Efficiency labels changed in 2023, and Richmond houses range from 1970s Pecan Grove to brand-new Harvest Green. Call any time and you will be put through to a licensed local AC company.
Call 832-662-4107If your Richmond system is ten or more years old, the efficiency label on a new one will not look like the old one. Since January 1, 2023, air conditioners have been rated in SEER2, a tougher test that produces lower numbers for the same equipment. Texas falls in the Department of Energy's Southeast region, where a new split-system air conditioner must reach at least 14.3 SEER2 below 45,000 Btu, roughly the old 15 SEER, and 13.8 SEER2 at larger sizes. Heat pumps nationwide must reach 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2.
| Label you might see | What it means |
|---|---|
| 13 or 14 SEER on your old unit | The old test. Below today's Southeast minimum. |
| 14.3 SEER2 | The legal minimum for most new split systems here. |
| 16 to 18 SEER2 | Usually two-stage or variable-speed equipment. Lower bills and better humidity control, at a higher price. |
A minimum unit cools the house. A higher-rated two-stage or variable-speed unit runs longer at low speed, which pulls more moisture out of the Brazos River air and evens out the temperature between rooms. Whether it pays back depends on how long you plan to stay.
Richmond has two kinds of houses. Pecan Grove and the older neighborhoods have systems that have been replaced once or twice, sometimes by copying whatever size was there. Aliana, Harvest Green and the newer communities have large, open two-story plans with tall ceilings and lots of west-facing glass. In both, the right size comes from a load calculation, commonly called a Manual J, that accounts for the square footage, windows, insulation and orientation. An oversized system cools in short bursts and leaves the house clammy; an undersized one runs all afternoon and never catches up. Ask for the calculation before you accept a quote.
Many Fort Bend houses pair the air conditioner with a gas furnace. When it is time to replace both, a heat pump is worth pricing: it heats with the same equipment that cools, and Richmond winters are mild enough that it will rarely need its backup heat. A good technician will compare both honestly for your house and gas rates rather than steering you toward one.
Texas requires AC contractors to hold an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor license from TDLR; confirm it on the TDLR license search. Inside the City of Richmond, a replacement goes through the city; most Richmond addresses are unincorporated Fort Bend County. New systems use newer refrigerants such as R-454B, explained in the free refrigerant change guide. See also AC installation and repair cost.
Texas is in the DOE Southeast region, where new split-system air conditioners below 45,000 Btu must reach at least 14.3 SEER2, and larger ones 13.8 SEER2. Heat pumps must reach 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2.
No. SEER2 uses a tougher test, so the number is lower for the same equipment. 14.3 SEER2 is roughly equal to the old 15 SEER.
With a load calculation such as a Manual J that accounts for the house itself, not by copying the size of the old unit.
It is worth pricing when both need replacing. Richmond's mild winters suit heat pumps, but the answer depends on your house and gas costs.
The City of Richmond, Pecan Grove, Aliana, Harvest Green, Long Meadow Farms, Lakemont, Grand Mission and Rosenberg, plus the neighborhoods along the Grand Parkway, FM 359 and FM 1093.
Call 832-662-4107 any time, day or night. The line puts you through to a licensed, local air conditioning and heating company that works in Richmond.
Call 832-662-4107