AC replacement & installation
A new system is only as goodas the install underneath it.
Load calculation, commissioned airflow, mechanical permit and independent state verification — included in the quote rather than skipped to make the number look better. That is the difference between equipment and an installation.
Free in-home quote Permit & verification included Up to 10-year labor warranty
Before anything else
We would rather repair it, and we will tell you if we can
We are a repair-first company. That is not a slogan we keep on the other pages and quietly drop when there is a system to sell — it is the reason we diagnose before anyone mentions replacement, and it is why some of the people who call this page end up spending three hundred dollars instead of twelve thousand.
Sometimes replacement genuinely is the answer. A compressor gone on an out-of-warranty system, a leaking evaporator coil, an R-22 machine losing refrigerant, or a unit that was sized wrong the day it went in and has never kept up in July. When that is where the evidence points, we will show you why.
If you are not certain yet, do not buy a system today. Work the decision through properly first.
What a complete installation actually includes
Fourteen items. Compare them line by line against any other quote you are holding — the gap between two prices is almost always sitting in this list.
Manual J load calculation
Your house measured and calculated, not the tonnage read off the unit that just failed. Skipping this is how oversized systems get installed and short cycle for fifteen years.
Equipment selected against the load
The system chosen to match the calculated requirement and your ductwork's real capability, rather than whatever the company has a dealer incentive on.
Duct inspection before anything is ordered
New equipment on collapsed or leaking duct underperforms and disappoints. We find out first and tell you, even when the answer costs more than you hoped.
Line set evaluated, flushed or replaced
Old oil and contaminants left in a line set will destroy a new compressor. Reusing one without addressing it is a shortcut that shows up years later as a warranty claim.
Deep vacuum with a micron gauge
Moisture and non-condensables pulled out properly and verified with a decay test, not guessed at by watching a clock. This single step separates careful installs from fast ones.
Charge weighed in and verified
Refrigerant charged to specification, then confirmed by superheat and subcooling under running conditions. Incorrect charge is a leading cause of premature compressor failure.
Airflow commissioned, not assumed
Static pressure and temperature split measured after installation and adjusted until the system delivers what it was designed to. An install that is never measured is never actually finished.
Electrical brought to code
Correct breaker sizing, whip and disconnect. New equipment frequently has different electrical requirements from the unit it replaces, and this is not a place to improvise.
Condensate done properly
Correct slope, trap, secondary protection and a working float switch. A slow drain failure in a Fresno attic is how a comfortable summer becomes a ceiling repair.
New pad, clearances and mounting
Level, correctly spaced for airflow and service access, and secured. Cheap here means vibration, noise and a condenser that is miserable to work on later.
Mechanical permit pulled
With the correct jurisdiction for your address, whether that is the City of Fresno, Fresno County or Madera County. Legally required on changeouts, and not optional.
Independent ECC verification
A certified third party measures duct leakage, airflow and charge to confirm the install meets California's energy code. Someone other than us checking our work.
Equipment registered for warranty
Filed inside the manufacturer's window so you get the full parts term rather than the shortened default. Free to do, and forgotten constantly.
Old equipment removed and disposed
Refrigerant recovered legally, metal hauled away, site left clean. Nothing sitting beside your house waiting for someone to come back for it.
More detail on load calculations and sizing, and on permits and code verification.
The awkward part
We will not be the cheapest quote you get
There is always a lower number available in Fresno. It generally arrives without a load calculation, without the permit, without independent verification, without touching the ductwork and without properly evacuating the system before charging it. Every one of those omissions saves the installer real time and money.
None of them are visible from your living room. The equipment looks identical, it blows cold on the day, and the difference only surfaces three years later as a compressor failure, a warranty claim that gets scrutinized, or a house that still cannot hold temperature in July.
A cheaper quote is usually not a lower price for the same job. It is a smaller job.
Six questions to ask every quote, including ours
- Did you run a load calculation, and can I see it?
- Is the mechanical permit included in this price?
- Does it include independent state code verification?
- What are you doing with my existing line set and ductwork?
- Will airflow be measured after install, or assumed?
- How long is the labor warranty, in writing?
Ask all six of the same person. The answers will separate quotes that looked identical on price, and they are a great deal more informative than the brand on the box.
How a replacement runs
Most residential changeouts are done in a day. Here is the sequence, so nothing on the day is a surprise.
1
In-home assessment, free
We measure the house, run the load calculation, inspect the ductwork, check the electrical and look at access. This takes real time and it is the part that determines whether the rest goes well.
2
Written proposal with options
Usually two or three genuine options at different price points, each with the full scope written out. Not a single number on a tablet with the reasoning kept private.
3
Permit pulled and install scheduled
We file with the correct jurisdiction for your address. If your system has failed completely, California allows compliance certificates on urgent changeouts to be registered afterwards, so paperwork does not have to hold up the work in July.
4
Installation day
Old equipment recovered and removed, new system set, line set addressed, electrical and condensate brought to code, system evacuated to a deep vacuum and charged to specification. Floors protected, site cleaned.
5
Commissioning
Static pressure, temperature split, superheat, subcooling and amp draw all measured with the system running, and adjusted until the numbers are where they should be. You get the readings.
