Houston AC Replacement Service

Don't suffer through a long, hot, damp summer with a unit that only half works and can't adequately cool your house or control the humidity level. When an HVAC system is in desperate need of AC replacement, Houston homeowners and business owners can rely on our HVAC professionals to get it done correctly, on time, and to the highest standards of quality. While we know homeowners often aren't initially happy to discover they need Houston AC replacement, there are actually some big benefits to having a new unit installed, including reduced energy costs, better indoor air quality, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your new air conditioning unit will work perfectly each and every time you need it.

When Aire Serv is called to handle AC replacement, Houston homeowners can expect us to show up on time, in a company uniform, with all the tools and equipment we need to get the job done. We'll take care of the entire process from beginning to end, including removing the old unit, installing the new one, testing it, and checking out the rest of your HVAC system to make sure everything is in good working order.

Choosing a New AC Replacement System

Once you’ve decided you’re going to replace your air conditioner, it’s time to choose the right unit for your property. Some of the key factors to consider include:

• Geographic Location –The region you live in can greatly affect the size, type, and economic value of the air conditioner you choose. For home and business owners in this part of Texas, having a highly efficient air conditioner is important due to the hot, humid climate. The experts at Aire Serv of Central & West Houston are knowledgeable about the region’s climate and what type of AC unit is needed to keep up with increased temperatures.
• Existing System –What kind of HVAC system exists in your home or business currently? Older homes might not have ductwork, which can lead to expensive installation costs. One-room units or ductless mini-splits may be the best option for homeowners without existing ductwork.
• Energy Efficiency Requirements: Did you know that the U.S. Department of Energy mandates minimum energy efficiency requirements for AC replacement units and new installations? In the Southwestern region, which Texas is part of, HVAC professionals are not legally allowed to install units with a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating of less than 15.2 SEER. The higher the SEER rating is, the more efficiently the unit uses energy.

Types of Units Available for Houston AC Replacement

There are several types of AC units available for home and business owners to choose from depending on their HVAC needs and preferences, including:

• Split System & Package ACs: A split system or package AC is your standard central air conditioning system that uses air ducts to blow cool air around a building and push it out of registers in each room. Split systems have separate units for heating and cooling, and package systems combine heating and cooling capability in a single unit.
• Ductless Mini-Splits: Ductless mini-splits are perfect for cooling homes that don’t have ductwork. Multiple small evaporator units are connected to one large outdoor condenser unit.
• Heat Pump: A heat pump works in much the same way as an air conditioner, but it can also provide heating by reversing the refrigerant cycle when it's in heat mode so it brings thermal energy from outdoors into the house rather than removing thermal energy from the house.

Most of our systems come with a 12-year parts warranty and an optional free 12-year labor warranty for property owners who maintain an active maintenance agreement with Aire Serv of Central & West Houston.

Let Aire Serv Handle Your AC Replacement in Houston

The reliable, experienced HVAC professionals at Aire Serv of Central & West Houston are the right choice for air conditioning replacement and numerous other HVAC services, including air conditioning repair, air conditioner installations, services for heating units, ductwork modifications, air duct cleaning and much more. Customer satisfaction is our top priority, which is why we always focus on exceptional customer service and workmanship that provides long-lasting results.

There are numerous advantages to hiring the trusted HVAC professionals at Aire Serv of Central & West Houston for services like Houston air conditioning installation, including:

• 12-year parts warranty and FREE 12-year labor warranty when you have an active maintenance plan with Aire Serv of Central & West Houston
• Instant rebates of $1,100 + $500 for the installation of a FIT inverter system
• Easy, affordable financing options and low monthly payments
• FREE estimates and side-by-side analysis
• Help to navigate applicable rebates, such as a tax credit for heat pump installation
• 24/7 emergency services available for unexpected HVAC breakdowns

When choosing our team of HVAC experts for services such as AC replacement, Houston property owners can also rely on our No Quibble Guarantee. That means that once we provide you with an estimate, you can trust us to stand by it regardless of what happens. If we forget to include something in our quote, it will be on us! That’s certainly part of why we’re considered Houston’s most trustworthy HVAC company. Don’t worry about calling an endless list of plumbers to price match—we guarantee that we will NOT be beaten on price!

Frequently Asked Questions About Houston AC Replacements

Do you have a few burning questions you'd like to ask a local Houston AC replacement professional? Call us today to chat with our friendly customer service representatives and find out the answers to your questions, or read our FAQ section below to learn more.

What Are the Benefits of Energy Efficient AC Replacement?

Not sure if air conditioning replacement in Houston is worth it for your household? It's important to note that there are several big benefits of an energy-efficient AC replacement, including:

• Energy Savings: Air conditioners can account for more than 50 percent of your energy bills during the hottest months of the year, so upgrading to a highly efficient unit will keep your energy costs down. Your old unit may have an energy efficiency rating of as little as 8 SEER, while a new unit will likely clock in at around 15 to 17 SEER. Thus, a replacement can save you money in the long run instead of hiring AC repairs in Houston, TX.
• Improved Home Comfort: Energy-efficient AC units help people within the home stay more comfortable. Several components within the unit work together to increase the comfort of residents, including variable-speed blower motors that energy by running on low most of the time, which also decreases temperature fluctuations. The experts at Aire Serv can discuss the home comfort features of our AC units with you in detail.
• Environmentally Friendly: Lower energy consumption helps the environment by reducing carbon emissions. Choosing an efficient model is one thing you can do to lower your home or business’s carbon footprint.

How Long Will My Unit Last Before I Need Houston AC Replacement Service?

That does depend somewhat on how much you use it. Because Houston has a humid, subtropical climate, most people run their air conditioner all summer long and most of spring and fall as well. That means it incurs more wear and tear damage than it would in a colder climate, and the frequent but necessary use can reduce its average lifespan somewhat. In most cases, you can expect to get a solid 10 years out of it before your household needs to think about AC replacement in Houston.

