AC Installation in Houston, TX
We're not a citywide company. We're south Houston specialists who install between the Medical Center and the Pearland line. Bungalows, mid-century brick, post-war ranches, modern infill, each one wants a different approach, and we size every job with a real Manual J.
- South Houston only
- Free Manual J load calc
- City of Houston permits
- 1,975+ Google reviews
What a new system costs in south Houston
Full replacement runs $4,800 to $12,500 for most south-Houston homes, depending on tonnage and SEER2 tier, with premium variable-speed systems, the quiet ones that hold humidity flat through a Gulf summer, running toward the top of that range. Inside the loop we also install a steady stream of high-velocity and mini-split systems, quoted on their own line, because the older homes can't accept standard ducted equipment. We lead installs with Trane (Comfort Specialist since the 1990s) and Goodman on the value tier, and you get three written tiers, Choice, Priority, Premier, each with model numbers and SEER2 ratings so the comparison is real.
What the number already covers: hauling off the old system, line-set flush or replacement, sealed transitions, the City of Houston mechanical permit and inspection, commissioning with measured airflow and refrigerant charge, and a thermostat walkthrough before we leave. What it never hides: ductwork corrections, electrical panel upgrades, and IAQ add-ons, which appear as their own lines on the same written sheet.
The building era decides the install
South Houston is the densest mix of building eras in our coverage area, and the era dictates the approach. Pre-war and 1940s bungalows in Westbury, Meyerland, and parts of the South Loop had window units or none; central air was retrofitted through chases that don't exist in the design, so we work with what's there, high-velocity, mini-splits, and shop-fabricated transitions. Mid-century brick ranches in Brays Oaks, Westwood, and Fondren Southwest hide undersized trunks and small returns, so a replacement that ignores the distribution just inherits the old airflow problem. The 1970s and 80s spec subdivisions in Hiram Clarke, Sunnyside, and the Almeda Mall area are mostly on their second life and land as repair-vs-replace conversations. Medical Center, Midtown, and EaDo mid-rise and high-rise work runs on building-spec equipment with HOA-controlled outdoor units, and we use coastal-spec coils on anything exposed to outside air on a balcony or rooftop.
The shared challenge is humidity. South Houston runs 75°F dewpoints from late May to October, and equipment that's even slightly oversized short-cycles and never pulls the moisture out. We size to the actual envelope, not to the largest tonnage that fits the existing slab. Manual J on every replacement quote, no exceptions.
Permits, flood zones, and the south-Houston details
The City of Houston handles permits differently than the unincorporated parts of the metro. Inside city limits, full-system replacement requires a mechanical permit, and any work touching a disconnect, breaker, or panel triggers a separate electrical sub-permit, with plan review running 5 to 10 business days. We pull every permit on every Houston city install; the homeowner does not deal with the city office and the inspection record stays with the property. Flood zones add their own step: FEMA flood-zone properties south of 610 belong on a minimum 18-inch concrete pad above grade, and homes that took water in Harvey or Beryl get sized to clear the prior flood line plus a margin. We raise the pad as part of every replacement install in at-risk ZIPs at no additional charge.
Not sure you need replacement yet? Our south Houston AC repair team quotes repair and replacement side by side on aging systems, and our free second opinion exists for exactly the moment another company says "it's dead" and you want the truth in writing. Licensed Texas HVAC contractor TACLA32678, verifiable on TDLR.
What does it cost in Houston?
See real replacement ranges in 60 seconds, based on real local installs. No phone number required to see the number.
South Houston AC installation questions
How much does AC installation cost in south Houston?
Most south-Houston replacements come in at $4,800 to $12,500 depending on tonnage and SEER2 tier; premium variable-speed systems run toward the top of that range. Inside the loop, where older homes can't accept standard ducted gear, high-velocity and mini-split systems are quoted on their own line. Three written tiers with model numbers every time, so the comparison is between real options.
Do you cover all of Houston, or just the south side?
South side only. We work the neighborhoods between the Medical Center and the Pearland line, inside and outside the loop. We don't install in the Galleria, the Heights, the Energy Corridor, Spring, or Cypress. A real local company that knows the housing stock beats a citywide dispatch, and that's the tradeoff we choose.
Can you put a new system in a pre-war Westbury or Meyerland bungalow?
Yes, by matching the equipment to the house instead of tearing the house apart to fit standard gear. We use high-velocity systems where chases are tight, mini-splits where ducts can't be run, and shop-fabricated transitions to make standard equipment fit unstandard frames. The Manual J still runs first; small attics and plaster walls change the load, not the discipline.
Do I need a permit for AC replacement inside Houston city limits?
Yes. The City of Houston requires a mechanical permit on full-system replacement and a separate electrical sub-permit if any disconnect, breaker, or panel work happens. Plan review runs 5 to 10 business days. We pull the permit on every Houston city install and the homeowner does not deal with the city office; the inspection record stays with the property.
How high should my new outdoor unit sit if I'm in a flood zone?
FEMA flood-zone homes south of 610 should sit on a minimum 18-inch concrete pad above grade, and homes that took water in Harvey or Beryl get sized to clear the prior flood line plus a margin. Submerged compressors fail catastrophically. We raise the pad as part of every replacement install for at-risk properties at no additional charge above the standard install.
What warranty comes with the install?
Every installation carries a 5-year labor warranty plus the manufacturer warranty pass-through on parts. We lead with Trane (Comfort Specialist since the 1990s) and Goodman on the value tier. Licensed Texas HVAC contractor TACLA32678, verifiable on TDLR.
More Clear the Air in south Houston
Everything else we run between the Medical Center and the Pearland line, heating, air quality, neighborhood and ZIP notes, is collected on the Houston service-area page. The main AC installation page has the deeper process and brand detail, and the 60-second quote estimator can put a working range in front of you before bed.