August 25, 2025

How Much Does Commercial HVAC Cost? Differences from Residential Systems and Typical Hourly Charges

Commercial HVAC pricing in Los Angeles is not a one-size figure. Two buildings on the same block in Canoga Park can land at very different totals even when they ask for “a 20-ton rooftop unit and new duct.” The variables matter: building load, code requirements, roof access, controls, and the way people use the space. This article lays out clear ranges, explains what drives cost, and shows how commercial systems differ from residential systems in ways that affect both upfront and lifetime spend. It also includes typical hourly rates that property managers in the San Fernando Valley actually see on invoices.

Season Control Heating & Air Conditioning has designed, installed, and serviced commercial HVAC in Los https://seasoncontrolhvac.com/service-area/commercial-hvac-services-los-angeles/ Angeles for decades. The numbers below reflect real project experience across offices, retail, restaurants, light industrial, and multifamily common areas in and around Canoga Park, CA.

Why pricing is different in Los Angeles and the West Valley

Local code, Title 24 energy standards, seismic requirements, and traffic logistics affect the budget. In Los Angeles, crane access on a major corridor can force weekend picks and street closures. That is a different cost structure compared to a suburban office park with an all-day pick window. On older buildings in Canoga Park, roofs often need reinforcement for new RTUs that weigh more than the originals. Electrical distribution can be tight, so panel upgrades or new disconnects may be required to support VFDs and higher-efficiency equipment. These items do not appear on residential quotes.

Weather matters too. The Valley runs hot and dry many months, which favors high SEER2/IEER equipment with good part-load efficiency. Payback math shifts because systems spend most hours at partial capacity, not at peak.

Commercial vs. residential HVAC: the differences that drive cost

Residential systems serve one family, one thermostat, and relatively short duct runs. Commercial systems handle larger heat gains and variable occupancy. They must integrate with building controls, ventilation code, and life-safety systems. That adds parts and labor.

  • Equipment form factor: Commercial projects use package rooftop units (RTUs), split systems with large air handlers, VRF/VRV, chillers with fan coils, or makeup air units. They include economizers, curb adapters, and larger gas trains or electric heat kits. Residential systems rarely include any of this.

  • Controls and zoning: Commercial jobs often require BACnet integration, DDC controls, CO2-based demand-control ventilation, and multiple zones. Residential plans might add two or three zones; commercial buildings can have ten or more with separate schedules.

  • Ventilation and code: Title 24 enforces outside air rates, economizer use, and acceptance testing. Restaurants require dedicated makeup air and grease-rated hoods. Compliance touches design, equipment selection, and commissioning.

  • Access and rigging: A typical Los Angeles office RTU swap needs a crane, permits, curb fabrication, and coordination with neighboring tenants. A home condenser swap needs a dolly and two installers.

  • Service hours and response time: Commercial tenants expect minimal downtime. Night or weekend changeouts and premium dispatch windows add cost.

Typical ranges for commercial HVAC installation in Los Angeles

Every building is unique, but consistent bands show up across work in Canoga Park and nearby neighborhoods like Winnetka, Reseda, and Woodland Hills. The numbers below cover equipment, standard controls, basic duct tie-in or curb adapter, rigging, permits, startup, and Title 24 testing where required. They do not include major electrical service upgrades, structural steel, or long duct redesign unless noted.

  • Light commercial RTU replacement, 3 to 7.5 tons: $12,000 to $28,000 per unit. Expect the lower end for straightforward swaps with existing curb adapters and clear crane access. The higher end fits premium efficiency, economizers, curbs, seismic rails, and weekend crane.

  • Mid-size RTU replacement, 10 to 20 tons: $25,000 to $65,000 per unit. Variability comes from advanced controls, curb fabrication, and electrical. A 15-ton unit with demand-control ventilation and VFD supply fan often lands near the middle.

  • New RTU installation on existing low-slope roof (no prior HVAC): $35,000 to $85,000 per unit. Add design load calculations, duct design, new curb, penetrations, gas/electric runs, seismic detail, and controls programming.

