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Your current system is costing you more than it should. Between the $200-$500 monthly utility bills Palo Alto homeowners face and the constant worry about whether your AC will make it through another summer, you’re stuck managing a problem instead of living comfortably.
A proper AC unit replacement in Palo Alto changes that. You get a system sized correctly for your home, installed to meet California’s Title 24 energy standards, and efficient enough to cut your cooling costs by 10-20% annually. That’s real money back in your pocket, not marketing talk.
The difference shows up immediately. Your home cools faster. Temperature stays consistent room to room. And when summer hits 85°F, you’re not wondering if today’s the day your system gives out.
We’ve handled air conditioning unit replacement in Palo Alto since 1985. That’s 40 years of navigating Santa Clara County permits, Title 24 compliance updates, and the specific cooling challenges that come with homes in this area.
We’re licensed, insured, and local. When you call, you’re talking to technicians who’ve worked on hundreds of Palo Alto properties—from Professorville Victorians to Midtown ranches. We know what systems work best in your climate, which rebates you actually qualify for, and how to get your install done without dragging it out for weeks.
You’re not getting a national franchise or a crew that’s never seen your neighborhood. You’re getting people who’ve been here, consistently, for four decades.
First, we assess your current system and your home’s actual cooling needs. That means load calculations, ductwork inspection, and checking your electrical capacity. You’ll know exactly what size unit you need and why—not just what we have on the truck.
Next, we handle the permits and Title 24 documentation with Santa Clara County. California requires specific energy efficiency standards and smart thermostat integration for any AC replacement in Palo Alto. We file it, track it, and make sure inspections pass the first time.
Installation day, we remove your old system, install the new unit, test airflow and refrigerant levels, and program your thermostat. Most replacements finish in one day. Before we leave, you’ll know how to operate everything, what your warranty covers, and how to reach us if something feels off.
After install, we schedule your county inspection and handle any final sign-offs. You get copies of all permits, warranty paperwork, and energy compliance certificates for your records.
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Every air conditioner replacement in Palo Alto through us includes full load calculations to size your system correctly. Undersized units run constantly and burn out early. Oversized units short-cycle and waste energy. We match your equipment to your square footage, insulation, window exposure, and actual usage patterns.
You also get Title 24 compliance management. That’s not optional in California—it’s law. We handle the energy calculations, submit documentation to Santa Clara County, coordinate inspections, and install the required smart thermostat. If you’re replacing your AC in a single-family home, we’ll also walk you through whether a heat pump makes sense given the state’s push toward electrification and the available rebates.
Speaking of rebates: Palo Alto homeowners often qualify for utility incentives, Bay Area Air Quality Management District programs, and federal tax credits. We identify what applies to your situation and provide the documentation you need to claim them. That can mean $1,000+ back depending on your system efficiency and household income.
Your install also includes a full system startup, airflow testing, refrigerant charge verification, and thermostat programming. We don’t leave until your AC is running at manufacturer specs.
Most AC replacement projects in Palo Alto run between $8,000 and $15,000 depending on system size, efficiency rating, and whether you’re upgrading to a heat pump. A standard 3-ton, 16 SEER unit for a 1,800 square foot home typically lands around $10,000 to $12,000 installed, including permits and Title 24 compliance.
Higher efficiency systems cost more upfront but qualify for better rebates and lower your monthly cooling bills. A 20+ SEER unit might add $2,000 to $3,000 to the project, but you’ll see 20-30% energy savings compared to a base model. Given Palo Alto’s utility rates, that pays back faster than in most areas.
If your ductwork needs modification, electrical panel requires an upgrade, or you’re switching from AC-only to a heat pump system, expect additional costs. We price everything upfront during the assessment so there are no surprise charges halfway through the job.
Most AC unit replacements in Palo Alto finish in one day—typically 6 to 8 hours from start to cleanup. That includes removing your old system, installing the new condenser and air handler, connecting refrigerant lines, wiring the thermostat, testing the system, and walking you through operation.
