Project Summary
A routine maintenance visit uncovered a refrigerant problem in the rooftop HVAC unit serving a golf car service garage in The Villages, Florida. Our technicians traced the leak to a connection at the condenser coil that could not be repaired.
United Refrigeration, Heating & Air replaced the aging equipment with a new 7.5-ton Lennox packaged rooftop unit. The project included crane placement, electric heat, a variable-speed supply fan, protective hail guards, and startup testing to return the system to service.
Project Snapshot
Location
The Villages, Florida
Industry
Golf Cart Service Garage
Service
Commercial Rooftop HVAC Unit Replacement
Equipment
7.5-Ton Lennox Packaged Rooftop Unit with Electric Heat
Installation Date
December 30, 2025
Warranty
5-Year Parts Warranty and 1-Year Labor Warranty
Project Overview
The existing 7.5-ton Lennox rooftop unit had been in service for approximately 11 years. During a maintenance inspection, our technician found low refrigerant pressures in one of its two cooling circuits. Further checks showed that the affected circuit was significantly undercharged, and its expansion valve was beginning to frost.
Rather than simply adding refrigerant, our technician performed a leak search to identify why the system was losing its charge. The leak was located where a copper refrigerant line connected to the aluminum condenser coil. The connection could not be repaired, so correcting the failure would require replacing the coil or the rooftop unit.
Other inspected components, including the belt and electric heat strips, checked out. This helped isolate the problem and gave the owner a clear explanation of the failure before making a decision.
The owner chose to move forward with a replacement quote instead of paying to recharge equipment with an unresolved leak. For facility owners facing a similar decision, our article on when to repair, replace, or upgrade warehouse HVAC explains the factors to consider.
Work Performed
Our commercial HVAC team completed the replacement with the following work:
Diagnosed the refrigerant loss: Traced the leak to the copper-to-aluminum connection at the existing condenser coil.
Installed the replacement rooftop unit: Set a new 7.5-ton Lennox packaged unit by crane onto a curb adapter fitted over the existing roof curb.
Added a variable-speed supply fan: Installed a multi-stage air volume supply fan with a variable-speed drive to adjust airflow to system demand.
Installed heating and fresh-air components: Equipped the unit with new Lennox electric heat and a fresh air damper.
Protected the condenser coil: Installed hail guards to help shield the new coil from hail damage.
Secured the rooftop equipment: Fastened the unit to its curb with hurricane tie-down screws.
Connected the smoke detector shutdown: Wired the smoke detector to shut down the unit when an alarm is triggered.
Handled permitting: Permitted the installation through Sumter County.
Completed startup checks: Checked operating pressures and superheat on both cooling circuits and verified electric heat operation.
Results Delivered
The replacement addressed the leaking equipment and returned both cooling circuits to service. The owner received a new commercial rooftop system backed by a five-year parts warranty and a one-year labor warranty.
Just as valuable, the replacement decision was based on a confirmed diagnosis. Identifying the exact leak location helped the owner understand why another refrigerant recharge would provide only temporary relief.
This project also shows how routine maintenance can uncover developing problems before a complete equipment failure. Finding the issue early gave the owner an opportunity to plan the replacement. United’s commercial HVAC maintenance plans provide ongoing inspections to help businesses identify equipment concerns and plan service.
Project Photo Gallery
Need Commercial Rooftop Unit Replacement?
If your rooftop unit is losing refrigerant or struggling to cool your building, identifying the cause is the first step toward choosing a lasting solution.
United Refrigeration, Heating & Air provides commercial HVAC repair and replacement services for businesses in The Villages, Ocala, and surrounding Central Florida communities.