How Can I Avoid Needing AC Replacement for Longer?

If you want to not only extend your unit's life expectancy so you can avoid replacement for longer but also keep it running at maximum energy efficiency throughout its years of service, our recommendation is to schedule regular maintenance appointments with the HVAC professionals at Aire Serv.

Routine repair and annual maintenance services from a local HVAC expert will offer you the peace of mind that comes with a superior level of safety, security, and protection, but there are a few things that you can take care of yourself throughout the year to prevent the need for premature AC replacement in Houston. If you take care of a few simple maintenance chores, you will be able to avoid most air conditioning system malfunctions and the type of damage that reduces energy efficiency.

Turn off the power to your air conditioning unit before beginning maintenance to avoid injury and damage to your system, and include these steps on your home maintenance checklist:

• Keep Outdoor Unit Free of Debris: Clear any branches, dead leaves and pine needles or other dust and debris off your outdoor compressor unit. It's helpful to keep all your trees and bushes trimmed back so they're at least one foot away from the outdoor unit so you don't have moisture-laden branches brushing against it and dropping leaves or dirt right onto it. While you're taking care of the outside of the unit, you can do a little extra by removing the fan cover and using a wet/dry shop vacuum to get rid of any debris that has accumulated inside.
• Clean and Straighten Compressor Fins: Compressors have rows of thin aluminum fins that are vulnerable to getting dirty and bent. Remove the outer cover so you can get at all the dirt that has accumulated and vacuum them off with a wet/dry shop vacuum, taking care not to bump the fins with the vacuum head. Then, use a garden hose to spray a gentle stream of water through the fins from inside to clean out stubborn grime that wasn't removed by the vacuum. Be careful and make sure to use a low-pressure water stream, as fins are easily bent and damaged. If there are any bent or crushed fins, use a fin brush or even just a butter knife to gently push them back into place.
• Change AC Filter: Ideally, your air conditioner filter needs to be changed at least twice annually—before and after summer. However, some units use thinner filters that should be changed every one or every three months, so it's a good idea to refer to the manufacturer's manual for your specific model. When there has been a notably high level of particulate pollution, such as smoke, in Houston during the past few months, you may want to change your filter more frequently. You can typically find your filter enclosure near your main unit, where ducts for fresh air are connected.
• Make Sure Air Vents Are Open: This may seem like an obvious tip, but many people with a forced-air central AC system don't realize how important it is to ensure that air vents are always open. Closing them in some rooms, whether it's on purpose or accidentally, will cause your air conditioning system to work overtime, trying to get the entire house to the temperature on your thermostat. That actually leads to incorrect temperatures throughout the house and can cause additional wear and tear damage to the unit.

What Are the Warning Signs That My Unit Needs to Be Replaced?

When discovering that an HVAC system needs AC replacement, Houston homeowners often ask if we can complete an AC repair instead. That's a reasonable question. There's no sense in tossing out a perfectly good unit that only needs a few basic repair services. If your unit is only a few years old and experiencing a common issue, it's likely that we can get it fixed up and running smoothly again.

But there are some situations where Houston AC replacement is the more cost-effective option that will provide the results you're looking for. Here are some signs that indicate it's time to consider a replacement installation:

• Your unit is more than 10 years old and showing signs of trouble
• Needs frequent repairs or adjustments
• Energy costs are increasing as the unit deteriorates and loses efficiency
• The compressor or evaporator coils are damaged
• It always feels too hot and humid indoors, no matter what you set on your thermostat

The Upper Story of My House Doesn't Get Cool, Do I Need a Larger Air Conditioner?

If you notice that your downstairs level is crisp and cool, but your upstairs is warm and humid, you may assume that you need to consider a bigger unit for AC replacement in Houston. That's not necessarily the case, though. As you know, cool air settles and heat rises. Your thermostat is likely downstairs where the cool air from your AC is, so it doesn't register the fact that the upstairs isn't reaching the temperatures you have set on your thermostat. Because it detects that the temperature is at the right level downstairs, it tells your unit to switch off before it can adequately cool the upper story. A bigger AC replacement unit won't change anything because it will still shut off when the thermostat tells it to. The better solution is to have your local HVAC professional install a supplemental cooling system like a ductless heat pump upstairs, which will extend the cooling power to the upper story much more effectively than a larger unit.

Can the Evaporator or Compressor Coil Just Be Replaced By Itself?

If you've found out the reason you need Houston AC replacement is because of a faulty or damaged coil, it makes sense to wonder if the damaged part can simply be swapped out to save you the time, hassle and expense of a new installation, but replacing a coil is not as simple as one might think. They are particularly costly parts and may even end up costing more than a new unit. The other problem is that matching a new coil to an old unit is surprisingly difficult, and if they are mismatched, the unit won't function efficiently. That's why AC replacement in Houston is generally the recommendation for a unit with a faulty coil.

Stay Cool and Safe This Summer. Call Aire Serv of Central & West Houston for Experienced AC Replacement in Houston!

When you’re ready to replace the AC unit in your home or business, Aire Serv of Central & West Houston is here to provide cost-effective solutions. Our experts are happy to answer all your questions about our replacement/installation process, energy-efficient models, and more. Additionally, we’ll provide you with a free quote for your replacement cost.

With years of experience serving home and business owners throughout the River Oaks neighborhood in Houston and the surrounding areas, including Bellaire, Rice Village, Lazy Brook/Timber Grove, Houston Heights, and Memorial Village, we’re fully equipped to help you when you need fast, reliable AC replacement services.

Contact us today to learn more about our AC replacement service or schedule an appointment. We look forward to providing you with top-quality services!