AC Replacement Cost in Round Rock and Austin: Real Prices, Real Tiers, No Sales Tricks
Real installed prices — posted before you ever talk to us. No in-home sales pitch.
A full AC replacement from Koala Cooling & Plumbing costs $12,000 to $27,700 installed in Round Rock and Austin, depending on system size and efficiency tier. Our four published tiers start with Carrier single-stage systems at $12,000–$16,600 and top out with Armstrong variable-capacity inverter systems at $20,300–$27,700. Every price includes the standard permit and startup.
What will a new system actually cost you?
Two questions and you'll see all four of our systems, installed, at today's real price. No email, no ballpark, no "call for pricing."
How much space are you cooling?
Conditioned square footageHow is your home heated today?
Your four options
Installed price for a 3 ton gas system.
Full pricing guide — all four systems, every tonnage, both fuels, and what's included.
Book your free load calculation
A Comfort Advisor measures your home and confirms the size before anything is ordered. No charge, no obligation.
The number above is a starting point, not a size. Square footage is one input out of several. Ceiling height, insulation, window area and orientation, duct condition, and how much sun your home takes all change how much cooling it actually needs — two houses the same size on the same street can land a full ton apart.
That's what a Manual J load calculation is for. It's the industry-standard method, and our Comfort Advisor performs one at your home before we quote anything. It's free, it takes about an hour, and there's no obligation at the end of it.
Getting this wrong is expensive in both directions. Undersized, the system runs constantly and never quite catches up on the hottest days. Oversized — which is the more common mistake — it cools the air fast, shuts off before it has pulled the humidity out, and leaves your home cold and clammy while short-cycling its way to an early failure. Either way you paid for equipment that doesn't fit the house.
Booking holds today's price for 30 days, including the seasonal rate shown above.
Prices are installed, including standard permit and startup. Attic access, electrical panel upgrades, duct repair or line-set replacement can change the final number, and we show you those line by line before you sign anything.
Monthly figures assume 11.99% APR over 15 years on approved credit, through our lending partner. Your actual rate is set when you apply — these are estimates so you can compare. The 5% cash discount is for payment by cash or check, so a financed purchase is figured without it; when that box is checked you'll see both numbers on the card.
Four system tiers, every price all-in:
- Essential (Carrier Single-Stage) — $12,000–$16,600
- Enhanced (Carrier Two-Stage) — $14,400–$21,200
- Comfort (Daikin Fit Inverter) — $17,500–$22,000
- Ultimate (Armstrong Variable-Capacity Inverter) — $20,300–$27,700
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Each range runs from the lowest to the highest base price in that tier, across every size and both fuel types, before discounts. The sections below walk you through fuel type, tier, and size to land on your exact number. In a hurry? Jump straight to the prices — no form, no personal information required.
So, there’s a question we hear more than almost any other: “How much is this going to cost me?”
We love that question. Not because it’s easy to answer — it isn’t — but because it tells us the homeowner is doing their homework. And homeowners who do their homework end up making better decisions, having better experiences, and feeling better about what they spent.
So here’s the most complete AC replacement pricing guide you’ll find in Round Rock or Greater Austin. Real numbers. Real equipment. Real installed prices for our four system tiers, because Koala Cooling believes an informed homeowner makes a better customer — and a better customer makes for a better long-term working relationship.
Before you read a single price, we want to say something plainly: Koala Cooling & Plumbing does not compete on price alone. We compete on quality of equipment, quality of installation, quality of service, and the long-term warranties that back all of it up. The prices you’ll find below are fair, transparent, and all-inclusive — but the reason to choose Koala isn’t that we’re the cheapest option in Central Texas. It’s that we may well be the best value, and there’s a meaningful difference between the two.
Being this transparent is scary for us because any company can look at this page and undercut our prices by a few dollars. We want you to be aware of this and to know that what they can’t replicate is the way we install, the Comfort Advisors who size your system correctly, the lifelong warranty protection, and the team standing behind every job. Price is what you pay once. Quality is what you live with for the next 15–20 years.
