Rooftop HVAC & Packaged RTU Financing
iLease Capital helps property owners, retailers and facility operators finance packaged rooftop HVAC units. Call (866) 545-3273 with the RTU quote and the building location, especially when a replacement must be coordinated with crane access or a tenant's operating hours.
Rooftop equipment requests are arranged through iLease Capital's network of 50+ lenders and funding partners, with transactions up to $5 million plus. We act as a broker. The financing proposal should distinguish the units being purchased from curb work, roof repairs and other building expenses surrounding the installation.
A rooftop replacement is both an equipment purchase and an installation project. Match the new unit to the building requirements before comparing financing options. This guide covers packaged rooftop equipment; commercial chillers are covered separately. See HVAC equipment financing for the broader commercial financing overview.
Defining the Rooftop Equipment Order
Identify whether the purchase is a gas/electric package, an electric cooling unit or a packaged heat pump. Show factory options on the equipment order and separately identify field-installed accessories. A description such as "replace rooftop HVAC" is insufficient when the proposal includes several units with different duties.
For a tenant improvement, ask the contractor to distinguish the RTU from duct modifications, roof work and electrical changes. A single total for the renovation makes it difficult to see which durable equipment is being acquired. Request unit prices even when the contractor will perform both supply and installation.
Service agreements and future filter replacements should have their own terms and prices. Obtain the funding partner's treatment of those costs instead of assuming that every item on an HVAC contractor's invoice belongs in the equipment financing.
Rooftop Families and Exact Model Selection
Lennox Enlight is one example of a commercial packaged rooftop family. Lennox documents Enlight among the product lines using R-454B refrigerant. Carrier WeatherMaster and WeatherExpert are other rooftop family names a buyer may encounter, but the exact model and regional specification should govern a purchase.
Avoid describing every Lennox rooftop product as Enlight or assuming a family name establishes refrigerant, capacity or options. Older equipment and new models can share a manufacturer's name while differing in controls and service requirements. Copy the complete model designation and refrigerant from the quote and nameplate.
A model comparison should identify gas/electric, cooling-only or heat-pump configuration. Include the specified voltage and any outside-air or economizer options. Two quotations for the same nominal tonnage can represent materially different packages.
Ask the HVAC contractor to confirm suitability for the site and applicable installation requirements. This financing guide does not establish refrigerant transition deadlines or imply that an older unit is prohibited. Equipment eligibility, installation requirements and lender approval are separate questions.
Matching the Factory Order to the Surveyed Roof
Before placing a new-unit order, reconcile the contractor's site survey with the proposed model and options. Ask for confirmation of curb arrangement, electrical supply and the required supply-and-return connections. Resolve substitutions in writing before the dealer's order becomes noncancelable.
If delivery precedes crane availability, clarify where the unit will be held and who accepts it. Provide that sequence when requesting financing. Receiving an RTU at a warehouse and completing its installation on a roof are different milestones; the funding documents need to match the arrangement actually agreed.
For a chain-wide replacement program, request one schedule showing each store, unit designation and expected shipment. Ask whether pricing is fixed for the whole order or only for units released now. A payment proposal for the initial delivery should not be assumed to establish terms for future stores or later equipment changes.
Evaluating an RTU Removed From Another Building
Ask why the used rooftop unit was removed and whether the seller has a condition report from before or after removal. Record its complete nameplate information and photograph the specific cabinet being sold. A refurbished description should identify the work performed on that unit rather than summarize the dealer's usual process.
Before comparing its purchase price with a new RTU, give the contractor the model data and the receiving building's requirements. Ask what changes would be needed to install it. An attractive equipment quote may still leave unresolved curb, control or power-supply work.
Check the seller's written position on start-up support and warranty coverage at the new location. Clarify whether missing controls or outside-air accessories must be bought separately. Include those costs in the used-versus-new comparison instead of evaluating the cabinet price alone.
Comparing Installed RTU Proposals
Request two clear amounts: the rooftop equipment price and the total installed project price. The difference may include a curb adapter, crane work, roofing, duct changes, electrical work and removal of the existing unit. Keep each material component visible on the proposal.
