and the schedule, with the settings written down for whoever manages the building ## Three replacement paths for a small commercial rooftop unit | | Heat pump package unit | Dual fuel package unit | New gas pack | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Heating | Heat pump, with electric backup where the design calls for it | Heat pump most hours, gas burner below a set outdoor temperature | Gas burner | | Cooling | Heat pump | Heat pump | Air conditioner | | Gas at the unit | Capped | Kept | Kept | | Electrical | Checked against the new nameplate; more capacity if backup strips are added | Close to the old unit's cooling circuit | Close to the old unit's cooling circuit | | Refrigerant on new equipment | A2L, such as R-454B or R-32 | A2L | A2L on the cooling side | | Fits best | All-electric goals, especially on SMUD or Roseville Electric power | Owners who want gas heat held in reserve | A short-term budget with gas heat kept | | Check first | Curb match, electrical service, controls | Controls and changeover temperature | Curb match and gas supply | ## Related resources - Learn [How is a heat pump sized for a Sacramento home?](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-sizing/)How a load calculation turns your house, your town's design temperatures and your ducts into a capacity, why the old condenser's tonnage is a poor guide, and what Title 24 and the City permit allow. - Learn [What does the switch to R-454B refrigerant mean for a heat pump?](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-refrigerant-r454b/)Why new heat pumps use A2L refrigerants such as R-454B and R-32, what that changes about coils, line sets and indoor safeguards, and how to think about repairing or replacing an older R-410A system. - Learn [What does a heat pump permit in Sacramento involve, and what does Title 24 check?](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-permit-title-24/)The permit office for each part of the region, what the City of Sacramento's standard change-out permit allows, every Title 24 test a change-out carries, and how SB 222 reshapes permits from 2027. - Learn [When does a heat pump need an electrical panel upgrade?](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-electrical-panel/)What a heat pump adds to a home's electrical load, how a service-load calculation decides whether the panel can carry it, what an upgrade typically costs, and where SMUD's panel and circuit rebates fit. - Learn [Where should a heat pump's outdoor unit go, and how do you keep it quiet?](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-placement-noise/)How location affects airflow, drainage, service access and sound, what the City of Sacramento and Roseville permits allow when a unit moves, and the installation details that decide how loud a heat pump is. ## 1. Your house and your bills What you have now, what isn't working, your utility and what you want the new system to do. 2. Load, ducts and panel A room-by-room load calculation, a look at the ducts and returns, the electrical panel and where the outdoor unit can go. 3. Permit, set, braze, test Permit pulled, old equipment recovered and removed, new units set, lines brazed, pressure-tested and evacuated before charging. 4. Verified and explained Airflow, charge and backup heat checked, the ECC-Rater visit for Title 24, and the thermostat set up and walked through. ## What this work looks like Two rooftop package heat pump units on curbs on the flat white roof of a single-story Sacramento retail building, with walkway pads from the roof hatch Rooftop package heat pump unit on a curb on the flat roof of a small Sacramento office building, seen from the parapet corner Replace a rooftop unit on your schedule, not the heat wave's Send the unit's model plate, the building's address and how the space is used. The site visit and the scope start from there. ## Commercial heat pumps questions ### Can a gas rooftop unit be replaced by a heat pump on the same curb? Sometimes directly, often with an adapter. Footprints vary between makers and model years, so the existing curb is measured on the site visit. Where the new unit does not match, a curb adapter bridges the two and the roof opening stays as it is. The gas line to the old unit is shut off and capped at the roof. ### Does the SMUD heat pump rebate apply to a commercial building? Not the residential one. SMUD's heat pump HVAC rebate requires an active SMUD account at a home that SMUD meters individually, so a commercial meter falls outside it. Whether any other program fits a particular building is checked per project, and no rebate is assumed in the quote unless it has been confirmed. ### Will a commercial heat pump replacement need a crane? It depends on where the unit sits and how much it weighs. Equipment on a ground pad usually needs only a dolly or a small lift, while a rooftop unit on anything but a very low roof is commonly set by crane. The lift, any street or parking lot space it needs and the timing are part of the written scope and the price. ### Can the installation be scheduled around business hours? The timing is discussed on the first visit, because a rooftop swap usually means a stretch without cooling or heating in the space below. Early-morning, evening or weekend work is possible to plan for, and it is one of the factors that changes the price. The schedule is agreed in writing before the equipment is ordered. ### How is a rooftop heat pump sized for Sacramento's hottest afternoons? From the building's own load at local design conditions. The California Energy Commission puts the 1% cooling design at 98°F for the Sacramento airport station and 103°F in Rocklin. A heat pump loses some cooling capacity as the outdoor air gets hotter, so the selection is checked against the manufacturer's performance data at that temperature, not only at its nominal tonnage. ## Related services Package unit replacement A rooftop or ground-mounted package unit replaced with a package heat pump, with the curb, duct connections and Title 24 testing handled in one scope. Dual fuel heat pump A heat pump added to a gas furnace that still has life in it, with the changeover point set from your utility's rates and the house's heat loss. Heat pump maintenance Seasonal checks for ducted heat pumps: filters and airflow for smoke season, coil cleaning, condensate drains, defrost and controls.