Why Don’t Two AC Quotes Ever Look the Same?
Before we get to numbers, let’s talk about why two neighbors with similar houses can get quotes that differ by thousands of dollars. Three variables drive almost all of it.
1. The Size of the Air Conditioned Space in Your Home and thus, Your System
AC systems are sized in tons — not weight, but cooling capacity. One ton of cooling equals 12,000 BTUs per hour. As a general rule for Central Texas homes:
Area Cooled by This Unit
Up to ~600 sq ft
~600–900 sq ft
~900–1,200 sq ft
~1,200–1,500 sq ft
~1,500–1,800 sq ft
~1,800–2,500 sq ft
~2,500–3,200 sq ft
Suggested System Size
1.5 ton
2.0 ton
2.5 ton
3.0 ton
3.5 ton
4.0 ton
5.0 ton
These are rough guidelines. Ceiling height, insulation depth & quality, sun exposure, window area, and duct condition all affect the right size for your home. Our Comfort Advisors perform a proper Manual J load calculation before recommending any system size. If you want to understand how that calculation works — and why an oversized system actually makes your home less comfortable — here's what size AC your home really needs. |
If someone quotes you a system without ever asking about your home’s specifics, that’s a red flag.
2. What Fuel Your System Uses
In Central Texas, most homes run on one of two configurations:
Gas furnace + AC coil + outdoor condenser — the most common setup. The furnace handles heat in winter; the AC coil and outdoor condenser handle cooling. Natural gas is the most affordable heating fuel in this area. Homes with propane service use the same equipment configuration but require a couple of small modifications (about $200) in order to run properly.
Heat pump system — an all-electric alternative that both heats and cools using the same equipment. Heat pumps are highly efficient in mild climates and are often the best choice for homes without natural gas service. They work well in Central Texas winters, though gas systems tend to have an edge on the coldest nights we occasionally see.
Not sure which is right for you? We’ll walk you through it during your free in-home estimate.
3. The Efficiency of the Unit (SEER2 Rating)
SEER2 is the federal efficiency standard that replaced SEER in 2023. The higher the number, the more efficiently the system cools — and the lower your monthly electric bill. In Central Texas, where your AC runs hard for seven or eight months a year, efficiency matters more than in most parts of the country.
Higher SEER2 also means the system can modulate more precisely — it doesn’t just blast on at full power, it adjusts capacity to match the actual cooling your home needs at any given moment. That’s where the difference between “comfortable” and “noticeably more comfortable” comes from.
Our Four System Tiers
We organize our installed systems into four tiers. The names describe what you actually get — not just what the equipment costs.
Essential — Carrier Single-Stage
Reliable, code-compliant, and built to last. The compressor runs at full capacity or not at all — straightforward, proven, easy to service. The right choice when you want quality equipment without paying for features you don’t need.
- Equipment: Carrier 26SCA5 (gas configuration) / Carrier 27SCA5 (heat pump)
- Efficiency: 14.5–16.0 SEER2 (gas) / 14.5–15.2 SEER2 (heat pump)
- Available sizes: 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5 ton
- Labor warranty: 1 year (Koala Cooling)
- Parts warranty: 10 years (Carrier)
- Koala Club included: 1 year (keeps your warranty active)
- Indoor Air Quality: Available as an add-on — see our indoor air quality options
Enhanced — Carrier Two-Stage
A meaningful step up from single-stage. The compressor runs at low capacity most of the time, ramping up to high stage only when needed. The result: quieter operation, significantly better humidity control, more even temperatures from room to room, and noticeably lower energy bills.