For multi-site programs, compare equivalent configurations rather than averaging all units into one price. A heat pump with controls and outside-air options should not be treated as equivalent to a cooling-only unit because the stated tonnage matches.
Used-unit comparisons need the model, age, refrigerant and condition. Include the cost of inspection, transport and any missing accessories. An advertised equipment price usually does not establish the cost of placing that unit into service at your building.
Ask competing HVAC suppliers to quote the same surveyed rooftop requirements so differences in equipment scope remain visible. Base the financing request on the current seller quote and documented installation scope. iLease Capital does not treat an asking price as an appraisal or promise that every installation expense can be financed.
Connecting the RTU Purchase to the Property
State whether the applicant owns the building, operates a tenant business or manages properties for others. Identify who will own the purchased rooftop units and who contracts for installation. Do not leave a funding reviewer to infer those roles from the address on the equipment quotation.
For a replacement serving an occupied store, describe the existing operation and the planned changeover. For a new location, identify the remaining buildout steps before opening. If the property will stay closed while roofing or electrical work is completed, explain that timing alongside the proposed equipment payment schedule.
iLease Capital presents the RTU acquisition to a funding partner for its credit and equipment review. A contractor's energy calculation or planned rent increase is not a financing commitment. Keep projections identified as assumptions and provide the business information requested for the actual borrower.
Curbs, Airflow and Controls
Curb compatibility is a practical starting point. Ask the contractor whether the new unit fits the existing curb or requires an adapter or replacement. Record the proposed solution and its cost rather than assuming that a matching tonnage means a direct swap.
Next compare the airflow arrangement and controls. Supply and return connections, outside-air components and the building's control interface should be addressed in the contractor's proposal. If an accessory is necessary to make the selected unit work, it belongs in the project budget even when sold separately.
A used RTU should have a readable nameplate and a condition assessment that covers the equipment actually offered. Ask what was tested, when the test occurred and whether the seller provides a warranty. A photograph of an intact cabinet does not answer those questions.
For multiple buildings, prepare a unit-by-location schedule. It connects each quote to a specific replacement or expansion need and reduces confusion when several units have similar model numbers.
A Unit-by-Address Review Package
Use a rooftop schedule that connects the contractor's naming convention with each quoted machine:
- Property address and the roof or tenant area served
- Unit designation on the survey, such as RTU-A or RTU-B
- Complete model, heating configuration and specified electrical supply
- Contractor's curb or adapter selection and any related quotation
- Controls and outside-air accessories included with that unit
- Equipment shipment, crane placement and start-up milestones
- Used-unit inspection or refurbishment documentation where relevant
When a revised quote substitutes a model, update the schedule rather than leaving two possible units under one label. This also helps distinguish equipment being replaced from rooftop units that remain in service.
Coordinating Rooftop Orders Across Properties
A retailer replacing rooftop units at several locations may need a phased equipment schedule rather than a single delivery date. List the site, unit designation, model, quantity and equipment price for each purchase. Separate recurring service agreements from the equipment order.
Ask whether one contractor coordinates the program or whether local contractors handle each site. Explain who orders the units and who accepts delivery. These details help the funding partner understand whether the proposal is one documented equipment purchase or several projects with different sellers and completion dates.
Where one building has multiple rooftop units, identify which are being replaced and which remain. Include any controls work needed to coordinate the new units with the existing system. Do not assume the entire building system is part of the collateral simply because the equipment shares a control panel.
Confirm the funding and acceptance process before authorizing phased shipments. Delivery, crane placement and completed start-up may occur on different days.
A Failed Unit Versus a Whole-Roof Program
An urgent replacement request should identify the failed unit and the part of the property it serves. Separate temporary cooling from the permanent acquisition. Discuss financing early, but avoid assuming that urgency removes documentation or lender conditions.
A planned whole-roof program needs a different budget. Show the order in which units will be replaced and whether the contractor expects one crane visit or several. Ask for the cost implications of changing that sequence before accepting a financing offer based on the original proposal.
For a tenant opening a new location, distinguish the rooftop equipment from the larger construction contract. Confirm who authorizes changes to the roof and which party pays for them. The equipment application does not establish the applicant's right to perform building work.
