A facility can't afford unpredictable HVAC. Tenants, employees, and equipment all depend on stable comfort, and every hour a system is down costs you something, whether that's revenue, comfort, or trust. Alternative Aire services rooftop units, VRF and VRV systems, DOAS and make-up air, boilers, and server room cooling for businesses across Durham, with the documentation and response times facility managers actually need.
We work on rooftop and packaged units, VRF and VRV heat pumps, split systems including server room mini splits, DOAS and make-up air systems paired with ERVs, boilers, and the commercial thermostats and controls that tie it all together. If your building runs it, chances are we’ve serviced something like it before, from a single-tenant office to a multi-zone medical clinic.
Emergency repair and refrigerant leak detection top the list, since a down system rarely waits for a convenient time. Beyond that, we handle design/build and tenant upfits with crane and roof coordination, ventilation and outside air upgrades including economizers and air balance, controls and building automation tuning across schedules and alarms, and planned maintenance covering filters, belts, bearings, coil cleaning, and electrical checks, all backed by a written task list so nothing gets missed between visits.
Priority accounts can set actual response time targets for critical areas, not a vague promise. We coordinate after-hours access, rooftop safety, crane timing, and tenant communication so an issue gets contained and resolved without turning into a bigger disruption than it needs to be. If your business runs on a schedule that doesn’t tolerate downtime, this is the part of our service worth talking through before you need it.
We build an equipment list with nameplate data, review filter sizes and access, and check ventilation and airflow before recommending anything.
Root cause findings, laid out with repair versus replacement scenarios and real lifecycle cost comparisons.
Scope, schedule, and logistics, including crane or roof access planning when a job requires it.
Permits, a safe work plan, tenant coordination, and communication that doesn't go quiet mid-project.
Start-up checklists, a sequence-of-operation review, controls tuning, and full documentation handed over, not filed away.
Not a general promise. An actual target you can plan around.
Every job comes with real documentation, not a verbal summary you have to remember.
We recommend based on energy performance and reliability, not a manufacturer relationship.
Familiar with Downtown Durham, American Tobacco Campus, Brightleaf, and RTP/Southpoint facilities specifically.
A rooftop unit replacement or a controls upgrade is a real capital expense, and we know that timing matters as much as the work itself. We offer financing options for high efficiency upgrades, so a capital project doesn’t have to sit on a wish list while your current system keeps aging.
Every job comes with an asset list including nameplate data, service logs, start-up checklists, sequence-of-operations notes, and refrigerant documentation that supports both warranty claims and your own recordkeeping. Before any work begins, we confirm roof access and tie-off points, electrical lockout procedures, and traffic control if a crane is involved, so tenants and staff stay protected throughout.
For server rooms, labs, and other critical environments, stable temperature and humidity aren’t optional. We service precision cooling systems, add redundancy where it’s needed, and document alarms and setpoints so responses stay consistent no matter who’s on shift when something happens.
Alternative Aire holds an Excellent rating from over 1,000 Google reviews. Mark Murray said his technician walked him through exactly what needed to be done and why, with pricing that came in lower than other estimates he’d received. Andrew said his technician diagnosed the issue fast and had the system running again within minutes. Marie Martinez said her technician showed up on time and checked every part of the system carefully.
Do you offer emergency commercial HVAC repair in Durham?
Yes. We handle emergency repair and refrigerant leak detection, and priority accounts can set specific response time targets for critical areas.
What types of commercial properties do you service?
Offices, medical and dental clinics, retail and restaurants, warehouses, schools and churches, and multifamily common areas across Durham
Are your technicians certified to work on commercial systems?
Yes. Our technicians are EPA 608 certified, follow ASHRAE ventilation best practices, and work under OSHA safe work procedures.
Do you provide documentation for compliance and warranty purposes?
Yes. Every job includes asset lists with nameplate data, service logs, start-up checklists, sequence-of-operations notes, and refrigerant documentation.
Can you service server rooms and other critical environments?
Yes. We service precision cooling systems and can add redundancy, with alarms and setpoints documented for consistent response across shifts.
Is financing available for commercial HVAC projects?
Yes, through our financing options for high efficiency upgrades, which help spread the cost of larger capital projects.
What brands do you install and service?
Trane, Carrier, Lennox, York, Daikin, Mitsubishi, and Goodman, recommended based on your building’s needs, not a single preferred manufacturer.
Do you handle tenant upfits and design/build projects?
Yes, including crane and roof access coordination when a project requires it.
We provide primary coverage in ZIP codes 27701, 27705, 27707, and 27713, with projects across Chapel Hill, Cary, Morrisville, Hillsborough, and West Raleigh. Request a site visit online or call our dispatch team directly.
