HVAC Rooftop Lift Brooklyn NY — RTUs, Generators & Equipment Sets
An HVAC rooftop lift in Brooklyn, NY is a precision job: a two-ton package unit has to clear the parapet, miss the solar panels, and land on a curb that somebody measured twice — and it has to happen on a street where the crane may only have one legal lane to work in. Empire Crane & Rigging does this work daily for mechanical contractors, building owners, and GCs: rooftop units, condensers, exhaust fans, make-up air units, cooling towers, generators, and transformers, set exactly where the drawings say.
How a Rooftop Set Runs
We start with the equipment schedule — model numbers give us exact weights and lifting points — plus roof photos showing parapet height, existing equipment, and the curb locations. On the day, our riggers pre-stage the roof: confirm the curb is ready, lay protection for the membrane, and spot the crane from the roof while the operator works the street side. Tag lines keep the unit steady over the parapet, and the operator eases it down onto vibration isolators, never dropped from the last foot.
Curbs, Dunnage & Membrane Protection
Brooklyn roofs are a mix of old tar-and-gravel, newer TPO, and everything in between. We bring dunnage and cribbing to land equipment without point-loading the deck, and we coordinate with your roofer when the curb flashing needs to stay intact. Old-unit removal is part of the service: we lift the dead RTU off, stage it for your demo crew, and set the new unit in the same mobilization so you pay for one setup.
Permits & Street Coordination
Most Brooklyn rooftop lifts set up from the street, which means a NYC DOT permit and, on busy corridors, a flagging plan for pedestrians and traffic. We handle that filing as part of a crane rental in Brooklyn, NY, and we time the lift to the equipment delivery so the truck, the crane, and the roof crew all converge. For emergency no-heat and no-cool situations we run 24/7 emergency lifts — call (917) 555-0100 and we will work the schedule.
Across the Boroughs & Long Island
The same rooftop service runs on Queens retail and warehouse roofs, overnight Manhattan high-rises, Bronx commercial buildings, Staten Island homes and light commercial, and Long Island office parks. For the tightest sites — courtyards, alleys, roofs behind the building — ask about our knuckle-boom crane, which reaches where a straight boom cannot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you need to quote an RTU swap?
The unit model (for weight), roof access photos, the street in front of the building, and the date. If the curb is already installed, note that too. Most quotes go out the same day.
Can you remove the old unit at the same time?
Yes — old-unit removal during the same setup is standard. We lift the dead unit off and stage it where your demo crew needs it.
Will the crane damage the roof?
No — the crane stays on the street. On the roof we use dunnage and protection boards, and our riggers coordinate with your roofer to protect the membrane and flashing.
Get Your Rooftop Equipment Set Right
Send the unit model and the address — we will confirm crane size, permit needs, and a firm price.