6
Verification, registration and close-out
Independent ECC verification scheduled, equipment registered with the manufacturer, permit closed out, and the paperwork handed to you for your records.
Equipment
We are not tied to one manufacturer
Companies that sell a single brand exclusively usually do so because of a dealer agreement, and that agreement shapes the recommendation before anyone has measured your house.
We specify against your load calculation, your ductwork, parts availability in the Valley and your budget. Sometimes that means premium equipment. Often a well-installed mid-tier system is the better use of your money, and we will say so.
What we consider
- Single-stage, two-stage or variable capacity — and honestly whether the upgrade earns its cost in your home
- Efficiency rating against Fresno run hours, where high seasonal usage changes the payback math
- Refrigerant generation, since new equipment now ships on lower-GWP refrigerants
- Whether your ducts can actually deliver it — premium equipment on poor duct is money spent badly
- Who else locally can service it if we are ever unavailable
What it costs and how to pay for it
Published ranges, real financing terms, and an honest picture of what is still available in rebates.
Replacement cost
Typical Fresno ranges for a condenser and coil, a full system, a heat pump or a packaged unit — published rather than hidden behind a form.
See the numbersFinancing
0% promotional options on qualifying installs, plus the deferred-interest warning nobody else in this market will give you before you sign.
See payment optionsRebates & incentives
A dated, verified status of every California program. The federal credit ended in 2025 and most sites have not caught up. Ours has.
Check current statusAfterwards
The labor warranty is the part that matters
Manufacturer coverage pays for a failed part. It does not pay the technician who diagnoses it and spends most of a day fitting it — and on a compressor, that labor is most of the cost. Every system we install carries a one-year labor warranty as standard, extending to ten for as long as we handle your annual maintenance.
1–10years labor coverage
Get your free replacement quote
We come out, measure the house, run the calculation and give you a written proposal with the full scope. No obligation, and no pressure to decide on the spot.
Takes 60 seconds Free in-home assessment Written proposal
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If it does not appear, call (559) 520-4240.
Prefer to talk it through? (559) 520-4240
What Fresno homeowners say
★★★★★
I had a great experience with this AC service company! From the moment I called, they were professional, responsive, and knowledgeable. The technician arrived on time, diagnosed the issue quickly, and explained everything clearly.
Angelica Torres · Google review
★★★★★
I realized something was wrong with my AC when I got home Tuesday afternoon and noticed it wasn't blowing cold air. I called them right away, and they were able to send a technician to my Fresno home that same evening. The repair only took about 45 minutes, and everything was back to normal once the work was done.
Debbie Kram · Google review
★★★★★
Wow! Just an amazing experience! Air conditioner went out and they were able to get it fixed the same day! Wonderful crew and extremely nice. Would definitely use again.
Paige Pender · Google review
Replacement questions
How much does AC replacement cost in Fresno?
A properly installed condenser and coil typically runs from around $7,000 to $12,000 in the Fresno area, and a complete air conditioner and furnace system roughly $10,000 to $18,000. Those figures include the load calculation, permit and independent code verification California requires. See the full breakdown.
How long does the installation take?
Most residential changeouts are completed in a single day. Jobs involving duct replacement, electrical upgrades or difficult attic access can run into a second. Independent verification is scheduled separately afterwards.
Do I really need a permit?
Yes. The California Mechanical Code requires a mechanical permit for HVAC changeouts, including replacing the condenser, coil, furnace or air handler. Unpermitted work creates disclosure problems at resale and weakens future warranty and insurance claims. More on permits and verification.
Can I keep my existing ductwork?
Often yes, and we will tell you honestly after inspecting it. Sound duct gets kept. Duct that is leaking badly into a 150-degree attic will undermine whatever equipment you put in front of it, and we would rather have that conversation before you buy than after you are disappointed.
Will a new system really cut my PG&E bill?
Usually yes, though rarely by as much as a sales pitch suggests, and almost never enough to pay for itself outright. If your ducts leak or the house is under-insulated, those cost you more than the equipment's efficiency rating does.
Should I replace the furnace at the same time?
Often, but not automatically. If both are similar ages and the coil has to come out anyway, doing them together saves labor and matches the equipment properly. If the furnace is much newer or in good condition, there is no reason to throw it away and we will say so.
What if I have a quote from another company already?
Bring it. We will diagnose the system independently, compare the scope against what a complete installation includes, and tell you plainly whether their recommendation and their number hold up — including when they do. Free and no obligation. How the second opinion works.
Do you offer financing?
Yes, through third-party lenders and subject to credit approval, with decisions usually the same day. You see the term, the monthly payment and the total cost in writing before committing to anything. See financing options.
Get it quoted properly
Free in-home assessment, a real load calculation, and a written proposal with the full scope.
Prices referenced are typical ranges for the Fresno area and are not quotes. Extended labor warranty coverage applies to systems installed by California Heating & AC Repair and remains in force while annual maintenance is performed by us. California Heating & AC Repair is operated by Craftline Renovations, Inc. · CSLB License #999179 · Licensed and insured.