New AC Installation & Replacement Quotes in Katy

System size (tonnage). Oversizing is a common and expensive mistake in Houston: an oversized unit cools the air fast but shuts off before it removes humidity, so the house feels clammy at 74°F. Ask for a Manual J load calculation, not a rule of thumb.

Efficiency rating. Texas is in the South region, where the federal minimum is 14.3 SEER2 for most split systems. Stepping up to a two-stage or variable-speed system costs more but improves humidity control and pays back over Houston's long cooling season.

Scope of work. Whether the indoor coil and furnace or air handler are replaced together (they should be), ductwork condition, electrical upgrades, and permit fees all move the number. Two-story homes with two systems double most of it.

Rebates. CenterPoint's residential efficiency programs commonly offer rebates on qualifying high-efficiency systems installed by participating contractors, and some retail electric providers add their own. The federal 25C tax credit ended for equipment placed in service after 2025. Ask each installer to itemize what you qualify for.

Replacement makes sense when the system is 12-plus years old and facing a major repair, when summer bills have crept up despite maintenance, or when your unit still uses R-22 refrigerant. It also makes sense when the system can't hold the house below 78°F on a 105°F afternoon or can't keep up with humidity. That's a capacity, duct, or design problem a repair won't fix.

Get quotes from at least two installers. In Houston, price differences between reputable contractors for the same equipment tier can be several thousand dollars, and the more expensive quote is not automatically the better install.

Look for installers who talk about static pressure, duct leakage, and refrigerant charge verification. Those are the signs of a company that commissions systems properly rather than swapping boxes.

Humidity control is the design goal. An oversized system cools fast and shuts off before it dries the air, and Houston houses feel damp at any thermostat setting. A two-stage or variable-speed system sized from a Manual J calculation is the fix, and it's worth paying for here.

Storm season shapes scheduling. Late spring and early summer are busy; after a hurricane or a major outage every contractor in the region is booked for weeks. If your system is marginal, replace it in fall or late winter.

Placement matters near the coast. Salt air corrodes coils and cabinets in Galveston-side neighborhoods; ask about coated coils. Elevating the condenser on a stand in flood-prone areas is common and worth discussing.

After the install, expect a commissioning check and a city or county permit inspection. LocalFixQuotes matches you with independent licensed installers who quote directly; we don't sell equipment or perform installs.