These figures are typical South Bay / Central Valley planning bands for light-to-mid commercial scope — not a quote from Precision Heating & Cooling. Site conditions, crane access, and Title 24 path change the number.
Typical cost ranges
| Option | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single ductless / small split (annual PM) | $250–$600 / year | Filter ownership and coil clean frequency change the number. Repairs usually extra. |
| Packaged RTU (semi-annual PM) | $450–$1,800 / year per unit | Depends on tonnage, roof access, economizer, and whether filters are included. |
| Multi-site portfolio agreement | Volume discount on unit rates | Standardized task lists and reporting matter more than the headline discount. |
| Priority / after-hours response rider | $75–$250+ / month or per-event | Define who answers nights/weekends and what labor rates apply before summer. |
What moves the price
- Who buys filters — owner stock vs contractor-supplied — moves price and accountability.
- Refrigeration, kitchen MUA, and server closets should be line-itemed, not buried.
- Documented visit reports and deficiency lists are what make PM bankable for ownership.
- Response-time SLAs without labor-rate clarity create invoice surprises.
- In-house tech labor vs outsourced PM is a different decision — see our compare page.
When this guide applies
- You are renewing or shopping PM vendors and need apples-to-apples scope.
- Peak-season failures keep hitting the same assets.
- Ownership wants predictable OpEx with documented inspections.
- You are comparing full-service vs inspection-only proposals.
Failure modes to avoid
- Buying the cheapest monthly rate with undefined task lists.
- Assuming repairs and refrigerant are included when they are not.
- No filter ownership plan — dirty coils look like “bad contractor” later.
- Skipping roof safety / access assumptions that limit what techs can complete.
FAQs
Are repairs included in these ranges?
Usually not. Prefer contracts that price PM clearly and bill repairs (or a defined rider) separately so you can compare vendors.
How often should RTUs be visited?
Semi-annual is common for light commercial; quarterly may be justified for restaurants, dusty Central Valley sites, or critical spaces.
Does Precision offer commercial maintenance contracts?
Yes — see our maintenance contracts offer page and request a scoped commercial bid.
Will you match a competitor’s price?
We match scope first. A lower number with fewer tasks is not the same product.
Next step
Ready for a site-specific number? Request a commercial bid — we will survey before we price.