- Equipment: Carrier 26TPA8 (gas) / Carrier 27TPA8 (heat pump)
- Efficiency: 16.0–17.5 SEER2 (gas) / 16.5–17.5 SEER2 (heat pump)
- Available sizes: 2, 3, 4, 5 ton
- Labor warranty: 2 years (Koala Cooling)
- Parts warranty: 10 years (Carrier)
- Koala Club included: 2 years
- Indoor Air Quality: Available as an add-on — see our indoor air quality options
Comfort — Daikin Fit Variable-Speed
This is where comfort becomes the conversation. The Daikin Fit modulates the compressor continuously — not just two stages, but a smooth range from about 25% to 100% capacity — matching exactly what your home needs from moment to moment. The result is a level of humidity control that single-stage and two-stage systems simply can’t deliver. In Central Texas summers, where humidity is often the difference between “cool enough” and “actually comfortable,” that matters a lot.
Daikin backs the Fit with one of the strongest warranties in the industry — 12 years of parts coverage instead of the typical 10. The Comfort tier also includes the Daikin One communicating thermostat, which works directly with the Fit system rather than just switching it on and off.
- Equipment: Daikin Fit DC6VS (gas) / Daikin Fit DH6VS (heat pump)
- Efficiency: 15.2–18.5 SEER2 (gas) / 16.6–19.0 SEER2 (heat pump), with full inverter modulation
- Available sizes: 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5 ton
- Labor warranty: 5 years (Koala Cooling)
- Parts warranty: 12 years (Daikin)
- Koala Club included: 5 years
- Indoor Air Quality: Available as an add-on — see our indoor air quality options
Ultimate — Armstrong Pro Series Variable-Capacity Inverter
The quietest, most efficient, and most comfortable system we install. The Armstrong Pro Series inverter adjusts its capacity continuously to match what your home needs from moment to moment, and the Comfort Sync A3 communicating control ties the outdoor unit, the indoor unit, and the thermostat together so the whole system works as one.
The labor warranty at this tier is the strongest we offer — a full 10 years. Ultimate systems also get the $1,200 Armstrong instant rebate through November 30, taken off after the percentage discounts.
- Equipment: Armstrong A7AC22V condenser with two-stage variable-speed gas furnace (gas) / Armstrong A7CP21V heat pump with communicating variable-speed air handler (heat pump), both with Comfort Sync A3 control
- Efficiency: 18.25–19.25 SEER2 (gas) / 20.0–20.5 SEER2 (heat pump)
- Available sizes: 2, 3, 4, 5 ton
- Labor warranty: 10 years (Koala Cooling)
- Parts warranty: 10 years (Armstrong)
- Koala Club included: 10 years
- Indoor Air Quality: Available as an add-on — see our indoor air quality options
Note: Ultimate variable-capacity systems typically require enlargement of the supply and/or return plenum(s) to handle optimal airflow. Our Comfort Advisors assess this at your free estimate.
Labor Warranties That Mean Something
Any HVAC company can offer a manufacturer’s parts warranty — Carrier’s and Armstrong’s 10-year parts warranties (and Daikin’s 12-year) come registered with every system we install. What varies is who stands behind the labor.
At Koala Cooling, our labor warranties are in-house. We’re not subcontracting them, we’re not pretending to offer them, and we’re not making you fight a third-party administrator when something needs attention.
Tier | Labor Warranty | Parts Warranty | Koala Club Included |
Essential | 1 year | 10 years | 1 year |
Enhanced | 2 years | 10 years | 2 years |
Comfort | 5 years | 12 years (Daikin) | 5 years |
Ultimate | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
Important: Carrier, Daikin, and Armstrong all require annual professional service to keep the parts warranty active. Our Koala Club maintenance plan satisfies that requirement automatically — and it’s the most cost-effective way to protect both your manufacturer warranty and your Koala labor warranty at the same time. Every tier includes Koala Club prepaid for the matching warranty duration.
Current Discounts
Our seasonal discount changes throughout the year based on demand. The discount shown below is what’s active right now — and if our schedule shifts, this page updates so you always see what’s available today.
