Built around change-out day
Rooftop HVAC lifts are the core of what we do. Lots and lots of HVAC companies around the Valley use Skyhook Crane for their rooftop change-outs, and the way we work is shaped around how those days actually run.
Your crew shows up, recovers refrigerant, kills power and unbolts the old unit. The new unit is on the trailer. Then the crane needs to be there, ready, at the right time. Not two hours early burning your morning, and not after lunch with your installers standing around.
That is the job we are built for: show up when you need us, make both picks, and get out of the way so your crew can finish.
Book the crane, then lock in the start time
When you have a change-out on the calendar, call 602-615-0712 or text 623-258-8361 with:
- Job address and city
- Unit type and weight, new and old
- Where the truck can park and roughly how far that is from the unit
- Roof type and number of stories
- Anything overhead or in the way: power lines, trees, patio covers, parapets
- The day and the time your crew expects the old unit to be ready
Don will confirm the lift before it goes on the schedule. Every lift is different, so we do not promise a set until we know the weight, the distance and the setup spot.
On the day before, it helps to touch base to confirm the start time. If your crew is running behind on an earlier job, let us know as soon as you can so we can adjust.
One shot: new unit up, old unit down
The goal on a change-out is one truck setup and two clean lifts.
- Set up. The operator positions the truck, puts down outriggers and pads, and checks the area under the boom.
- Old unit down. Once your crew has it disconnected and free of the curb, it gets rigged and lifted to the ground or straight onto your trailer.
- Curb work. If you need an adapter curb or new stand set first, we can lift that up before the unit.
- New unit up. The new unit is picked from the trailer and lowered onto the curb, held steady while your crew lines it up.
- Pack up. Boom stowed, outriggers up, and your crew gets back to connections.
Refrigerant recovery, electrical and gas disconnects, and permits for the mechanical work stay on your side. Federal rules prohibit knowingly venting refrigerant during service or disposal (EPA Section 608), so plan recovery ahead of lift time.
Rigger and crew communication
Total trust between the cab and the rigger on the ground makes the impossible look easy. Before the first pick, we agree on who is giving signals and how.
- One signal person. When the operator cannot see the load or the landing spot on the roof, a signal person directs the lift. OSHA requires one when the point of operation is not in full view of the operator or the view in the direction of travel is blocked (29 CFR 1926.1419).
- Hands on tag lines, not under the load. Your crew guides the unit with tag lines and stays out from under it until it is lowered into place (29 CFR 1926.1425).
- Talk before you move. If anyone on the roof needs to step into a spot the operator cannot see, they say so first.
For more on the full lift-day process, see how a crane lift works.
Repeat partners across the Valley
We like working with the same HVAC companies job after job. Once we have worked a few change-outs together, the process gets quicker: we know how your crews like to run a job, and you know what we need to confirm a lift.
We work all over the Phoenix metro from our base in Surprise, from the West Valley through Phoenix and Scottsdale to Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler, and out to Wittmann and Wickenburg. Northern Arizona jobs are possible when needed; call to confirm. See our service areas.
We are licensed and insured, and we run with small-business values and a big-business approach. When a unit is beyond what our truck can handle, we have trusted relationships with other crane companies and can help you find the right fit.
More than rooftop units
Your jobs are not always just a package unit. We also lift curbs, stands, rooftop condensers and heat pumps, evaporative coolers, and building materials that need to get onto a roof. See HVAC crane lifts for the full list, or heavy item lifts for equipment that is not HVAC.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book the crane for a change-out?
Call 602-615-0712 or text 623-258-8361 with the job address, the unit type and weight for both the new and old units, where the truck can park, and the day and time your crew expects to be ready. Don will confirm the lift before it goes on the schedule, then we agree on a start time.
Can you set the new unit and remove the old one in one trip?
Yes. That is the standard change-out for us. The crane sets up once, lifts the old unit down after your crew has it disconnected, then sets the new unit on the curb. If you need an adapter curb or stand placed first, we can lift that in the same visit.
What does my crew need to do before the crane arrives?
Have refrigerant recovered, power and gas disconnected and the old unit unbolted and free of the curb by the agreed start time. Have the new unit on site and clear the area where the truck will park and the path under the load. Tell us about power lines, trees or obstacles ahead of time.
Do you work with HVAC companies outside the West Valley?
Yes. We are based in Surprise but work all over the Phoenix metro, including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler, and out to Wittmann and Wickenburg. We can travel to northern Arizona when needed. Call 602-615-0712 or text 623-258-8361 to confirm your job location.
What if the unit is too big for your crane?
Every lift is different, so we confirm each one based on the weight, the distance from the truck and the setup spot. If a job is beyond what our truck can handle, we have trusted relationships with other crane companies and can help point you to the right equipment for the job.