How to Verify a Texas HVAC License

"My buddy can do it for half the price." We hear it a lot. Sometimes it works out. Most of the time the customer ends up calling us a year later to fix what the buddy did, and the savings turn out to be a much larger bill. Here is how to check before you commit.

Step 1: Look up the TDLR license (60 seconds)

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation runs the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor (ACR) program. Every legitimate Houston-area HVAC company holds an active ACR license. You can verify any of them in under a minute:

Go to tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch
Choose program: "Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor"
Enter the company name (try a few variations)
Look for: status "Active," license number, expiration date, type (Class A is full-scope; Class B is residential and light commercial only)

Clear the Air's TDLR license is TACLA32678. Anyone working on your home should be able to give you a number you can verify the same way.

Step 2: Ask for a Certificate of Insurance

A real contractor carries:

General liability: $300k minimum, $1M is standard. Covers damage to your home if something goes wrong (e.g., a coil leak floods a ceiling).
Workers compensation: Covers every employee who steps on your property. If a tech falls off your roof and the company has no workers comp, the injured worker can come after you for medical and lost wages.
Auto liability on the company vehicles, in case a truck backs into your fence.

Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) listing you as the certificate holder. Real contractors have their carrier email one within a day. A "we have insurance, trust me" answer with no paper is a no.

Step 3: Confirm a permit will be pulled

For AC system replacement in Pearland, Friendswood, League City, Alvin, Manvel, Houston, and most surrounding cities, a permit is required. Cost is $50 to $150. The permit includes an independent inspector checking the install for code compliance.

Why this matters to you:

If a future buyer's inspector finds an unpermitted install, they can require you to bring it up to code at sale (which sometimes means tearing out and redoing the work).
If the install causes a fire or water damage, your homeowner insurance can deny the claim because the work was unpermitted.
The inspection itself catches mistakes a moonlighter would never know about (proper line-set sizing, condensate drainage, electrical disconnect placement).

If a contractor offers to "save you the permit fee," they are not saving you money. They are moving the legal and financial risk from themselves to you.

Why "the buddy who does it on weekends" is the wrong call

Moonlighters and unlicensed handymen work on the side, which means:

No license, no insurance, no permit, no warranty.
If they injure themselves on your property, you may be liable.
If their work causes damage, you have no recourse and your insurance may not cover it.
If they vanish (and they often do when something goes wrong), you cannot find them.
Manufacturers void factory warranties on equipment installed by unlicensed contractors. A 10-year compressor warranty becomes worthless if you cannot prove a licensed contractor did the install.

The savings on a moonlighter install are usually $1,000 to $3,000 on a $9,000 to $15,000 system. The downside, if it goes wrong, can run into the tens of thousands. Bad math.

Red flags to walk away from

Cash-only or check-only with no written estimate.
"I work for a big company on the side; I'll do it on Saturday for half."
No business address, no truck signage, no website that has been around more than a year.
Refusal to provide a TDLR license number.
Refusal to pull a permit.
Pressure to sign today.

How we run a quote

You get a written estimate that includes the equipment model numbers, scope of work, permit cost, warranty terms, and price. Our TDLR license, COI, and references are available the same day. The quote is good for 30 days and we never use pressure to close. If a competitor offers a price we cannot match, we will tell you who else to consider.

Need a second opinion on a quote? Free in-home consults, no obligation. 281-992-7866 or book online.

Frequently asked questions

How do I look up a Texas HVAC license?

Go to tdlr.texas.gov, click "License Search," choose "Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor (ACR)," and enter the company name. The result shows whether the license is active, who the responsible contractor is, and the license type.

What insurance should an HVAC contractor carry?

General liability ($300k minimum, $1M is standard) and workers comp on every employee who sets foot on your property. Ask for a current Certificate of Insurance with your name on it. A real contractor produces one in a day.

Do I need a permit to replace my AC?

In most South Houston jurisdictions, yes, for like-for-like replacement of a residential system. The permit costs about $50 to $150 and includes an inspection. A contractor who skips the permit is asking you to take the legal exposure.