Commercial HVAC is a different discipline than residential work. The equipment is larger, the operating demands are heavier, and the stakes when something fails are measured in downtime, lost revenue, health-code violations, and unhappy tenants. Burkhardt has served greater Milwaukee for three generations since 1961, and we handle light commercial HVAC in the 5-to-50-ton range for restaurants, churches, offices, retail, medical suites, and multi-tenant buildings. Because we self-perform HVAC, plumbing, and electrical under one roof, we coordinate the whole job instead of handing you off between trades.
Residential systems cycle a few times a day to keep a family comfortable. Commercial equipment runs harder and longer, moves far more air, and often serves multiple zones with different loads at the same time. Rooftop units, packaged systems, and multi-zone controls behave differently than a home furnace and coil, and diagnosing them takes commercial-specific training and tools. A failure in a restaurant, medical suite, or church is not just an inconvenience; it can shut down operations, spoil inventory, or cancel services.
We focus on light commercial work in the 5-to-50-ton range and coordinate the trades in-house so you are not managing separate HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors. Restaurants are mechanically demanding: we install and service commercial kitchen exhaust, makeup air, and the cooling that keeps dining rooms comfortable during a rush. Churches, schools, and daycares have their own priorities, where indoor air quality and quiet, reliable comfort matter for occupants of every age, and we handle both routine maintenance and capital replacement projects. We also serve offices, retail storefronts, medical and dental suites, and multi-tenant buildings where multiple zones and tenants share equipment.
We work on rooftop units (RTUs), packaged systems, split systems, make-up air units, and multi-zone setups. Typical RTU service life is 12 to 20 years, and with consistent planned maintenance many units reach 18 to 25 years. Much of Milwaukee's commercial building stock is in an ongoing replacement cycle, so we help owners plan capital replacement before an aging unit fails at the worst possible time. For buildings with multiple rooftop units, we can phase replacements to keep operations running.
We install, replace, maintain, and repair commercial heating and cooling systems, and we handle the plumbing and electrical that tie into them. That includes new equipment installs and changeouts, scheduled preventive maintenance, diagnostics and repair, controls and thermostat work, ductwork and airflow corrections, and indoor air quality improvements. Because we self-perform across trades, we can also address gas lines, condensate drains, and electrical circuits that support the equipment without waiting on an outside contractor.
Commercial equipment runs far more hours than a home system, so small problems compound quickly. A planned maintenance program catches worn belts, low refrigerant, dirty coils, and failing capacitors before they cause a shutdown. Regular maintenance keeps units within their designed efficiency range, extends service life toward the upper end of that 18-to-25-year window, and protects comfort for staff, tenants, and customers. It also creates a documented service history that supports warranty claims and capital planning.
A service agreement puts your maintenance on a set schedule so nothing gets missed during a busy season. Contracts typically include scheduled inspections, priority scheduling when something goes wrong, and documented reporting for each visit. For facilities that cannot afford downtime, such as restaurants, medical suites, and churches with scheduled services, a maintenance agreement is the most reliable way to keep equipment running and budget for eventual replacement.
Older commercial equipment often runs well below current efficiency standards, which shows up directly on utility bills. Upgrading to higher-efficiency units, adding economizers, improving controls and scheduling, and correcting duct and airflow problems can reduce energy use and improve comfort at the same time. We help owners weigh the cost of running an aging unit against the savings of a planned upgrade, and we coordinate any electrical work the new equipment requires.
Commercial mechanical work in Wisconsin requires proper permits and inspections, and requirements differ from residential jobs. We pull the required commercial mechanical permits, follow state and local code, and coordinate inspections so your project passes cleanly. Because we self-perform HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, we keep code-related work aligned across all three trades instead of leaving gaps between separate contractors.
The problems we see most often include short cycling, uneven temperatures across zones, weak airflow, refrigerant leaks, failed compressors and capacitors, tripped safeties, control and thermostat faults, frozen coils, and rooftop units that no longer keep up on the hottest or coldest days. On restaurant and kitchen systems we also address makeup air imbalance and exhaust issues. We diagnose the root cause rather than swapping parts, and because we cover plumbing and electrical too, we can resolve related gas, drain, and circuit problems in the same visit.
When a commercial system goes down, every hour matters. We offer emergency commercial service and prioritize situations where a failure threatens operations, inventory, occupant safety, or a scheduled event. Existing service-agreement customers receive priority scheduling. When you call, we gather the details of the equipment and the failure up front so our technician arrives ready to diagnose and, wherever possible, restore operation on the first visit.
Every commercial project is different, so the right approach is a walkthrough and a written quote rather than a number over the phone. Cost depends on system type and tonnage, the number of rooftop units, rooftop access and rigging, existing ductwork and electrical, code and permit requirements, and whether the work is a straight changeout or part of a larger build-out. For multi-unit properties, phasing the work can spread cost over time. We assess your equipment, explain the options, and give you a clear scope before any work begins.
We service and install the major commercial HVAC brands found across Milwaukee-area rooftops and mechanical rooms, and we are not locked into a single manufacturer. That lets us recommend equipment based on what fits your building, budget, and parts availability rather than a brand quota. We also service existing units regardless of who installed them, so you are not forced into a full replacement just to get reliable support.
We serve commercial properties throughout the greater Milwaukee area from our Brown Deer and Brookfield offices, including Milwaukee, Brown Deer, Brookfield, Wauwatosa, Glendale, Mequon, Menomonee Falls, and the surrounding suburbs. If you operate multiple locations in the region, we can coordinate service across all of them under one point of contact.
Burkhardt has served the Milwaukee area since 1961, and we are now a third-generation, family-run business with deep Brown Deer roots. For commercial customers, the biggest advantage is that we keep electrical, plumbing, and HVAC under one roof, so a single company coordinates every trade your building needs instead of juggling separate contractors. That means faster diagnosis, cleaner code compliance, and one accountable point of contact from the first walkthrough through long-term maintenance. Three generations of trusted service, licensed technicians, and local ownership give commercial property owners a partner who will still be here for the next replacement cycle.
Yes. We routinely replace commercial rooftop units in the 5-to-25-ton range and pull the required commercial mechanical permits. For buildings with multiple RTUs, we can phase the replacement to minimize disruption to your operations.
We prioritize commercial emergencies where a failure threatens operations, inventory, occupant safety, or a scheduled event, and existing service-agreement customers receive priority scheduling. We gather equipment and failure details when you call so our technician arrives ready to work.
Yes. Our maintenance agreements include scheduled inspections, priority scheduling, and documented reporting, which is the most reliable way to prevent downtime and plan for eventual replacement.
Yes. We service and install multi-zone systems, including VRF and VRV setups, which are common in offices and mixed-use buildings that need independent temperature control across many zones.
Yes. We handle the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical for commercial tenant build-outs and coordinate the trades in-house so your space is ready on schedule.
We service commercial hydronic and steam heating systems and can advise on repair versus replacement as older boilers reach the end of their service life.
Yes. We regularly work directly with building managers and property management companies, provide documented service reporting, and can serve as a single point of contact across multiple locations.
Our focus is light commercial HVAC in the 5-to-50-ton range rather than dedicated commercial refrigeration. For refrigeration-specific equipment, we can help you determine the right specialist while we handle your heating, cooling, and ventilation needs.
.webp)