Service Repair
Our highly skilled technicians ensuring your equipment operates efficiently and safely.
A new air conditioner is a 15-year decision, and how it’s installed matters more than the brand on the side. Smartchoice installs and replaces central air conditioners across Orange County: sized for your home, permitted, tested and backed by a 5-year labor warranty. We hold both the HVAC (C-20 #1120994) and electrical (C-10 #1120145) licenses, so if the new system needs a circuit, a disconnect or a panel upgrade, it’s done by the same company on the same schedule.
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AC Installation Cost in Orange County
Installed prices, including the permit and HERS test:
| System | Installed price |
|---|---|
| New AC (condenser + coil), 2 to 5 tons | $5,950–$8,450 |
| AC + furnace together | $7,500–$12,000 |
| Heat pump, 2.5–3 tons | $6,500–$10,000 |
| Heat pump, 4–5 tons | $9,500–$13,500+ |
| Furnace only | $4,500–$7,250 |
| Ductwork repair or replacement, electrical work | quoted after the in-home visit |
What moves the price: the size (tons), the equipment line, whether the indoor coil or furnace is replaced too, ductwork condition and access (attic, closet, roof). We confirm a flat price at the free visit.
What’s Included in Every Installation
- Load calculation (Manual J) to size the system
- City permit, Title 24 HERS verification and the final inspection
- New condenser and matched indoor coil (or furnace or air handler when replaced)
- Removal and disposal of the old equipment
- One year of our maintenance membership, with the tune-ups included
- 5-year labor warranty and 10-year manufacturer parts warranty (with registration)
The Right Size, Not the Old Size
Many Orange County systems were oversized when they were installed. An oversized AC cools fast but shuts off before it removes humidity, short-cycles and wears out the compressor. An undersized one runs all afternoon and never catches up. We run a load calculation that accounts for square footage, insulation, windows and sun exposure, ceiling height and attic conditions, which in inland cities like Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills reach 140°F in summer.
Equipment We Install
We install Goodman and the AC Pro line: dependable, widely serviced equipment with a 10-year parts warranty. New systems use the newer A2L refrigerants (R-32 or R-454B, depending on the manufacturer) and are rated in SEER2. In Southern California the minimum is 14.3 SEER2 for most home systems; a higher rating costs more up front and saves more on your SCE bill, and we show you both numbers. Most early AC failures come from the installation (wrong size, wrong refrigerant charge, poor airflow, leaky ducts), not the nameplate.
AC Only, AC + Furnace, or a Heat Pump
- AC only: your furnace is under about 15 years old and works well. The new coil is matched to it.
- AC + furnace: the furnace is old, or you want one matched system and one warranty. Replacing both together saves a second visit and labor.
- Heat pump: one system that cools and heats, and the best option for SCE incentives. It can need more electrical capacity, which we check on the same visit.
Our Installation Process
- Free in-home visit: load calculation, ductwork and electrical check.
- Flat written price with the options side by side.
- Permit: we file with your city.
- Install day: most replacements are done in one day; two days when ductwork or electrical work is involved. We haul the old unit away.
- HERS test and city inspection: we schedule them and meet the inspector.
- Walk-through: thermostat setup, filter size and warranty registration.
Condos and Townhomes
We install AC in condos and townhomes too. We provide the documents HOAs ask for (license, insurance, equipment specs) and plan the condenser location and line-set route to meet the association’s rules.
Financing and Incentives
0% interest for 12 months on qualifying HVAC installations, on approved credit. We check current SCE and TECH Clean California incentives before you commit; heat pumps qualify for the most.
AC Installation Near You
We install new air conditioners across Orange County, including Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Brea, Fullerton, Irvine, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, Tustin, Villa Park and Yorba Linda and more. Not sure it’s time to replace? Read repair or replace or book an AC repair visit first.
AC Installation FAQs
How much does a new AC installation cost in Orange County?
Our installed prices start at $5,950 for a 2-ton system and run to about $8,450 for a 5-ton system, depending on size and the equipment line (Goodman or AC Pro). Replacing the AC and furnace together runs $7,500 to about $12,000. Ductwork, electrical work and access can add to that, and we confirm the final number at a free in-home visit. Every install includes the permit, HERS test, removal of the old unit, a 10-year parts warranty, a 5-year labor warranty and a year of our maintenance membership. See your starting price in 60 seconds with our instant quote.