  • VRF/VRV systems for office suites, 12 to 60 tons total: $60 to $120 per square foot conditioned in retrofit scenarios, $40 to $85 per square foot in new shell. This wide spread reflects refrigerant piping complexity, indoor unit count, and controls integration.

  • Small chiller or DOAS with fan coils for two- to three-story buildings: $80,000 to $250,000 for equipment and baseline install, not including central plant room build-out. DOAS with energy recovery increases upfront cost but reduces tenant complaints and lowers utility bills over time.

  • Restaurant packages in strip centers, 7.5 to 15 tons with dedicated makeup air: $35,000 to $95,000. Makeup air size, hood interlocks, and grease duct details drive the upper band.

For reference, a typical single-family residential split system in the Valley runs $10,000 to $22,000 including ductwork, permits, and a new condenser and coil. The commercial figures look higher because they are higher; the equipment is larger, heavier, and governed by different rules.

Hourly rates for commercial HVAC service and maintenance

Rates vary by scope, contract status, and time of day. In Greater Los Angeles, Season Control sees the following live ranges across competitors and union/non-union mixes. These reflect 2025 market conditions.

  • Standard commercial HVAC service call during business hours: $145 to $225 per hour per technician, with a one- to two-hour minimum.

  • Overtime or emergency dispatch after hours or weekends: $215 to $335 per hour per technician.

  • Controls specialist or commissioning technician: $185 to $265 per hour.

  • Crane rental for RTU set (with operator): $1,200 to $2,800 per day for 60- to 90-ton cranes; street closures or larger picks add traffic control and permits.

  • Sheet metal fabrication and install crew billing: $165 to $245 per hour blended for a two-person crew, common on duct changes or curb work.

Trip charges apply in some contracts, usually $75 to $150 within the San Fernando Valley. Diagnostic fees are often credited to repair if work proceeds the same visit. Consumables, parking, and permit fees appear as separate line items on most invoices. Clients in Canoga Park with active maintenance agreements typically receive priority scheduling and a lower hourly tier.

What drives commercial HVAC price on a given building

Tonnage is only the start. Experience shows five factors change the number the most: access, power, ventilation, controls, and ductwork.

Access and rigging: A single 12-ton RTU on a single-story retail roof off Sherman Way can be a half-day crane pick with easy alley access. The same 12-ton unit on a three-story office with no alley requires a weekend street closure, barricades, and an earlier call to LADOT. That alone can swing a project by several thousand dollars.

Electrical and gas: Older panels often lack capacity for higher-efficiency units with larger blower motors and heat kits. Upgrades for disconnects, breakers, or new circuits push cost and schedule. Gas piping can also need upsizing to meet pressure drop limits for larger heat sections. These fixes reduce nuisance lockouts later.

Ventilation and Title 24: Adding or right-sizing outside air raises cfm and sometimes requires an energy recovery wheel. Economizer testing under Title 24 acceptance can reveal damper or sensor issues that need correction before signoff.

Controls: Many commercial buildings in Los Angeles run on a patchwork of thermostats. Moving to BACnet or adding zone controllers costs more upfront but prevents short-cycling, cuts energy waste, and makes service faster because alarms and trend logs show the story. Restaurants often need interlocks between hoods, makeup air, and RTUs to pass inspection.

Duct condition: Reusing existing duct can save money if static pressure and leakage test results are acceptable. Crushed, undersized, or unsealed duct will ruin a new unit’s performance and drive complaints. Fixing duct in a drop ceiling for an active tenant load takes labor and patience, which must be budgeted.

Equipment choices and their budget impacts

Contractors often present good, better, best options. The spread is not just brand; it is features that affect utility spend and comfort.

Standard-efficiency RTUs cost less but run longer and louder, especially on hot Valley afternoons. High-IEER models add ECM or VFD fans, staged compressors, and better economizers. The price difference can be $2,000 to $7,000 per unit, sometimes more at larger sizes. On a 10,000-square-foot Canoga Park office with a 20-ton unit operating 3,000 hours per year, higher efficiency can shave several thousand dollars from annual electricity costs if the utility rate is typical for commercial tiers.