Current seasonal discount: 8% off (Oct 1 – Oct 31)
Seasonal Discount Schedule
Date Range
Nov 1 to May 15
May 16 to June 30
July 1 to Sept 30
Oct 1 to Oct 31
Seasonal Discount
15% off
8% off
0% off (peak season)
8% off
Dates adjust with weather and demand. We always update this page when the schedule shifts. |
Additional Discounts (Stack with Seasonal)
- 10% off for Koala Club members, verified veterans, or senior citizens (one of these — they don’t stack with each other)
- 5% off for cash payment (ACH, check, or cash — not credit cards, not financing)
*** The seasonal discount, the 10% category discount and the 5% cash discount are added together, and that combined percentage comes off the base price. Total effective discount with all three stacked is currently 23% (8% seasonal + 10% + 5%) off the base price. Ultimate systems also get the $1,200 Armstrong instant rebate through November 30, taken off after the percentage discounts.
The pricing tables below show your final price with discounts applied at each level.
What Does AC Replacement Actually Cost in Round Rock and Austin?
All prices below are fully installed and include equipment, labor, permits, fusible disconnect, all standard installation materials, and applicable taxes. No hidden fees and no surprises.
These are Koala Cooling’s actual prices for Round Rock and Greater Austin — not national averages.
Gas System Pricing (Gas Furnace + AC)
Essential — Carrier Single-Stage (14.5–16.0 SEER2), 1-Year Labor Warranty
Size | Base Price | Less Current Seasonal | Less 10% Discount | Less 5% Cash |
1.5 ton | $12,045.00 | $11,081.40 | $9,876.90 | $9,274.65 |
2 ton | $12,326.00 | $11,339.92 | $10,107.32 | $9,491.02 |
2.5 ton | $12,498.00 | $11,498.16 | $10,248.36 | $9,623.46 |
3 ton | $13,192.00 | $12,136.64 | $10,817.44 | $10,157.84 |
3.5 ton | $14,113.00 | $12,983.96 | $11,572.66 | $10,867.01 |
4 ton | $14,523.00 | $13,361.16 | $11,908.86 | $11,182.71 |
5 ton | $15,403.00 | $14,170.76 | $12,630.46 | $11,860.31 |
Enhanced — Carrier Two-Stage (16.0–17.5 SEER2), 2-Year Labor Warranty
Available in 2, 3, 4, 5 ton.
Size | Base Price | Less Current Seasonal | Less 10% Discount | Less 5% Cash |
2 ton | $14,357.00 | $13,208.44 | $11,772.74 | $11,054.89 |
3 ton | $15,969.00 | $14,691.48 | $13,094.58 | $12,296.13 |
4 ton | $18,016.00 | $16,574.72 | $14,773.12 | $13,872.32 |
5 ton | $19,485.00 | $17,926.20 | $15,977.70 | $15,003.45 |
Comfort — Daikin Fit Variable-Speed (15.2–18.5 SEER2), 5-Year Labor Warranty
12-year Daikin parts warranty. Includes the Daikin One communicating thermostat.
Size | Base Price | Less Current Seasonal | Less 10% Discount | Less 5% Cash |
1.5 ton | $18,058.00 | $16,613.36 | $14,807.56 | $13,904.66 |
2 ton | $18,249.00 | $16,789.08 | $14,964.18 | $14,051.73 |
2.5 ton | $18,491.00 | $17,011.72 | $15,162.62 | $14,238.07 |
3 ton | $18,847.00 | $17,339.24 | $15,454.54 | $14,512.19 |
3.5 ton | $19,818.00 | $18,232.56 | $16,250.76 | $15,259.86 |
4 ton | $20,198.00 | $18,582.16 | $16,562.36 | $15,552.46 |
5 ton | $21,177.00 | $19,482.84 | $17,365.14 | $16,306.29 |
Ultimate — Armstrong Variable-Capacity Inverter (18.25–19.25 SEER2), 10-Year Labor Warranty
Available in 2, 3, 4, 5 ton. Plenum modification may be required — assessed at free estimate.
Includes the $1,200 Armstrong instant rebate through November 30.
