AC installation done to the load, not the sticker
Most replacement systems in this market are sized by reading the tonnage off the unit being removed. That copies the last installer's guess, and in Charlotte's humidity an oversized system is worse than a slightly small one: it short-cycles, never runs long enough to pull moisture out, and leaves you with a cold clammy house and a high bill.
Signs it's time to replace
What's included
Start to finish
A real load calculation
We measure the house — windows, orientation, insulation, duct condition — instead of matching the old tonnage. This is the step almost everyone skips and the one that decides whether you like the system for the next fifteen years.
Options, with the trade-offs said out loud
Usually three: a solid single-stage, a two-stage, and a variable-speed system. We tell you what each actually does for comfort and bills in a house like yours, including when the cheapest one is the right answer.
Installation day
Drop cloths down, old equipment hauled away, new line set or flush, proper vacuum on the lines, and the refrigerant weighed in rather than eyeballed by gauge pressure. One day for most changeouts.
Commissioning and paperwork
We measure airflow and superheat/subcool and adjust to spec, then register the manufacturer warranty for you and file the permit for inspection. Uncommissioned systems are why so many new units underperform.
What a new system costs
A straight AC changeout in this market generally runs $4,800–$9,500 installed, and a full system with a matched furnace or air handler runs higher. The spread comes from tonnage, efficiency tier, whether the line set and pad can be reused, and whether the ductwork needs work to actually carry the air. We walk the house and give you a firm written number with the options priced separately.
Tell us what's going on
Send it over and someone from our Charlotte team calls you back within 15 minutes during office hours. Free quotes on replacements, flat prices on repairs, and no overtime charge whatever time you call.
AC Installation & Replacement questions
Other services
AC Repair
Fast diagnosis and same-day fixes to get cool air moving again — most Charlotte-area repairs finished on the first visit.
Heating & Furnace Repair
Gas furnaces, heat pumps and electric strip heat — diagnosed properly, including the combustion safety checks most repair calls skip.
Furnace & Heat Pump Installation
Gas furnaces, heat pumps and dual-fuel systems sized to the house and commissioned properly before we leave.