Air conditioning installation services in Houston, TX take on a different job from installing the same equipment somewhere dry. The system has to pull water out of the air for most of the year, it usually sits partly in a hot attic, and in many neighborhoods the outdoor unit has to stay above floodwater. This page walks through a replacement in the order the decisions come up: whether to replace at all, how the size is chosen, what changed in new equipment, the City of Houston permit, the attic and the flood question, and a checklist to hold against every written quote.
Houston Air & Heating is not an installer and never sizes or sells equipment. The number on this page, (832) 662-4107, reaches an automated assistant day or night. It asks what is going on, then hands the call to a Houston-area HVAC company that is locally owned and independent of the line. That company visits, measures the house, prices the work and installs it, and you pay it directly.
Replace the system, or repair it one more time?
A unit that still cools is not automatically due for replacement because of its age. ENERGY STAR points to a group of signs that together make the case: equipment more than 10 years old, repairs that keep coming, power bills that creep up and rooms that never feel right. One sign by itself is a prompt to ask questions.
What failed matters most. A fan motor or a contactor is routine. A failed compressor or a leaking indoor coil can run close to the price of new equipment, and that is where the conversation usually turns.
Older refrigerant also tips the scale. Production and import of new R-22, the refrigerant in many systems installed before 2010, ended in the U.S. in 2020, so a leaking R-22 system gets harder to keep running.
Ask any company that recommends replacement to write a repair price as well. With both numbers on paper you can make the call yourself. The repair or replace guide goes deeper into that decision.
Sizing for Houston humidity: Manual J, S and D
In a humid climate the right size is the one that matches the house, not the biggest unit that fits the pad. Three procedures from ACCA, the Air Conditioning Contractors of America trade group, are how a contractor gets there. Ask which ones the company ran.
- Manual J measures the load. It estimates how much heat and moisture your home picks up on a design day, from attic insulation, window size and orientation, wall type, air leaks and the number of people living there. It does not choose a unit.
- Manual S picks the equipment. It compares the Manual J numbers with manufacturer performance data, so the system can handle both the temperature load and the moisture load.
- Manual D sizes the ducts. A new unit cannot deliver its rated airflow through ducts that were too small or badly laid out to begin with.
Here is why oversizing hurts so much on the Gulf Coast. An air conditioner removes moisture when warm, damp air passes over a cold indoor coil and the water drips off into the drain. That takes running time. Building scientist Allison Bailes of Energy Vanguard writes that a central air conditioner that runs ten minutes or less at a time on a hot afternoon is definitely oversized, and that longer cycles bring indoor humidity down. An oversized unit cools the thermostat quickly and shuts off, so the house reaches the set temperature but stays sticky. A National Renewable Energy Laboratory fact sheet notes that oversizing is very common because the ACCA methods often are not used. Matching the old tonnage, or sizing by square footage, is how it happens.
If the load falls between sizes, ask about two-stage or variable-speed equipment, which can run longer at lower output, and ask the company to show how its choice handles the moisture load.
What is different about new AC equipment in 2026
If your current system went in a decade or more ago, a new quote will use terms you may not have seen. Here is what they mean.
- SEER2 minimums. Texas is in the Department of Energy's Southeast region. Since January 1, 2023, a new split central air conditioner installed here must be rated at least 14.3 SEER2 below 45,000 BTU per hour, or 13.8 SEER2 at 45,000 and above. Split heat pumps everywhere must meet 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. In the Southeast the air conditioner rule applies by installation date.
- A new class of refrigerant. Since 2025 the EPA's Technology Transitions rule has required new home systems to be built for refrigerants whose global warming potential is under 700. On a Houston quote that will usually read R-454B or R-32. Each carries an A2L safety class, which means mildly flammable, and many of these systems include a refrigerant detection system that starts the indoor blower to dilute a leak.
- R-410A stock can still go in. A final EPA rule in spring 2026 dropped the deadline that would have stopped installers from putting in older R-410A equipment after January 1, 2026. Equipment built or brought into the country before 2025 may still be installed while supplies last. Servicing an R-410A system you already own was never restricted.
- Matched pairs. The outdoor unit and the indoor coil have to be designed for the same refrigerant and rated together. The AHRI Directory lists certified combinations; ask for the AHRI reference number and you can look it up yourself.