Size | Base Price | Less Current Seasonal | Less 10% Discount | Less 5% Cash |
2 ton | $20,315.00 | $17,489.80 | $15,458.30 | $14,442.55 |
3 ton | $20,973.00 | $18,095.16 | $15,997.86 | $14,949.21 |
4 ton | $22,877.00 | $19,846.84 | $17,559.14 | $16,415.29 |
5 ton | $23,961.00 | $20,844.12 | $18,448.02 | $17,249.97 |
Heat Pump System Pricing (Air Handler + Coil + Heat Pump)
Essential — Carrier Single-Stage Heat Pump (14.5–15.2 SEER2), 1-Year Labor Warranty
Size | Base Price | Less Current Seasonal | Less 10% Discount | Less 5% Cash |
1.5 ton | $11,971.00 | $11,013.32 | $9,816.22 | $9,217.67 |
2 ton | $12,639.00 | $11,627.88 | $10,363.98 | $9,732.03 |
2.5 ton | $12,897.00 | $11,865.24 | $10,575.54 | $9,930.69 |
3 ton | $13,424.00 | $12,350.08 | $11,007.68 | $10,336.48 |
3.5 ton | $14,341.00 | $13,193.72 | $11,759.62 | $11,042.57 |
4 ton | $15,113.00 | $13,903.96 | $12,392.66 | $11,637.01 |
5 ton | $16,573.00 | $15,247.16 | $13,589.86 | $12,761.21 |
Enhanced — Carrier Two-Stage Heat Pump (16.5–17.5 SEER2), 2-Year Labor Warranty
Available in 2, 3, 4, 5 ton.
Size | Base Price | Less Current Seasonal | Less 10% Discount | Less 5% Cash |
2 ton | $16,054.00 | $14,769.68 | $13,164.28 | $12,361.58 |
3 ton | $18,251.00 | $16,790.92 | $14,965.82 | $14,053.27 |
4 ton | $19,722.00 | $18,144.24 | $16,172.04 | $15,185.94 |
5 ton | $21,245.00 | $19,545.40 | $17,420.90 | $16,358.65 |
Comfort — Daikin Fit Variable-Speed Heat Pump (16.6–19.0 SEER2), 5-Year Labor Warranty
12-year Daikin parts warranty. Includes the Daikin One communicating thermostat.
Size | Base Price | Less Current Seasonal | Less 10% Discount | Less 5% Cash |
1.5 ton | $17,523.00 | $16,121.16 | $14,368.86 | $13,492.71 |
2 ton | $17,722.00 | $16,304.24 | $14,532.04 | $13,645.94 |
2.5 ton | $18,656.00 | $17,163.52 | $15,297.92 | $14,365.12 |
3 ton | $19,157.00 | $17,624.44 | $15,708.74 | $14,750.89 |
3.5 ton | $19,855.00 | $18,266.60 | $16,281.10 | $15,288.35 |
4 ton | $20,634.00 | $18,983.28 | $16,919.88 | $15,888.18 |
5 ton | $21,985.00 | $20,226.20 | $18,027.70 | $16,928.45 |
Ultimate — Armstrong Variable-Capacity Inverter Heat Pump (20.0–20.5 SEER2), 10-Year Labor Warranty
Available in 2, 3, 4, 5 ton. Plenum modification may be required — assessed at free estimate.
Includes the $1,200 Armstrong instant rebate through November 30.
Size | Base Price | Less Current Seasonal | Less 10% Discount | Less 5% Cash |
2 ton | $23,359.00 | $20,290.28 | $17,954.38 | $16,786.43 |
3 ton | $24,771.00 | $21,589.32 | $19,112.22 | $17,873.67 |
4 ton | $26,607.00 | $23,278.44 | $20,617.74 | $19,287.39 |
5 ton | $27,701.00 | $24,284.92 | $21,514.82 | $20,129.77 |
Estimated Monthly Payments
We partner with several lenders for financing. Standard rates as of this writing:
- 10-year term at 9.99% APR
- 15-year term at 11.99% APR
Approvals are typically returned in a few minutes. Many homeowners qualify for low-APR or 0% intro plans.
