When you are considering putting an air conditioner on your roof the system that you are looking at is a packaged unit.
Rooftop ac units installed on metal building roof.
This is more often the best placement for private homes.
Because everything is together and on the roof ducts can be run straight down from the unit and throughout the building.
Instructions supplied with the unit curb.
This combination heating and air conditioning unit can be mounted on the roof especially in the case of businesses with flat roofs.
This guide does not address roof penetrations.
Unfortunately an improperly placed and installed packaged rooftop unit can lead to roof damage including punctured membranes and sagging that could lead to ponding water and leaks.
Rooftop units are an extremely common setup in hvac systems for commercial buildings due to their ease of installation good energy efficiency and ability to provide heating and cooling in one unit.
Why it costs the same amount.
Rooftop units are a type of air handler the main difference is that they are usually more compact and they re always installed on the roof so they need to be more robust and weather proof to deal with the sun rain snow wind etc.
Additionally ahu s will often be connected to central plant such as chillers and boilers to provide the heating and cooling but rtu s are self contained and have everything they need all in one unit.
This means that the condenser and the fan are all in one unit and not split apart and connected by hoses or pipes.
We live and work in an area with high winds.
It can also be mounted on a slab at ground level.
Mechanical contractors should not be asked to supply or install roof curbs for roo fi ng systems.