A new air conditioner is only as good as the way it is sized and put in. The same equipment can run quietly for years or short cycle from the first week, and the difference is the sizing, the ductwork and the refrigerant charge.
An installation starts with the house: how it is built, where the sun hits it, and what shape the ducts are in. You get a written quote with the equipment spelled out before anything is ordered.
A new system also has to be legal to install here. California sits in the Southwest region for federal efficiency standards, so equipment has to meet the current SEER2 minimum, and the installation is a permitted job with duct testing verified by an independent rater. We handle that paperwork; it is part of the quote.
Why people call us for AC installation
- Adding cooling to a home without it
- Upgrading for efficiency
- New construction or remodel
- Rooftop package units for flat roofs
- Zoning for a two-storey house
$69 diagnostic, credited toward the work
- Load calculation, not a guess
- Written proposal with equipment options
- Start-up, test and walkthrough
- Old equipment removed and recycled
How an installation goes
It starts with a visit to the house, not a quote over the phone. Rooms, insulation, windows, the attic and the existing ducts get looked at and measured, because the size of the system comes from the house and not from the label on the old one.
You get a written quote with the equipment spelled out. If there is more than one sensible option, you see each one. Nothing is ordered until you choose.
Most system replacements are done in one day; new ductwork or a full changeout with ducts typically takes two to three. The refrigerant charge is set by measurement, airflow is checked at the registers and the system runs a full cycle before we leave. You get shown the thermostat and the filter. Before any work starts you see a written price. If a $69 diagnostic led here, it is credited toward the installation. Our labor carries a one-year warranty on top of the manufacturer's.
We repair, maintain and install these brands. Logos identify the equipment we work on and do not imply endorsement by the manufacturer.
Before you call
Bigger is not safer
An oversized system cools the air fast, shuts off before it has pulled the humidity out, and starts again a few minutes later. That short cycling wears the compressor and leaves rooms uneven. The size comes from a load calculation, not the old label. Read more
The ducts decide what you feel
The Department of Energy puts typical duct losses at 20 to 30 percent. A new system on leaky attic ducts delivers a fraction of what its label promises, which is why the ducts get inspected with every installation quote. Read more
Buying the equipment online rarely saves money
The box price leaves out the line set, the pad, the electrical, the permit, the refrigerant charge and the warranty terms, which often require a licensed installer. By the time those are added, the saving is usually gone. Read more
Heat pump or air conditioner?
In cooling mode they are the same machine. A heat pump adds a reversing valve so the same outdoor unit heats in winter, which can replace the furnace too. Worth asking about before the equipment is chosen. Read more
Usually part of the same conversation
Replacing an air conditioner that has run its course
Replacing a system that is already there, and how to tell when it is time.
Duct repair, sealing and replacement
New equipment on leaky or undersized ducts never performs the way the label says.
Thermostats
The thermostat decides how a new system actually runs day to day.
Common questions
Size comes from the house, not from square footage alone: insulation, windows, sun exposure and duct condition all count. An oversized system cools fast, shuts off and starts again, which wears the compressor and leaves rooms uneven. A quote that skips the measuring is a guess. Read more
SEER2 is the efficiency rating on central air conditioners and heat pumps built since January 2023. Higher means more cooling per kilowatt-hour. California has a regional minimum. How far above it is worth paying for depends on how many hours a year your system runs. Read more
Mostly not the equipment. The size of the system, the efficiency level, the condition of the ducts and how hard the unit is to reach all move the number, which is why two quotes for the same house can differ so much. Ours is in writing before any work starts. Read more
Most system replacements are done in one day. New ductwork or a full changeout with ducts typically takes two to three days.
One year on our labor, plus the manufacturer's warranty on the equipment and parts.
Yes, on new systems, through Wisetack: monthly plans on approved credit. Checking your options does not affect your credit score. Read more
Yes. Installing or replacing central heating or cooling equipment is a permitted alteration under California's energy code, and for most changeouts the duct leakage and refrigerant charge are field-verified by an independent rater before the permit is closed. We pull the permit and schedule the verification as part of the job.
“Dave took care of my family and I during the heat wave! Diagnosed the problem, got it fixed, and was on his way to the next house. Great service! Thank you!”
Schedule service
Fill in the form or call. We are on the phones 6am–10pm.
818-277-5056Licensed #1119892 · Veteran-owned · Pasadena & Reseda