What is the “$5,000 AC rule”?
Multiply the unit’s age by the repair cost. Under $5,000, repair; over $5,000, replace. A 10-year-old system facing a $700 refrigerant leak repair is at $7,000, so that money is usually better spent on a new, more efficient unit with a full warranty. We’ll still repair it if you ask; we just won’t recommend it when the math doesn’t work. Read the full repair-or-replace guide.
What size AC do I need for my home?
Not necessarily the size the old unit was: many Orange County systems were oversized to begin with. We run a load calculation (Manual J) that accounts for square footage, insulation, window area and orientation, ceiling height and attic conditions. An oversized unit cools fast but short-cycles, leaving the house humid and wearing out the compressor; an undersized one never catches up.
How long does an AC installation take?
Most replacements are done in one day: the crew arrives in the morning, and you have cooling by late afternoon. It takes two days when ductwork needs repair or replacement, or when the electrical side needs work such as a new disconnect, a dedicated circuit or a panel upgrade. Because we hold both the HVAC and electrical licenses, that work happens on the same schedule, not with a second contractor.
Which AC brands do you install, and are there brands to stay away from?
We install Goodman and the AC Pro line, and we service every major brand. On brands to avoid, the honest answer is that most failures in the first ten years trace back to the installation (wrong size, bad refrigerant charge, poor airflow, leaky ducts), not the nameplate. A mid-priced unit installed correctly outlasts a premium unit installed badly. Choose the installer who does a load calculation, pulls the permit and backs the labor, then choose the brand.
What SEER2 rating should I choose?
The minimum in Southern California is 14.3 SEER2 for most home systems. 15–17 SEER2 is the sweet spot for inland Orange County. Above that, the extra cost takes longer to pay back unless you run the AC most of the day.
Should I replace my furnace at the same time?
If the furnace is over about 15 years old, or its coil doesn’t fit the new AC, usually yes: one visit, one matched system, one warranty. If it’s newer and healthy, we match the new coil to it.
Do you offer financing or help with rebates?
Yes. We offer 0% interest for 12 months on qualifying HVAC installations, on approved credit. We check current SCE and TECH Clean California incentives before you commit (we’re an enrolled TECH contractor); heat pumps qualify for the most.
Do you pull the permit, and is a permit required?
Yes to both. Every Orange County city requires a permit for an AC replacement, and California’s Title 24 energy code adds a HERS verification, a third-party test of duct leakage and refrigerant charge. We pull the permit, schedule the HERS rater and the city inspection, and include it all in the price. An unpermitted install can void the manufacturer’s warranty and cause problems when you sell or file an insurance claim.
Do you install AC in condos and townhomes?
Yes. We provide the documents HOAs ask for and plan the condenser location to meet the association’s rules.
Ready for a new AC? Call (949) 229-6766 for a free in-home estimate, or see your price in 60 seconds.
Benefits of Upgrading Your AC System
Enhanced Efficiency
Replacing an old HVAC system with an ENERGY STAR-qualified unit can significantly reduce energy consumption. These systems use advanced technology to cool your home more efficiently, cutting your energy bill by nearly $200 a year, depending on your location.
Improved Comfort
A new AC system ensures consistent and reliable cooling, eliminating hot spots and maintaining a comfortable environment throughout your home.
Increased Reliability
Older HVAC systems are prone to breakdowns and inefficiencies. A new system reduces the likelihood of unexpected failures, providing peace of mind and uninterrupted comfort.
Better Indoor Air Quality
Modern AC units come with advanced filtration systems that enhance indoor air quality by removing dust, allergens, and other pollutants.
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Why Choose Smartchoice for Your New AC?
Choose Smartchoice Air Conditioning, Heating & Electrical for your new AC because:
Sized Right
A load calculation for your home, not a copy of the old unit’s size.
Permit and HERS Included
We file with your city, schedule the HERS test and meet the inspector.
One Company for HVAC and Electrical
Panel or circuit work is done by our own C-10 electricians, on the same schedule.
Warranty and Maintenance
5 years labor, 10 years manufacturer parts, and a year of our maintenance membership included.
Fully Guaranteed Work
Certified Technicians
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Saturday: 9AM-4PM
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Upgrade your comfort with Smartchoice.
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