The free AC guide explains the refrigerant change in more detail, including what it means if you only need a repair.
Houston HVAC permit for an AC replacement
Inside Houston city limits, replacing an air conditioner is permitted and inspected work. The Houston Permitting Center's page for condensing units says the City requires a permit to install, repair or replace one, that an inspection is required, and that plan review may be needed depending on the scope. Applications go through the City's iPermits system, and the fee is based on the value of the job. The permit is valid for 180 days.
A contractor cannot simply show up and file. The City requires anyone holding a state air conditioning contractor license to register that license with Houston Public Works before working inside the city, and the registration asks for a copy of the state license card and a certificate of insurance naming the licensee. Since January 2024, mechanical work in the City has been governed by the 2021 Uniform Mechanical Code with Houston amendments.
In practice the installing company pulls the permit. Check that the quote names who files it. Try to be there when the inspector comes, and file the passed inspection with your closing documents and warranty papers. Questions about a specific job can go to the City's Mechanical Section at 832-394-8850. If you live in Pearland, Sugar Land, League City, Katy or another suburb, or in unincorporated Harris or Fort Bend County, the rules come from a different office; ask the company which one applies.
Attic air handlers and the ducts behind the ceiling
In many Houston houses the indoor air handler, or the furnace and coil, sits in the attic. That space can get far hotter than the outdoors on a summer afternoon. Any leak in the ducts up there either dumps cooled air into the insulation or pulls hot, damp attic air into the system. ENERGY STAR puts typical duct losses from leaks, holes and loose connections at roughly a fifth to almost a third (20 to 30 percent) of the air the system moves. No efficiency rating on a new condenser can win that air back.
Ask what the quote does about the ducts: sealing, repairs, replacement of crushed sections, or a leakage test. Because the coil sweats all summer, also ask how the condensate is handled in the attic. A drain pan under the unit, a clear drain line and a safety switch that stops the system before an overflow reaches the ceiling are reasonable things to see listed.
Raising the outdoor unit in flood-prone areas
Floodwater ruins outdoor condensers. FEMA's guidance on protecting building utilities from flood damage describes raising HVAC equipment above the design flood elevation on platforms or pedestals, or moving it to a higher location, rather than leaving it at grade. The design flood elevation is the level your community adopts for flood protection, at least the base flood elevation and sometimes higher.
If your street has flooded before, or your home is in a mapped floodplain, ask the company whether the new unit should sit on a raised stand, how the stand will be anchored against wind, and whether the local floodplain office has a height requirement. Raising the unit is usually far cheaper during a replacement than after a flood.
What a careful installation includes
Ask the company to describe its process. These steps are where a careful job and a rushed one part ways.
- Recovering the old refrigerant. It goes into a recovery tank, never into the air. EPA rules under the Clean Air Act forbid venting it, and only an EPA certified technician may handle it.
- Placing the units. The condenser sits level, on a pad or a raised stand, with open space around it for airflow and for future service. Indoors, the coil or air handler gets a drain and protection against overflow.
- The copper lines. New lines are run, or the old ones are confirmed suitable for the new refrigerant. Joints are brazed and the system is pressure tested.
- Evacuation. A vacuum pump removes air and moisture from the lines, and the reading is held before refrigerant is released.
- Charge and airflow. Refrigerant is adjusted following the equipment maker's instructions. Fan speed is set to the airflow from the design, because in Houston that setting changes how much water the coil pulls out.
- Walking you through it. You learn the thermostat, get the warranty registration details and a date for the city inspection.
Houston AC replacement quote checklist
Two bids that both say "3 tons" may cover very different amounts of work. Hold each written quote up against this table, and ask about every gap before signing.
