ServicesAC Installation
AC Installation in Rosalia
We install central air conditioners sized from a room-by-room load calculation, not a guess from square footage. You get a straight answer on size, efficiency and cost, plus a written quote before any work begins, and the estimate is free.
What a new AC installation actually involves
A central air conditioner is two halves that have to work as one: the outdoor condenser and the indoor evaporator coil that sits on top of your furnace or air handler. If those two are mismatched, or the system is sized wrong, it will short-cycle, leave rooms clammy and wear out early no matter what the efficiency sticker says.
Installation is the right call when your current unit is old enough that repairs are piling up, when it uses R-22 refrigerant that is no longer produced, or when your home has never had central air and already has a forced-air furnace to build on. If a repair makes more sense, we will tell you that and point you to our AC Repair service instead.
Hot, dry summer afternoons on the Palouse push a system hard for a few months, so sizing it for your actual heat gain matters more than buying the biggest box.
What's included in the install
Load calculation
We measure windows, insulation, orientation and room sizes to work out how much cooling your home needs. Oversized units cool fast but shut off before they pull moisture out of the air.
Matched condenser and coil
We pair the outdoor unit with an evaporator coil rated for it, so the published efficiency is what you actually get. Newer systems use A2L refrigerants such as R-454B, and the coil and line set have to suit them.
Line set and brazing
We either flush and reuse a sound refrigerant line set or run a new one. Joints are brazed with nitrogen flowing through the copper so scale doesn't form inside and clog the metering device later.
Pressure test and evacuation
The system is pressure-tested with nitrogen, then pulled into a deep vacuum and checked with a micron gauge to confirm moisture and air are gone before refrigerant is released.
Electrical and drainage
That means a correctly sized breaker, a service disconnect at the condenser, a level pad and a condensate drain with a trap so water leaves the coil where it should.
Permit and cleanup
We pull the required permit, remove the old equipment and recover its refrigerant properly, and leave the work area clean.
Signs it's time for a new air conditioner
It still runs on R-22
R-22 is no longer manufactured, so every recharge gets harder to source. A leak on an R-22 system is usually the point where replacement wins.
Repairs keep stacking up
A failed compressor or a leaking evaporator coil on an older unit often costs a large share of a new system. We will lay out both numbers side by side.
Rooms stay warm or humid
Long run times with sticky air can mean a tired compressor, a coil that has lost capacity, or a system that was sized wrong from the start.
Power bills creep up each summer
Worn compressors and dirty, corroded coils move less heat for the same electricity, so the meter tells the story before the unit quits.
You're adding central air for the first time
If your home has a forced-air furnace, a condenser and coil can often be added to it. If not, our Ductless Mini-Splits or Heat Pumps pages cover the other routes.
How the install day runs
- 1
Free estimate and load calculation
We look at your furnace, electrical panel and the spot for the condenser, run the numbers and explain the options. You get a written quote before any work begins.
- 2
Removal and recovery
On install day we shut off power, pump the old refrigerant into a recovery cylinder rather than venting it, and pull out the old condenser and coil.
- 3
Setting the new equipment
The coil goes on the furnace, the condenser goes on a level pad, and we braze the line set, wire the disconnect and connect the drain. Most single-system swaps finish in a day.
- 4
Commissioning
After the vacuum holds, we release refrigerant and fine-tune the charge by subcooling, then check temperature split, amp draw and thermostat operation. We show you the readings and how to change the filter.
What moves the price of an AC installation
There is no honest flat price for a new air conditioner because the system and the house both vary. These are the things that move the number, and your written quote lists each one so nothing shows up later. Estimates are free on installations and replacements.
- Capacity and efficiency
- Tonnage comes from the load calculation. Higher SEER2 ratings and two-stage or variable-speed compressors cost more up front and less to run.
- Furnace compatibility
- If your furnace blower can't move enough air for the new coil, or the coil won't fit the cabinet, that changes the scope. Sometimes a furnace replacement at the same time is the better value.
- Line set and condenser location
- Reusing a clean line set saves money. A new run, a longer distance or a tight path through finished walls adds labor.
- Electrical work
- A panel without space for a new breaker, or an old circuit that's undersized, has to be corrected before the unit can run safely.
- Permit and timing
- Permit fees are part of every quote. Booking in spring, before the first heat, usually means more flexible scheduling.
AC installation questions
Something not covered here? (509) 398-9080
How do you know what size AC my home needs?
We do a load calculation based on your home's insulation, windows, sun exposure and room sizes. Rules of thumb like one ton per so many square feet tend to oversize the system. An oversized unit short-cycles and leaves humidity behind.
Should I get a heat pump instead of an AC?
A heat pump cools exactly like an air conditioner and also heats, so it can cut furnace run time in spring and fall. It costs more up front, but it may qualify for Avista rebates and federal tax credits, and we walk you through the paperwork to claim them. We will price both so you can compare.
Can you reuse my existing refrigerant lines?
Sometimes. If the line set is the right diameter, undamaged and compatible with the new refrigerant, we flush and pressure-test it. If it fails any of those checks, we tell you why and replace it.
What credentials and coverage do you carry?
Our company holds a Washington license and bond, and we carry $1M general liability insurance. We also pull the permit for every installation so the work gets inspected.
What warranty comes with the work?
New equipment carries the manufacturer's warranty, and we explain its terms when we quote. On our own work, we offer a 1-year labor warranty on all repairs, so if the system needs a repair we can talk through how that applies.
Do you install outside Rosalia?
Yes. We install air conditioning in Rosalia and nearby areas including Cheney, Colfax, Spokane, Airway Heights, Medical Lake and Fairchild AFB.
Get a straight number on a new AC
We'll size the system for your home, explain the options and put the price in writing before anything starts. The estimate costs nothing.