Resolving Equipment Supply and Installation Contracts
If the dealer supplies the RTU but another contractor installs it, put both proposals in the project file. Ask who handles damage discovered at delivery and who determines whether a missing accessory must come from the factory or installer. Do not assume an equipment-only warranty resolves installation disputes.
When buying a removed unit from a building owner or auction, obtain confirmation that the offered equipment includes the components shown in the listing. Have the receiving contractor assess fit before making a binding purchase. A seller's statement that the unit worked on its previous roof does not establish suitability for yours.
Comparing Replacement Alternatives on Equal Terms
Ask vendors to price the configuration the building actually requires, then compare each complete proposal. Record any exclusions for curb adaptation, controls or start-up alongside the price. Avoid applying a generic resale percentage to an RTU simply because another unit has the same nominal cooling capacity.
If used equipment is being offered as the less expensive route, request a written list of additional work before deciding. Keep the installation contractor's conclusions separate from a seller's asking price. The financing amount should reflect a documented acquisition rather than an assumed market average.
Reviewing Funding Against the Installation Calendar
Use the online application to introduce the rooftop order and upload the latest property-specific proposal. Flag split sellers, phased releases and any nonrefundable equipment deposit. The lender's written conditions should be compared with those commitments before the contractor orders the units.
Request a clear explanation of the amount funded, any required contribution and when payments begin. Check that the quote used for approval matches the RTUs ultimately ordered. Financing arranged through iLease Capital remains subject to the funding partner's decision and does not certify the HVAC design or roof work.
Coordinating the Rooftop Replacement
Plan the installation window before committing to the seller's deadline. A delivered RTU may still be waiting for crane access, building approval or electrical work. Ask the contractor which dependencies must be completed before the unit can operate and include those dates in the project summary.
For a leased property, confirm who is purchasing the equipment and who has authority to approve the work. Provide relevant ownership or landlord information when requested by the funding partner. The equipment-financing application does not replace permission to alter the building.
Ask the contractor to distinguish equipment start-up from the wider roofing or renovation scope. The completion documents should show what has been delivered and what remains unfinished. If a quote changes after a site survey, update the equipment schedule before funding.
Keep any temporary cooling or rental arrangement separate from the permanent equipment acquisition. It may be necessary for business continuity, but it is a different expense. A clear schedule helps the lender assess the RTU purchase without confusing it with every cost associated with keeping the property open.
Rooftop Replacement Financing Questions
Can several store locations share one RTU application?
Present a location schedule with quantities, models and delivery dates for each store. Explain whether the same business purchases every unit. A lender must review the proposed arrangement; one application does not automatically create a continuing facility for later rooftop orders.
Does matching tonnage mean the replacement fits the curb?
Do not use tonnage as a fit confirmation. Ask the installing contractor to check the selected unit's dimensions and connections against the existing roof arrangement. Include the priced adapter or curb work in the project proposal if required.
What should a tenant provide for a rooftop purchase?
Identify the business buying the RTU and the property owner. Obtain the permissions needed for the proposed work and explain any landlord contribution. Keep that arrangement distinct from the lender's equipment approval.
Is crane placement included in the amount financed?
It depends on the approved cost schedule. Show crane and rigging charges separately, even if the HVAC contractor bills them with the unit. Confirm their treatment in the written offer before scheduling a lift.
How do I compare gas/electric and heat-pump quotations?
Have the contractor identify which configuration meets the property's requirements and show the full installed scope for each acceptable option. Different heating arrangements should remain visible in the comparison rather than being reduced to a common tonnage label.
What if the replacement arrives before installation is possible?
Tell the funding partner where it will be stored and who will receive it. Confirm the agreed delivery, acceptance and payment sequence. Do not sign documentation describing completed installation while the RTU is still awaiting placement.
Can an older rooftop unit still be considered?
Submit the exact model, age, seller and available inspection information for review. Have the contractor assess its suitability separately. Neither the article nor a financing application establishes a universal age limit or a regulatory determination for that unit.
Discuss Your Rooftop Equipment Schedule
For an RTU replacement or a phased property program, call (866) 545-3273 with the unit-by-address schedule. Begin the rooftop financing request once the equipment proposal and installation responsibilities are clear enough to present together.