VRF systems deliver excellent part-load performance and zoning flexibility. They shine in offices that need different temperatures room by room. They do ask for careful refrigerant piping design, leak detection where code requires, and skilled commissioning. First cost is higher, but tenant satisfaction and energy savings often justify it when schedules and usage swing.

Energy recovery for outside air helps restaurants and gyms, which bring in large amounts of outside air. Installing ERV adds equipment and duct but reduces both heating and cooling load, which is felt in summer bills.

Maintenance costs and what to expect in the Valley

Commercial HVAC in Los Angeles lasts longer with routine service. Dust, heat, and long cooling seasons are unforgiving. A practical plan for a small building with one to three RTUs includes quarterly visits: spring and summer coil cleaning, fall heat checks, and winter belt and bearing checks. Annual spend per unit in Canoga Park usually lands between $350 and $750 depending on size and filter type. VRF systems need filter changes and indoor coil care across multiple cassettes. Maintenance for VRF often runs $1,200 to $2,500 per year for a modest office, largely due to the number of indoor units.

Predictive notes help avoid emergency rates. A cracked heat exchanger on a 10-year-old gas pack or a compressor losing windings rarely improves with time. Replacing a v-belt for $25 and ten minutes of labor beats replacing a motor after a summer slip cooks windings.

Replacement vs. repair: the 35 percent rule of thumb

Decision-making is easier with a simple lens. If a repair exceeds roughly 35 percent of a unit’s replacement cost and the system is past half of its expected life, replacement often makes financial sense. A 12.5-ton RTU in Los Angeles might cost $35,000 installed. A failed compressor plus a coil leak on a 14-year-old unit could total $12,000 with refrigerant, crane, and labor. At that point, the energy savings and warranty benefits of a new unit often tip the decision to replacement.

Edge cases exist. If the tenant’s lease ends in 18 months, a targeted repair can be the right call. If a building owner plans a major roof project next year, deferring full HVAC replacement until the roof is open can save rework and crane fees.

Permit, engineering, and inspection in Los Angeles

Commercial HVAC work in Los Angeles generally requires permits. Title 24 forms, mechanical drawings, and in some cases structural calculations for curbs and seismic bracing are part of the package. Expect permit and plan check fees from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on scope. The process adds time; two to four weeks is typical for straightforward replacements, longer if structural review is required. Allow a cushion if a pick needs lane closure permits. Season Control coordinates mechanical, electrical, and crane scheduling to keep downtime low, but lead time remains a reality in the city.

What building owners in Canoga Park can do to control cost

Clear scope and honest site conditions are worth real dollars. A brief walk with photos of the roof, electrical room, and ceiling plenum helps a contractor build an accurate quote. Providing past service records reveals chronic issues that new equipment should address, like hot south zones at 3 p.m. or economizers that never open. Planning a changeout during shoulder seasons, like late spring or early fall, can reduce premium labor. Bundling multiple units under one crane pick lowers unit cost because mobilization is spread across the set.

Mapping future use matters too. A retail space slated for a restaurant buildout needs more outside air and grease-rated components than a shoe store. Designing for the upcoming use prevents fast rework.

Real numbers from recent Los Angeles projects

A 6,500-square-foot medical office near Sherman Way and De Soto: two 10-ton high-IEER RTUs, curb adapters, BACnet gateway, and Title 24 acceptance testing. One Saturday crane pick. Final cost: $87,000. Utility savings in the first year came in near $4,200 compared to bills from the prior equipment, based on owner-provided data.

A 3,200-square-foot restaurant bay in a Canoga Park strip center: one 7.5-ton RTU, one 3,000 cfm makeup air unit, hood interlock, gas piping upsized, and controls. Final cost including permits: $58,000. The hood contractor handled grease duct and hood; HVAC scope integrated with their controls.

A two-story office condo conversion in Woodland Hills using VRF: 36 tons total, 14 indoor cassettes, branch controllers, and wall-mounted controls. Electrical work by GC. HVAC portion: $312,000. The owner selected VRF for quiet operation and zoning; first-year complaints dropped to near zero from frequent hot/cold calls with the old split system.