Sample monthly payments at base price:
- $15,000 financed for 10 years at 9.99% ≈ $198/month
- $15,000 financed for 15 years at 11.99% ≈ $180/month
- $25,000 financed for 10 years at 9.99% ≈ $330/month
- $25,000 financed for 15 years at 11.99% ≈ $300/month
See our Financing page for current options and program details.
A Note About Pricing and Site Conditions
The prices above include everything for a standard installation. Most of the time, there are no additional charges, but occasionally we have to perform work that must be added to the price. The three most common situations that add to the cost are listed below. Please know that we always disclose them at the free in-home estimate, in writing, before any work begins:
Plenum modification. Comfort & Ultimate variable-speed systems sometimes require enlarging your supply and/or return plenum to handle optimal airflow. Our Comfort Advisor assesses this at the estimate, and if it’s needed, the cost is added in writing before you decide.
Electrical upgrades. The vast majority of installations work with your existing electrical setup. If a wire or breaker needs to be upsized, we bring in a licensed electrician — that work is performed by a properly licensed contractor and the cost is added in writing before you approve.
LP Conversion Kit. If your house is heated with propane (LP), we have to purchase and install a propane conversion kit. This process costs about $200.
That’s it. No “fuel surcharges,” no “permit handling fees,” no last-minute add-ons. The price you see is the price you pay.
All Systems Include Our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Every job we do — every repair, every install, every service call — is backed by our written 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. If we can't make you happy, we'll remove our equipment and refund every dollar.
Manage Rental Properties? Ask About Our Landlord Special.
If you’re a landlord or property manager, we offer a separate equipment line specifically designed for rental properties — less complicated, lower price point, still installed to code by our licensed crew. The economics for rental properties are different from owner-occupied homes, and we price accordingly. Click on our Landlord Special to see this pricing and to learn more about the program.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Square footage is a starting point but not the final answer. Ceiling height, insulation, sun exposure, window area, ductwork condition, and how your home holds humidity all affect proper sizing. Our Comfort Advisors perform a Manual J load calculation — the industry-standard method endorsed by ACCA — at every free in-home estimate. Skipping that step is one of the most common ways homeowners end up with a system that’s either too small to keep up or oversized and uncomfortable. If any contractor quotes you a system without ever looking at your home or asking detailed questions, that’s a red flag worth heeding.
Both are real upgrades from single-stage. Enhanced gives you a quieter system that cycles less often. Comfort takes that further by continuously modulating capacity instead of cycling between two stages — which produces dramatically better humidity control. In Central Texas summers, humidity is often what separates “the AC is on” from “I actually feel comfortable.” If humidity makes your home feel sticky or you’re someone who runs the AC colder than you’d like just to remove moisture, Comfort is the right call. Comfort also includes the Daikin One communicating thermostat and a longer 12-year parts warranty from Daikin. Finally, the Comfort system has 3 more years of labor warranty and 3 more years of Koala Club membership.
The Daikin Fit (Comfort tier) and the Armstrong Pro Series (Ultimate tier) are both inverter systems that adjust their capacity continuously. Ultimate has higher SEER2 ratings at every size, the Comfort Sync A3 communicating control, and the longest in-house labor warranty we offer (10 years, with 10 years of Koala Club). Daikin’s Fit delivers most of the comfort experience at a lower upfront cost with a longer 12-year parts warranty. The right choice depends on whether you want strong comfort at a strong value (Comfort) or our most efficient, longest-protected system (Ultimate).
The federal Section 25C tax credit for heat pump and high-efficiency HVAC equipment expired on December 31, 2025, and is not available for systems installed in 2026 or later. Local utility rebates remain active and meaningful. Austin Energy offers rebates averaging $800 for qualifying high-efficiency systems through their Home Energy Savings program, with larger rebates available for whole-home efficiency upgrades. Pedernales Electric, Round Rock, and surrounding utility districts have their own programs that vary by location. We identify every rebate you qualify for based on your specific address and utility provider, and we handle the paperwork at no extra charge.