More complex jobs take longer. If we’re replacing ductwork, upgrading your electrical panel, or installing a whole-home heat pump system, plan on two days. Permit approval with Santa Clara County usually takes 3 to 5 business days before we can start, so the full timeline from signing your contract to final inspection runs about two weeks.
We schedule your county inspection after install. That typically happens within a week of completion. Once it passes, you’re fully permitted and compliant. If you’re in an emergency situation with a dead AC during summer, we can often expedite permits and get you cooling within 48 hours.
Yes. Any AC system replacement in Palo Alto requires a mechanical permit from Santa Clara County and must meet California Title 24 energy standards. That’s not negotiable—it’s state and local law. Skipping permits can result in fines, failed home inspections during resale, and voided equipment warranties.
Title 24 compliance means your new system must meet minimum efficiency standards, include a programmable or smart thermostat, and have proper duct sealing if we’re accessing your ductwork. We handle all the paperwork, energy calculations, and inspection scheduling as part of your install. You don’t need to visit any county offices or figure out the forms yourself.
The permit process adds about a week to your timeline but protects you legally and ensures your system is installed to code. When you sell your home, buyers and inspectors will check for proper permits on major mechanical work. Having everything documented correctly protects your property value in Palo Alto’s competitive real estate market.
Heat pumps make sense for most Palo Alto homes, especially if you’re replacing both your AC and furnace or want to future-proof against California’s electrification push. A heat pump handles both heating and cooling in one system, runs more efficiently than traditional AC, and qualifies for significantly better rebates right now.
Palo Alto’s mild climate is ideal for heat pump performance. Unlike areas with harsh winters, you won’t need backup heating. Modern heat pumps work efficiently down to 20°F, and Palo Alto rarely drops below freezing. You’ll use less energy for cooling in summer and heating in winter compared to running separate systems.
The state is aggressively incentivizing heat pumps with rebates that can cover $3,000 to $7,000 of your install depending on your household income and system efficiency. Combined with federal tax credits, you’re looking at substantial savings. If your furnace is over 15 years old or you’re already replacing your AC, a heat pump often costs only slightly more than replacing both systems separately—and you’ll save 20-40% on energy bills year-round.
Most Palo Alto homes between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet need a 2.5 to 3-ton AC unit, but square footage alone doesn’t determine correct sizing. Your insulation quality, window count and orientation, ceiling height, ductwork condition, and how many people live in your home all affect your actual cooling load.
Proper sizing requires a Manual J load calculation—that’s the industry standard that factors in your home’s specific characteristics. Contractors who size based only on square footage or “what was there before” often get it wrong. An oversized unit costs more to buy, cycles on and off too frequently, and doesn’t dehumidify properly. An undersized unit runs constantly, wears out faster, and never quite cools your home on hot days.
We perform full load calculations on every replacement. That means measuring your home, checking insulation levels, counting windows, and calculating heat gain. You’ll know exactly what capacity you need and why. For most Palo Alto properties, that lands between 2 and 4 tons, but we’ve seen 1,800 square foot homes need different sizes based on how they’re built and oriented.
If your AC is over 12 years old, needs a major component like a compressor or evaporator coil, or requires repairs costing more than half the price of replacement, you’re better off replacing the whole system. Older units use R-22 refrigerant that’s been phased out and costs $150+ per pound to refill. That alone can make a simple leak repair cost as much as putting in a new system.
Calculate it this way: multiply your AC’s age by the repair cost. If that number exceeds $5,000, replace it. A 15-year-old unit needing a $1,200 repair equals $18,000 in that formula—way past replacement threshold. You’re throwing money at a system that will need another expensive fix within a year or two.
Also consider your energy bills. If your cooling costs have climbed 20% or more over the past few years and your usage hasn’t changed, your system is losing efficiency. A new 16+ SEER unit will cut those bills by 20-40% compared to an older 10 SEER system. In Palo Alto’s expensive utility market, that savings adds up fast—often $600 to $1,200 annually. At that rate, a new system pays for itself in energy savings within 8 to 10 years, and you get 15 to 20 years of reliable cooling.
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