AC Installation
Installing central air involves sizing the system, ductwork and electrical work. Call to talk through the home and what you want cooled, and you will be connected with an independent HVAC professional serving your area.
Your call is connected to an independent HVAC contractor, subject to availability in your area. HVAC Nation may receive compensation when your call is connected with a participating provider. Providers are independent businesses.
Common signs
- The home has no central air or relies on portable units
- An addition or finished basement needs cooling
- Existing ducts from a furnace could be used for central air
- Upstairs rooms stay hot all summer
What the technician typically checks
An HVAC professional typically does a load calculation (often Manual J), checks existing ductwork and electrical capacity, discusses system types and efficiency ratings, and explains permits that may be required.
Before you call
Note the approximate square footage, the age and type of your heating system, whether the home has ducts, and which rooms are hardest to cool.
Related heating and cooling services
- Furnace Repair: No heat, short cycling, odd noises or a furnace that will not ignite.
- Furnace Replacement: Old, unsafe or repeatedly failing furnaces that may need replacing.
- Heating Repair: Any home heating problem: furnaces, heat pumps, boilers and thermostats.
- Central Heating Repair & Service: Whole-home heating systems that will not heat evenly or reliably.
- Heating System Replacement: Replacing an aging furnace, boiler or heat pump, or switching system types.
- Boiler Repair: Cold radiators, pressure problems, leaks or a boiler that locks out.
- Radiator Repair: Heating radiators and baseboards that stay cold, leak or bang.
- Heat Pump Repair: Heat pumps that will not heat or cool, ice up, or run on backup heat.
- Heat Pump Installation: Adding or replacing a central heat pump for heating and cooling.
- AC Repair: Warm air, weak airflow, leaks, ice on lines or an AC that will not start.
- AC Replacement: Old, failing or repeatedly repaired air conditioners.
- HVAC Repair: Heating or cooling, ducts, thermostats and controls: one call for any HVAC problem.
- Thermostat Repair & Installation: Blank, unresponsive or miswired thermostats, and new thermostat installs.
- Ductwork Repair & Installation: Leaky, damaged, disconnected or undersized ducts, and new duct installation. Not duct cleaning.
Questions
What size AC does my home need?
Size depends on square footage, insulation, windows, layout and climate. A load calculation is the reliable way to size a system.
Do I need ductwork for central air?
A ducted central AC needs ductwork. Homes with a forced-air furnace usually already have ducts that can be used.
Is a permit needed to install central air?
Many cities and counties require mechanical and electrical permits. Ask the contractor and check with your local building department.
Talk to a local HVAC contractor
Calls about AC installation are connected to an independent HVAC contractor, subject to availability. HVAC Nation may receive compensation when your call is connected with a participating provider. Providers are independent businesses.
AC Installation by location
Calls are connected to independent HVAC contractors in 207 listed cities across 38 states.
Example cities: Firestone, CO, Avon Park, FL, Freeport, IL, Grayslake, IL, Richmond, IN, Lodi, NJ, Beacon, NY, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Woodburn, OR, Cranston, RI, Groves, TX, Cedar City, UT, Richland, WA, River Falls, WI.
States: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming