Commercial heating in SoCal is different from residential heating. The dominant equipment is gas-heat RTU (rooftop unit with both AC and heating in one cabinet) — used by restaurants, offices, retail, small warehouses, medical buildings. Service work is typically reactive (heating fails) plus scheduled PM. The 2025 Title 24 Energy Code added pressure to replace end-of-life RTU with high-efficiency heat pump units when above capacity thresholds — fundamental shift from gas-heat default. We do both gas-heat service on existing equipment and heat pump RTU installs on replacements. For commercial boiler systems above 200,000 BTU/h or high-pressure steam, we refer to a C-4 specialist contractor.
Commercial heating problems we fix
By failure mode:
No heat / cold air during heating mode
- Failed gas valve ($585–$1,485)
- Hot surface ignitor failure ($385–$685 commercial sizing)
- Flame sensor cleaning or replacement ($285–$485)
- Pilot light out (older equipment) ($385–$585 service)
- Crossover thermostat fault on heat pump dual-fuel ($385–$685)
- Heat pump reversing valve stuck ($785–$1,485)
Reduced heating capacity
- Cracked heat exchanger (replacement RTU recommended — $4,500–$12,500)
- Failed limit switch ($385–$685)
- Inducer motor failure ($785–$1,485)
- Refrigerant leak on heat pump ($685–$1,485)
No airflow during heating
- Blower motor failure ($1,200–$2,500)
- Belt failure on belt-drive RTU ($385–$685 service)
- Capacitor failure ($295–$485)
- Filter restriction (PM contract issue)
Diagnostic visit: $89 standard, $149 after-hours (waived with repair). After-hours labor surcharge $50–$80 over standard rates.
Title 24 2025 commercial heating requirements
Effective for permits applied January 1, 2026 or later:
- Heat pump RTU emphasis: existing retail buildings, schools, offices, and libraries must replace end-of-life RTU with high-efficiency heat pumps when above capacity thresholds
- 2-stage heating required on RTU over 65,000 BTU/h
- Demand control ventilation integration with heating sequences
- ASHRAE Guideline 36 standard sequences for VAV heating control
- Acceptance Test verification of heating sequences via ATTCP-certified technician
This shifts the industry default from "gas-heat RTU until end of life" toward "heat pump RTU on every replacement opportunity." Mainstream commercial heat pump RTU options:
- Carrier 50TFF heat pump RTU
- Trane Precedent heat pump
- Daikin Rebel commercial heat pump
- Lennox Energence heat pump
Full code reference: California HVAC Code 2026 pillar.
Heat pump RTU vs gas-heat RTU on commercial replacements
Honest analysis:
Gas-heat RTU advantages (still relevant for some applications)
- Lower upfront cost ($2,000–$4,000 less than equivalent heat pump RTU)
- Simpler service (less complex than reversing valve systems)
- Reliable in extreme cold (heat pump RTU can struggle below 30°F without backup)
- Existing gas service if building has it
Heat pump RTU advantages (driving 2026 trend)
- Title 24 2025 emphasis pushes adoption
- Lower long-term operating cost (heat pump efficiency 250–350% vs gas furnace 80–95%)
- LADWP commercial rebates available for qualifying heat pump RTU
- All-electric simplifies path to net-zero buildings
- Better partial-load operation (variable-speed compressor)
For Title 24 compliance on RTU replacement after January 2026, heat pump RTU is increasingly the default. Gas-heat RTU still works for specific applications (extreme cold climate, established gas infrastructure).
Composite real-world example
Hollywood retail / commercial space, 6,500 sq ft, 2x 7.5-ton Carrier 50TC gas-heat RTU:
- Existing units 14 and 15 years old, both showing inducer motor wear and one developed cracked heat exchanger
- Customer options:
- Option A: replace both with similar gas-heat RTU, $32,500 installed (matched pair)
- Option B: replace both with heat pump RTU (Carrier 50TFF 7.5-ton), $39,500 installed
- Option C: replace cracked-exchanger unit only, hope on second unit, $17,500
- Customer chose Option B for 2025 Title 24 compliance, LADWP commercial rebate alignment, and lower long-term operating cost
- LADWP commercial heat pump rebate (varies by capacity): −$1,500 to −$3,000
- Net out-of-pocket: $36,500–$38,000
- Bi-annual PM contract on both units: $1,500/year
Federal IRA Section 25C ($2,000 heat pump credit) is no longer in this math — it terminated December 31, 2025 under OBBBA. For commercial rebate detail by utility territory, see our 2026 rebate guide.
Service area for commercial heating
Light commercial heating service across all 5 SoCal counties:
- 📞 West LA / Beverly Hills / Santa Monica: (424) 766-1020
- 📞 Pasadena & SGV commercial: (626) 499-5530
- 📞 Orange County commercial: (949) 785-5535
- 📞 Ventura County commercial: (805) 977-9940
- 📞 San Bernardino commercial: (909) 757-6455
- 📞 Riverside commercial: (951) 577-3877
Related: commercial HVAC hub, commercial AC service, emergency HVAC dispatch.
CSLB License C-20 #1138898 | Roman HVAC 777 LLC dba Venta Heating & Air | TECH Clean California Certified