A new system deserves real numbers
A replacement is one of the bigger decisions a house makes. Ours start with a load calculation of your actual house, not the sticker on the old unit, and end with a system checked against the manufacturer's numbers before we leave.
What separates a good install from a bad one
Sizing, ductwork, and startup decide how long it lasts.
The load calculation
Windows, insulation, orientation, duct reality. Oversized systems short cycle and undersized ones never catch up. The right size comes from math, not habit.
The ducts get tested
Title 24 caps duct leakage at five percent on a change-out. If yours leak more, fixing them is part of the job, not an upsell.
Checked before we leave
Refrigerant charge weighed in and checked against the manufacturer's numbers, airflow measured, and the thermostat walked through with you. A system that starts right stays right.
The new refrigerants
New systems ship on A2L refrigerants: R-454B in ducted equipment, R-32 in most mini splits. Nothing for you to manage; your quote names the refrigerant so there are no surprises at the first service.
SEER2 floors are higher here
California sits in the federal Southwest region: split systems must hit 14.3 SEER2 and 11.7 EER2. Non-compliant equipment cannot legally be installed no matter when it was made, which is worth knowing if a deal sounds too good.
Spring beats August
Replacing before the first heat wave means shorter lead times, easier scheduling, and a decision made at the kitchen table instead of at midnight. If the system is on its last season, we say so early.
What install day looks like
One day for most change-outs, longer when ductwork joins the job. You get told which before we start.
Questions we get about replacement
A straight change-out is usually a day. Add duct repair or a furnace on the same visit and it stretches. You get the schedule with the quote, and the house cools again the same day whenever that is physically possible.
Sometimes. Gas stays cheap to run; a heat pump heats and cools with one machine and does both well in this climate. When it is close we quote the comparison, and nobody here is paid to care which one you pick.
If the sizing math agrees with it, gladly. It is often the cheapest path. But houses gain additions, ducts age, and plenty of original units were guessed. The calculation is part of every quote either way.
Get the second price
Already holding a quote? Bring it. We price the same job from our own measurements and tell you if the first number was fair. Sometimes it is.