Round Rock, Texas

AC replacement in Round Rock

Thinking about a new air conditioner or a whole new system? Text me what you have now. I’ll help you find a licensed local installer and compare quotes.

Text Terry about replacing your AC

OnHand Home is not an installer. I help you find one, and you get their business name before you agree to anything. There is no charge for my help. You pay the installer for the work.

What the work involves

A replacement can mean different things. It can be the outdoor unit only. It can be the outdoor unit and the indoor coil. Or it can be the full system, with a new furnace or air handler too. The scope changes the quote more than any other choice.

A good installer measures the house, sizes the system, and tells you what is included. Then they remove the old equipment, set the new equipment, connect the electrical and refrigerant lines, and test the system.

Get at least two written quotes. Make sure they cover the same scope, or the numbers will not compare.

Why Round Rock homeowners look at replacement

The system is old and the repairs keep coming
A technician said a major part has failed
The house is never comfortable, even when the AC runs all day
The system uses an old refrigerant that is hard to service
You are adding a room, a garage workshop or an addition
You are selling or buying and the inspection flagged the system
You want a heat pump instead of a furnace and AC

Repair or replace?

There is no single age when an air conditioner must go. These questions usually decide it:

How old is the system, and how often has it needed repairs? A system with a run of recent repairs is worth a second look.
How does the repair quote compare with a new system? Ask the technician to put both in writing.
Does it use R-22 refrigerant? Older systems often do. According to the EPA phaseout schedule, production and import of R-22 ended in 2020. Repairs that need more of it can be expensive.
Does the house stay comfortable? Rooms that never cool can point to sizing or duct problems that a like-for-like swap will not fix.

What changes the price

Two quotes for “a new AC” can describe very different jobs. The price moves with these factors.

The size of the system, and how the installer worked it out
The efficiency rating
Whether the indoor coil and furnace or air handler are replaced too
The condition of the ducts, and any duct changes
Electrical work, such as a new disconnect or circuit
How hard the equipment is to reach: attic, closet or roof
The thermostat, and the removal and cleanup of the old equipment
The parts and labor warranty

Questions to ask the installer

Use these to compare quotes side by side.

Is this the full system or the outdoor unit only?A quote for the outdoor unit alone does not compare to one for the outdoor unit, coil and furnace or air handler.
What size is the new system, and how did you work it out?ENERGY STAR says a system that is too large or too small will struggle. Ask whether they ran a Manual J load calculation.
What efficiency rating does it have?Get the rating in writing for each option, so you compare like with like.
Which refrigerant does it use?Federal refrigerant rules for new systems are changing. Ask what the quoted system uses and whether parts are easy to get.
What is included?Duct changes, electrical work, a new thermostat, removal of the old equipment and cleanup are sometimes extra. Ask for each by name.
Will you pull a City of Round Rock permit?The City lists a standalone HVAC permit. Ask whether your job needs one and who gets it.
What are the parts warranty and the labor warranty?They are often different lengths and come from different companies. Ask who you call if something fails.
What is your TDLR license number?Texas requires HVAC contractors to hold a TDLR license. You can look it up yourself.

Heat pumps, mini-splits and the garage

A heat pump is an outdoor unit that moves heat. It handles both heating and cooling, so it can replace a furnace and AC pair. Ask an installer whether it suits your house.

A ductless mini-split does not need ductwork. It has an indoor head on a wall or ceiling, connected to an outdoor unit. People use it for a garage, an addition or a room the ducts do not reach.

Tell me what you want to cool or heat, and I’ll help you find an installer who does that kind of work.

Round Rock and Texas notes

Texas requires HVAC contractors to hold a TDLR license. TDLR has a public license search.
The City of Round Rock lists a standalone residential HVAC (mechanical) permit. The City page does not say every replacement needs one. Ask your installer.

What happens after you text

You text meSay what is going on, add a photo if you can, and include your ZIP code. The message is already started for you, and you can change it.
I ask a question or twoI check the details an installer will need and confirm you are in our area. We are starting in Round Rock.
I look for an installerI check who can take the job. You get the business name before you agree to anything. If I cannot find someone, I tell you.
They quote and do the workThe installer confirms the time and the price with you. You pay them for the work. I follow up afterward.

Tell me what is going on.

Text me a short description and your ZIP code. A photo helps.