How long commercial HVAC equipment lasts in the Valley

In Los Angeles, a well-maintained RTU typically reaches 12 to 18 years. Coastal air cuts that shorter near the beach; the Valley dust raises coil cleaning needs but does not shorten life if filters and belts get attention. VRF outdoor units often run 15 to 20 years with proper care, though indoor fan motors and boards may need replacement along the way. Controls and sensors should be viewed as service parts over the life of a system.

Aging signs that increase service spend include rising amperage on compressors, repeat economizer faults, heat exchangers with surface corrosion, and repeated nuisance trips on high head pressure during peak afternoons. Tracking these with seasonal service reports helps time replacement before failure.

Budgeting guide for property managers

For annual planning in Canoga Park:

  • Set aside $0.75 to $1.50 per square foot per year for routine maintenance, filter changes, and minor repairs for typical office and retail buildings.

  • Reserve $3 to $6 per square foot per year for capital refresh on a rolling basis if systems are 10 years or older. This avoids surprise full-building replacement in a single year.

  • Assume crane and permit costs will add $2,000 to $10,000 per multi-unit project depending on access and street rules.

Larger facilities and special occupancies will need higher reserves. Working with an HVAC partner who tracks asset age, refrigerant type, and failure history helps refine these numbers each quarter.

Seasonal timing, supply chain, and lead times

Peak heat in the Valley stresses supply. Standard 5- to 10-ton RTUs are usually available within one to three weeks. High-efficiency or special voltage models can take four to eight weeks. VRF equipment lead times vary from three to twelve weeks depending on brand and configuration. Seasonal coil and compressor shortages still pop up during heat waves. Planning a spring or fall changeout avoids the scramble and overtime premium that mid-July projects tend to carry.

Common pitfalls that inflate cost

Allowing minor duct leaks to persist forces larger equipment selection because load calculations see inflated airflow. Skipping economizer repair leads to unnecessary compressor run time and higher electricity bills. Accepting a low quote that omits curb replacement or electrical corrections usually leads to change orders mid-job, which frustrates tenants and blows schedules. Finally, approving equipment without checking roof structural load can stop a project at inspection when the city asks for stamped calcs.

How Season Control approaches commercial HVAC in Los Angeles

Season Control focuses on practical design that respects budget and code. Load calculations, site access planning, and coordination with building schedules reduce rework. The team serves Canoga Park and the Valley daily, so crane vendors, inspectors, and suppliers are already on speed dial. For owners, that means fewer surprises and clear communication about cost drivers before work starts.

Service and repairs use a diagnostic-first method. Technicians measure static pressure, superheat and subcooling, and check controls logic rather than swapping parts blindly. This reduces callbacks and keeps units stable through the hottest months. Maintenance programs are built around quarterly visits and seasonal needs in the Valley dust and heat.

Next steps for Canoga Park property managers and owners

If a quote is needed for commercial HVAC Los Angeles projects, a quick site visit in Canoga Park can lock in accurate numbers. Photos of the roof units, electrical disconnects, and ceiling plenums help prepare a fast, realistic proposal. Season Control provides side-by-side options with clear payback notes, including maintenance and controls packages that stabilize operating costs.

To schedule a walkthrough, request an estimate, or book a service call, contact Season Control Heating & Air Conditioning. The team will coordinate around tenant hours, handle permits, and deliver a plan that fits your building and budget.

Season Control Heating & Air Conditioning provides HVAC services in Canoga Park, CA. Our team installs, repairs, and maintains heating and cooling systems for residential and commercial clients. We handle AC installation, furnace repair, and regular system tune-ups to keep your home or business comfortable. We also offer air quality solutions and 24/7 emergency service. As a certified Lennox distributor, we provide trusted products along with free system replacement estimates, repair discounts, and priority scheduling. With more than 20 years of local experience and hundreds of five-star reviews, Season Control Heating & Air Conditioning is dedicated to reliable service across Los Angeles.

Season Control Heating & Air Conditioning

7239 Canoga Ave
Canoga Park, CA 91303, USA

Phone: (818) 275-8487

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