AC Installation & Replacement
A new air conditioner is only as good as the sizing and the ductwork behind it. We quote from a load calculation and an inspection of what is already in the house, not from the tonnage of the unit being replaced.
When replacement is the right call
- System is 15+ years old and still using R-22 refrigerant
- Repair quote is approaching a meaningful share of replacement cost
- Compressor or coil has failed out of warranty
- Energy bills climbing every summer with no change in use
- Some rooms never cool no matter the thermostat setting
- The system has been recharged more than once in two years
Sizing is the whole job
Oversizing is the most common mistake in residential AC, and it feels like the safe choice. It is not. An oversized system satisfies the thermostat fast, shuts off, and never runs long enough to pull humidity out or move conditioned air to the far rooms. You get a cold hallway, a warm back bedroom, and a compressor that wears out early from short-cycling.
We size from the actual house — square footage, orientation, glazing, insulation, and duct capacity — which frequently lands on the same tonnage or smaller than what came out, paired with better distribution.
Permits and what a clean install includes
Replacement work in California requires a permit and, in most cases, duct leakage testing. We pull it. Licensed and Bonded under CSLB #1107541, and the permit is what protects you at resale — unpermitted HVAC work is a standard finding on inspection reports.
A quote from us includes haul-away of the old equipment, a new pad or bracket where needed, refrigerant line evacuation to spec, and commissioning readings taken after startup, not assumed.
Want it looked at?
Flat $85 diagnostic across Contra Costa, Alameda, Solano & Napa Counties. Mon–Sat, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Mon–Sat, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Flat $85 diagnostic · CSLB #1107541
Common Questions
How long does a new AC installation take?
A straightforward changeout is typically one day. Jobs involving ductwork modification, an electrical panel change, or a switch from a furnace-and-AC pair to a heat pump can run two days.
What size air conditioner do I need?
It depends on far more than square footage — ceiling height, window area and orientation, insulation, and the capacity of the existing ducts all change the answer. Matching the tonnage of the old unit is a common shortcut and is often wrong, because the old unit may have been oversized to begin with.
Do I need a permit to replace my air conditioner?
Yes. California requires a permit for HVAC changeouts, and Title 24 brings duct testing requirements into most replacement work. We handle the permit as part of the job.
Should I replace the furnace at the same time?
If both are original to the house and of similar age, doing them together usually costs less than two separate jobs and lets the blower and coil be properly matched. If the furnace is significantly newer, there is no reason to touch it.
Request Service
Tell us what's going on and we'll get back to you. Diagnostic visits are a flat $85. Prefer to talk? Call (925) 433-6400.