Replacing an AC in Hood County Is a Math Problem — We'll Show Our Work
A new system is one of the bigger checks a homeowner writes, and around Granbury it's a decision you live with through some of the hardest cooling conditions in the country. Our job is to make it a clear decision instead of a sales pitch: measure the house, run the numbers, show you two or three realistic options, and put every price in writing. If your current system is worth fixing instead, we'll tell you that first — plenty of our repair calls end with "this thing has years left."
When Replacement Beats Another Repair
- The system is 12–15+ years old and this isn't its first major failure. Texas run-hours age equipment faster than the national averages suggest.
- It still uses R-22 refrigerant. Production ended in 2020; topping off a leaky R-22 system is throwing money at scarcity pricing.
- The repair quote crosses roughly a third of replacement cost — especially compressor or coil work on older equipment.
- Your summer electric bills keep climbing. A tired 8–10 SEER system can cost hundreds per summer more to run than a modern 15.2 SEER2 unit doing the same job.
- The house never got comfortable — some rooms hot, system running constantly. Sometimes that's the equipment; often it's sizing or ductwork, and we check before quoting.
What's Included in Our Installation
The equipment matters less than the install — a mid-tier system installed correctly outperforms a premium system installed sloppy. Every replacement includes a load calculation on your actual house (not a copy of the old tonnage), matched indoor and outdoor equipment, a new pad and whip, line-set evaluation and flush or replacement as needed, a properly-trapped condensate drain with an overflow safety switch, factory-spec refrigerant charge verified by measurement, airflow verification at the registers, and a full commissioning run while we're standing there. Old equipment hauled off, work area cleaned, permit pulled and inspection coordinated where the county requires it.
Sizing for This Housing Stock, Not a Spreadsheet
Homes here don't fit national templates. Lake houses that grew from weekend cabins have additions on slab next to original pier-and-beam, sunrooms with single-pane glass facing the water, and attics with insulation from three different decades. A load calculation that ignores that history produces the wrong tonnage — usually too big, which is why so many local homes are cold-and-clammy in August instead of comfortable. New builds off 377 have the opposite issue: tight construction that needs less capacity than builders' rules of thumb assume. We measure, we don't guess.
SEER2, Rebates, and What Efficiency Actually Buys You Here
Efficiency ratings pay off in proportion to how hard the system runs, and few places run systems harder than North Texas. The current federal minimum for the South is 14.3 SEER2. For most Hood County homes, the sweet spot is 15.2–16 SEER2: meaningful bill savings across our long cooling season without paying for diminishing returns. Variable-speed and two-stage systems above that tier are worth it when comfort is the goal — they hold tighter temperatures and pull more humidity out of the air, which matters near the lake. Check with your utility on current programs: Oncor and the co-ops serving rural Hood County have periodically offered high-efficiency rebates, and qualifying equipment may earn federal tax credits. Whatever system you pick, we'll tell you at quote time exactly what it qualifies for.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an AC replacement take?
A straightforward changeout — new condenser and coil on an existing, healthy duct system — is usually one day. Add a furnace or air handler, duct corrections, or an electrical upgrade and it can run two days. You get the timeline in the written quote.
What SEER2 rating should I buy in Texas?
The federal minimum for our region is 14.3 SEER2. With Texas run-hours, stepping up to a 15.2–16 SEER2 system usually pays back within the system's life; past 17–18 SEER2 the payback stretches out unless you also want the comfort benefits of variable-speed equipment. We run the math with your actual usage, not a brochure.
Are there rebates for replacing my system?
Often, yes. Oncor and the local co-ops that serve Hood County (United Cooperative Services, Tri-County Electric) have periodically offered rebates for high-efficiency systems and heat pumps, and federal tax credits may apply to qualifying equipment. We'll tell you what your chosen system qualifies for at quote time.
Why does right-sizing matter so much?
An oversized unit cools the air fast but shuts off before dehumidifying, leaving the house cold and clammy — and the constant starts wear it out early. An undersized one never catches up in August. We size from a load calculation on your actual house, not by matching whatever tonnage was there before.
Related Services
All-electric home? A heat pump may be the better replacement. Uneven rooms? Fix the ducts before upsizing equipment. Not sure the old system is done? Start with AC repair — or request an estimate and we'll bring answers, not a pitch.