When the air conditioners for a condo or apartment building sit on the roof, replacing one is not a two-person carry up the stairs. On Thursday, November 5, 2026, a Bill Boom boom truck swapped a rooftop AC condenser at a three-story condo complex in Boulder. The old unit came down and the new one went up.
What the job was
The building is three stories with outside stairs and a pitched shingle roof. The condensers for the units sit up top, well out of reach of a ladder and too heavy and awkward to walk up three flights and across a roof. The HVAC crew handled the disconnect and the hookup. Our part was the lifting: pick the old condenser off the roof, set it on the ground, then send the new one up to the same spot.
How the lift goes
- Set up in the parking lot. The boom truck parks in front of the building with its outriggers down. On this job that meant a few parking spaces for part of a day.
- Rig the condenser. The unit is strapped so it hangs level and cannot slip, then hooked to the line.
- Up and over. The operator booms up past the third floor, swings over the roof edge, and lowers the unit to the crew waiting on the roof.
- Bring the old one down the same way. The old unit comes off the roof on the hook and is set by the truck to be hauled away.
One condenser is a light pick for a crane. The reason to use one is reach and control. The boom clears the stairs, the balconies, the gutters, and the trees in one move, and nothing gets dragged across the shingles.
Working around residents
People live here, so the job has to fit around them. The stairs and doors stay usable. The truck takes up as little of the lot as it can, and nobody walks under a load. A boom truck helps with all of that, because it sets up in minutes, works from one spot, and is gone as soon as the new unit is on the roof. Property managers usually give residents a heads-up about which parking spaces to leave open that morning, and that is all the preparation most buildings need.
Who calls us for this
- HVAC contractors replacing rooftop condensers or package units on apartment, condo, and office buildings
- Property managers and HOAs lining up a crane for their HVAC company
- Building owners with a unit that is too heavy or too high to carry
If you are the HVAC contractor, tell us the weight of the unit, the height of the building, and where the truck can park. That is enough for us to tell you whether a boom truck reaches.
How to book a crane in Boulder
Call (303) 761-2666. There is no call center. The person who picks up knows the trucks. Every lift is quoted on the phone. Bill Boom has been lifting along the Front Range since 1965, and Boulder is a regular stop for us, from condo roofs to the power plant.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a crane to replace a rooftop AC condenser?
On a two- or three-story building, usually yes. A condenser is too heavy and bulky to carry safely up stairs and across a roof, and a crane sets it in place in a few minutes without touching the shingles.
How long does a rooftop condenser swap take with a crane?
The lifting is quick, often a few minutes per unit once the truck is set up. Most of the day belongs to the HVAC crew doing the disconnect and hookup.
Does the crane block the parking lot at an apartment or condo building?
Only a few spaces in front of the building while the truck is set up. Stairs and doors stay open, and the truck leaves as soon as the last unit is on the roof.
