SITE BITE: Accessing Hard-to-Reach HVAC Ceiling Units

Every year, Nationwide Coils handles hundreds of commercial site visits, and we often encounter ceiling-mounted HVAC units installed between 15 to 30 feet high. These units are common in retail spaces, like the one featured here, but they can also be found in industrial or educational buildings.

A ceiling HVAC unit we accessed on a recent service call to a major U.S. retailer.

This was the case during a recent visit to a middle school in Mount Vernon, where I was called in to measure a hot water coil and a DX evaporator coil in a Carrier 7.5-ton ceiling unit.

While some might have had to overcome their fear of heights, I had to face my own—returning to middle school. Yikes!

Middle School me. Okay, back to coils…

The unit was suspended at 30 feet, surrounded by the building’s infrastructure, making it a real challenge to access. The contractor wanted to lower the unit just to get the measurements, which would have been both time-consuming and costly. Instead, I climbed up and took a close look before deciding to drop it. With some skill and a bit of luck, I managed to get the exact measurements without any extra work or expenses for the contractor—another satisfied customer.

And what did we learn today? Before you decide to drop a unit, give me a call first! It could save you time, money, and a trip down memory lane.