| Look for | Why it matters | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Model numbers for the outdoor unit, indoor coil or air handler, and furnace if included | Lets you check the rating and confirm the parts are made to work together | Only a brand and a tonnage |
| AHRI reference number and SEER2 (plus HSPF2 for a heat pump) | Shows the matched rating and that the federal minimum is met | "About 16 SEER" with nothing to look up |
| How the size was chosen | Manual J and Manual S protect humidity control | "Same size as before" |
| Refrigerant type, and whether the line set is new or reused | Coil and lines must suit the refrigerant | No mention of the coil or copper |
| Duct sealing, repair or testing | Attic duct leaks waste cooled air | Nothing about ducts on an attic system |
| Drain pan, condensate line and overflow switch | Protects the ceiling under an attic unit | "Accessories as needed" |
| Pad or raised stand, disconnect and thermostat | Common sources of add-on charges | Left off, then billed later |
| Permit and inspection, and which office | Required for condensing unit replacement in the City of Houston | "A swap doesn't need a permit" |
| Parts warranty and labor warranty, each in years | They are separate, and parts coverage may depend on registration | "Full warranty" with no terms |
| TDLR license number and one total price | Texas rules require the license number on proposals and invoices for air conditioning work | No license number on any paperwork |
No prices appear here, and the line never quotes one. Equipment tier, the coil, line set and ducts, attic access, electrical work and the permit are what move the number. Comparing bids line by line is how you see which one is the better value.
What AC installation costs, and what changes the price
National cost guides give a rough frame. Fixr's guide to central air installation puts the typical range at about $5,800 to $14,400, with homes that need new ductwork costing more. Treat that as a starting point only: it is a national figure, it is not a Houston price and it is not a price from this line or any company it connects you with. Real quotes vary with the size and efficiency of the system, how much of the indoor coil, copper and ductwork gets replaced, how hard the attic is to reach, whether the electrical service needs work, a raised stand and the permit. The AC repair cost guide covers the repair side of the same question.
Rebates and the federal tax credit in 2026
The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, often called 25C, covered qualifying equipment through 2025. The 2025 federal budget law ended it for anything placed in service after the last day of 2025. A system installed in 2026 earns no 25C credit, so be wary of a pitch that still subtracts one from the price.
CenterPoint Energy, which delivers electricity across much of the Houston area, has run residential efficiency programs that pay incentives on qualifying higher efficiency central air conditioners, heat pumps and mini-splits for homes in its Houston electric service area. The incentive goes through a participating contractor and is applied to the installation invoice. Programs change from year to year and funds can run out, so ask the company before the equipment is chosen whether it takes part, whether your system would qualify and who files the paperwork.
Questions to ask at the estimate
- Will you do a Manual J on my house, and may I keep a copy?
- Could this system be repaired instead, and at what price?
- What is the AHRI reference number for this outdoor unit and coil?
- How will this system handle humidity, not just temperature?
- What will you do about the attic ducts and the condensate drain?
- Should the outdoor unit be raised, given this lot's flood history?
- Who pulls the permit, from which office, and who meets the inspector?
- Is a CenterPoint incentive open right now, and does this equipment meet it?
Pricing a new system, or want a second opinion on a quote you already have? Call and say you are looking at a replacement. You will be put through to an independent local HVAC company that serves your part of the Houston area.
- Dial the numberAn automated assistant picks up (832) 662-4107 at any hour and asks what you need help with.
- Say what is wrongTell it whether the trouble is cooling or heating, where in the Houston area you are, and what the system is doing.
- Reach a local companyYour call is transferred to an independent, locally owned HVAC company, which gets a short summary of your problem before it answers.
- Work it out with themThat company inspects, quotes, repairs and bills you directly. If nobody can pick up, your name, number and problem are passed on for a call back.
About this line: Houston Air & Heating is a free phone line, not an HVAC contractor. It answers your call and connects you with an independent local heating and air conditioning company, which inspects, quotes and does the work, and which you pay directly. Companies may pay a referral fee. You never pay the line. Read how the line works.
Verify the license before work begins. Texas requires anyone contracting to do air conditioning, refrigeration or heating work to hold an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (ACR) Contractor license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Ask the company for its ACR license number, then confirm it on the TDLR license search (opens in a new tab). The line does not check this for you.
Related services and guides
- AC Repair in Houston
- HVAC Tune-Up and Maintenance
- Heating Repair (Heat Pumps and Electric Heat)
- Repair or Replace Your AC or Furnace?
- How to Choose an HVAC Company in Houston
- Free AC Refrigerant Guide (PDF)
AC installation across the Houston area
Flood maps, building departments and housing stock are not the same in Kingwood as in Pearland or Fulshear. Pick your town for the local details.