AC Replacement & Installation in San Antonio, TX
Free quotes from independent local HVAC contractors. Compare quotes for a new central AC, sized for your home, with the permit, refrigerant and rebate questions answered up front.
We connect San Antonio-area homeowners with independent, TDLR-licensed local HVAC contractors for free, no-obligation quotes. The contractor you choose diagnoses, quotes, pulls the permit and does the work directly with you.
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Repair or replace?
ENERGY STAR suggests considering a new unit when your air conditioner or heat pump is more than 10 years old, or your furnace more than 15. units that have earned the ENERGY STAR label, installed correctly, can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs, according to the program. Other signs: repairs every summer, a compressor failure on an older system, or rooms that never cool.
San Antonio systems work hard. NOAA normals show about 122 days a year at 90 °F or hotter, and cooling degree days outnumber heating degree days about 2.2 to 1. When the repair quote is a large share of the cost of a new system, it is worth getting a replacement quote too. A contractor can price both options so you can compare them side by side.
Sizing: ask for a Manual J load calculation
A bigger unit is not better. An oversized system cycles on and off and can leave the house clammy during humid summers; an undersized one runs all afternoon and still falls behind. A Manual J load calculation looks at your home’s square footage, insulation, windows, orientation and ductwork to find the right size. Ask for it in writing before you accept a quote, and be wary of a price based only on the size of the old unit.
Ducts matter too. Attic ducts and air handlers are common in San Antonio-area homes, and a DOE case study found vented San Antonio attics average about 130 °F. ENERGY STAR says 20–30% of the air moving through ducts can be lost. Older homes may have older ductwork worth inspecting; see duct cleaning and ductwork repair.
Efficiency minimums: SEER2 in Texas
Texas is in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Southeast region. A new split central AC under 45,000 Btu/h (under about 4 tons) must be at least 14.3 SEER2; larger units must be at least 13.8 SEER2. A new split heat pump must be at least 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. Higher-efficiency systems cost more up front and qualify for higher CPS Energy rebate tiers. Considering a heat pump instead? See heat pump repair and installation.
The refrigerant change: R-410A to R-454B and R-32
Since January 1, 2025, new residential split AC and heat-pump systems must use refrigerant with a global warming potential under 700, such as R-454B or R-32 (R-410A is 2,088). EPA’s May 21, 2026 rule lets systems whose components were all made or imported before 2025 be installed until stock runs out. Existing R-410A systems can still be repaired. Never top off a system with a different refrigerant. More in our post on the R-410A to R-454B change.
Permits
San Antonio’s Development Services Department says “Trade contractors that are licensed by the City or State and registered with the City may obtain trade permits,” and mechanical permits are not on the homeowner list. The contractor you hire pulls the permit. New Braunfels, Boerne and Universal City require contractor registration with the city. Live Oak’s 2026 FAQ says replacing an AC condenser, air handler or ducts needs a permit, with a final inspection and a duct-leakage test when ductwork is replaced. In Schertz, Converse, Helotes and Cibolo, check with the city. Texas exempts AC work by an owner in a home owned solely by them, but the exemption does not cover anyone helping them. This is general information, not legal advice.
CPS Energy rebates
For the program year February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027, CPS Energy lists central AC, heat pump and ductless mini-split rebates of $90–$310 per cooling ton, by SEER2 tier: $115–$310 for early replacement of working equipment and $90–$275 for replace-on-burnout. The work must be done by a Texas-licensed contractor, inside San Antonio city limits the permit number is required, an AHRI certificate is needed, and the application is due within 30 days. Funding can run out, so check CPS Energy for current availability before counting on a rebate. See CPS Energy AC rebates.
New AC prices by size
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| New AC, 2 tons (installed) | $2,000–$7,600 |
| New AC, 3 tons (installed) | $2,500–$8,000 |
| New AC, 4 tons (installed) | $3,100–$8,700 |
| New AC, 5 tons (installed) | $3,300–$9,300 |
| New central AC, installed (3 tons), overall range | $5,000–$12,000 |
| AC + furnace replacement, San Antonio (3 tons, minimum efficiency) | $9,000–$12,000 |
| Heat pump, installed | $5,000–$15,000 (San Antonio 3-ton with air handler: $9,000–$12,000) |
| Ductwork replacement, San Antonio | about $2,000–$3,000 per ton (3 tons: $6,000–$9,000) |
Typical ranges from published cost guides (2024–2026) — estimates, not quotes. National figures unless marked San Antonio. See the full San Antonio AC & HVAC cost guide.
Size ranges by tonnage: Fixr 2026, installed.
Before you hire
- Get the company’s TDLR license number (it looks like TACLA… or TACLB…, ending in E or C for home AC) and look it up at the TDLR license search. Texas rules require that number on the company’s ads, both sides of its vehicles, proposals and invoices (16 TAC §75.71).
- The technician should be TDLR-registered or certified, and EPA Section 608 certified to handle refrigerant.
- A replacement needs a city mechanical permit in San Antonio, and suburbs should be checked. The contractor pulls it; in San Antonio, CPS Energy rebates require the permit number.
- Ask for a load calculation (Manual J) before replacing equipment.
- Get a written, itemized quote with model and serial numbers. Ask whether the diagnostic fee is credited to the repair and what the after-hours rate is.
- Get 2–3 quotes.
- If a CO alarm sounds, leave the house and call 911.
More detail: how to compare HVAC companies in San Antonio. This is general information, not legal advice.
AC replacement quotes across the area
Comparing companies? Read HVAC companies in San Antonio: how to compare and choose. Want a ductless option for one room? See mini split installation.
AC replacement FAQ
How much does a new AC cost in San Antonio?
Published cost guides put a new 3-ton central AC at $5,000–$12,000 installed nationally. One San Antonio guide puts a 3-ton AC plus furnace at minimum efficiency at $9,000–$12,000. Size, efficiency, ductwork and access all change the price, so get two or three itemized quotes. These are estimates, not quotes.
When should I replace my AC instead of repairing it?
ENERGY STAR suggests considering replacement when an air conditioner or heat pump is more than 10 years old (15 for a furnace). Frequent repairs, a failed compressor on an older unit, or rooms that never cool are other signs. A contractor can price both options so you can compare them side by side.
Does a new AC in San Antonio need a permit?
Yes. San Antonio says only licensed trade contractors registered with the City may obtain trade permits, and mechanical permits are not on the homeowner list. The contractor pulls the permit, and CPS Energy rebates inside city limits require the permit number. Suburbs have their own rules, so check with the city. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can I still get an R-410A system?
Since January 1, 2025, new residential split systems must use refrigerant with a global warming potential under 700, such as R-454B or R-32. EPA’s May 21, 2026 rule lets systems whose components were all made or imported before 2025 be installed until stock runs out. Ask each contractor which refrigerant the quoted system uses.
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