AC installation and replacement in Los Angeles
A new central air conditioner, a replacement for one that has given up, or cooling for a house that never had it. We size it, permit it, install it and test it.
A new air conditioner in Los Angeles is sized to the house, installed under a permit and tested before we leave.
AC installation puts in a new cooling system. AC replacement takes out an old one and puts a new one in its place. Either way you get an outdoor unit, a matching indoor coil, the copper lines between them and a thermostat to run it.
We install and replace air conditioners in houses, condos and townhomes across Los Angeles, from Long Beach and Torrance to Santa Monica, Pasadena and the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Conejo valleys. If you are still weighing options, all our heating and cooling services are laid out by the problem they solve.
Replace it, or repair it one more time?
These are the signs that a new system is worth pricing instead of another repair.
The system is getting old
Central air conditioners commonly last somewhere around fifteen years, less in the hot inland valleys. Our guide on how long an AC unit lasts explains what shortens that life.
The repair is a big one
A failed compressor or a leaking coil on an older unit is a big bill. A rule of thumb multiplies the age by the repair price. Above 5,000, replacement is usually worth pricing.
It keeps losing refrigerant
A leak that needs a recharge every summer is not fixed. On an older R-410A system, a big leak repair is often where replacement makes more sense.
It never keeps up
The system may be too small, the ducts may leak, or the equipment may be worn out. We find out which before anyone buys anything.
Central air, a heat pump or a mini split
- Central air conditioner. The usual choice where the house has ducts and a gas furnace.
- Heat pump. It cools like an AC and also heats, so in a mild Los Angeles winter it can replace the furnace too. See heat pump installation and repair.
- Ductless mini split. For houses without ducts, additions or one hot room. See ductless mini splits.
If the current system only needs a part, start with AC repair.
Sized by load, not by the old label
We size the new system to the house, not to the sticker on the old unit. The old unit may have been the wrong size from day one, and new windows, insulation or an addition change what the house needs.
A load calculation looks at the floor area, insulation, windows, sun and ducts. A system that is too big cools fast, shuts off and leaves the air damp. One that is too small runs all afternoon and never catches up. Leaking or undersized ducts hold back even the right unit, so duct repair and sealing is part of the plan when they need it.
The Los Angeles changeout path, in order
Replacing an air conditioner in California is more than a swap. This is the sequence, and we handle each step.
1. The mechanical permit
Replacing an air conditioner needs a mechanical permit from your city's building department. In the City of Los Angeles, a like-for-like changeout usually goes through an online express permit. We pull it as part of the job.
2. The install
We set the new equipment, connect the lines and wiring, start the system and check that it runs as it should.
3. The HERS test
California's energy code, Title 24, usually adds a test by an independent HERS rater. The rater measures duct leakage, and existing ducts pass at 15 percent or better. Depending on your climate zone, the rater also checks the refrigerant charge.
4. The permit record
The HERS result is registered with the California Energy Commission and becomes part of the permit record for the house.
The new refrigerants
New air conditioners and heat pumps made from 2025 on use R-454B or R-32 instead of R-410A. A new outdoor unit needs an indoor coil built for the same refrigerant, so replacing the outdoor unit usually means replacing the coil too. We also check whether the copper line set can be reused. Some R-410A equipment made before 2025 can still be installed while stock lasts, and we explain the choice before you decide.
What moves the price
We price your house after we have seen it. The things that move the number:
- The system size the load calculation calls for.
- Whether the ducts pass the test or need work.
- Whether the coil, furnace or line set is replaced too.
- Where the equipment sits, and any electrical work.
- The permit and the HERS test.
Before you buy, check the rebate pages of your utility, whether that is LADWP, SCE or SoCalGas, since programs change. Our guide to AC replacement cost covers each factor in more detail.
What install day looks like
A straightforward changeout is often finished in a day. We tell you the schedule up front.
The old equipment comes out
We recover the refrigerant, disconnect the old system and remove the outdoor unit and coil.
The new system goes in
We set the new outdoor unit on its pad, install the matching coil and connect or replace the line set.
Electrical and controls
We connect the power and the disconnect, wire the thermostat and check the drain and safety switches.
Start-up and the test
We pull a vacuum, charge the system and measure how it runs. Then the HERS rater tests the ducts and, where required, the charge.
Why call Air Cove HVAC
We know how to size a system, run a changeout under permit and get it through the Title 24 test. We are licensed and insured, and you get the price before any work starts.
Call us or send us the details. It helps to have the age of the current system, a photo of the outdoor unit's label, the rough size of the house and any rooms that never cool. We answer every day, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
AC installation questions
How much is a new AC unit for a 2000 sq ft?
It depends on the house more than the floor area. Two homes of 2,000 square feet can need different systems because of insulation, windows, sun and ducts. We run a load calculation and price the right size, with the permit and test included.
What is the average cost to install an AC unit?
The equipment is only part of it. The coil and line set, the ducts, electrical work, where the unit sits, and the permit and HERS test all change the number. We price it after we have seen the house.
Can I legally install my own HVAC?
Replacing an air conditioner in California needs a mechanical permit and, under Title 24, usually an independent HERS test. Handling refrigerant also needs EPA certification. That is why this is work for a licensed contractor.
Do I need a permit to replace my AC?
Yes. Replacing an air conditioner needs a mechanical permit from your city's building department, even when the new unit goes in the same spot. We pull it as part of every changeout.
Do I need to be home on install day?
Someone needs to let us in at the start and be there at the end so we can show you the new system.
Thinking about a new air conditioner? Tell us about the house and the current system.
Get the right system for your house
Call us, or send the form and we will call you back. We work across Los Angeles, seven days a week.