A standard residential system replacement is typically a one- to two-day job. Day one involves removing the old equipment, prepping the install site, setting the new outdoor and indoor units, brazing the refrigerant lines, electrical hookup, and pulling vacuum on the refrigerant lines. Day two (when needed) covers commissioning, system testing, customer walkthrough, and any final adjustments. More complex installations — older homes, tight access, plenum modifications, or significant ductwork repair — may take longer, and we’ll give you a specific timeline at your quote.
We assess your ductwork during the in-home estimate. Old or leaky ducts can lose 15–30% of your conditioned air to attics and crawl spaces, which makes any system — no matter how efficient — work harder and cost more to run. If your ducts need sealing, repair, or replacement, we’ll quote that work separately so you can decide whether to address it now or later. Bottom line: installing a new high-efficiency system on a leaky duct network is throwing efficiency away, and we’ll tell you that honestly even if you don’t want to hear it.
Yes. We partner with several lenders for financing on AC system installations, with approvals typically returned in a few minutes. Many homeowners qualify for low-APR or 0% intro plans. Our current standard rates are 9.99% APR for 10-year terms and 11.99% APR for 15-year terms. See our Financing page for current options and program details.
"Can you?" Almost always the answer is "yes". Our technicians are highly skilled and can fix almost anything! "Should you?" is generally the better question. Quite often, it doesn't make good financial sense to repair an old system. Our general rule: if your system is under 10 years old and the repair cost is less than half the cost of replacement, repair makes sense. If your system is over 12 years old, repair costs are climbing, your energy bills are higher than they used to be, or you’re using R-22 refrigerant (no longer manufactured), replacement is usually the better long-term decision. Our Comfort Advisors and technicians give you the honest math at your estimate — not a hard sell either direction. This lets you make the best decision for your personal situation.
With proper installation and annual maintenance, a quality AC system lasts 12–18 years in Central Texas. Heat pumps tend to fall toward the shorter end of that range because they run year-round (cooling in summer, heating in winter) instead of getting a break. Gas systems often last longer because the AC side gets some downtime in winter. The single biggest factor in system lifespan, after correct installation, is annual professional maintenance — which is why we include Koala Club membership at every tier.
Yes, and we wish more contractors made this clear up front. Carrier, Daikin, and Armstrong all require documented annual professional service to maintain the parts warranty (10 years on Carrier and Armstrong, 12 years on Daikin Fit). Without it, the warranty becomes void. Our Koala Club membership satisfies that requirement and includes priority scheduling, member-only pricing on repairs, and discounts on future work. We include Koala Club prepaid for the matching warranty period at every tier — so if you choose Ultimate, you get 10 years of Koala Club built into the price.
We install Carrier, Daikin, and Armstrong equipment, and every system is registered so you get the full manufacturer warranty. Carrier covers our Essential and Enhanced tiers, Daikin Fit covers our Comfort tier, and Armstrong’s Pro Series covers our Ultimate tier. If you have a strong preference for another brand (Trane, Lennox, Bosch, Mitsubishi), we can accommodate that with custom pricing — let us know at the quote.
Every quote includes: the equipment (matched indoor and outdoor units sized correctly for your home), all labor, all standard installation materials (refrigerant, electrical connections, drain lines, mounting pads, fusible disconnect, code-required service shutoffs), permits, applicable taxes, and your warranty registration. Most of the time, the only items that add to cost are plenum modification (rare, mostly on Ultimate tier), electrical upgrades (rare, performed by licensed electrician), and LP conversion kits — both quoted in writing before any work proceeds.
We handle almost everything. Before the install crew arrives, please clear a path from the front door to your indoor equipment (typically attic, closet, or garage), move any vehicles off the driveway near the outdoor unit location, and keep pets in a separate room. We’ll cover floors, take steps to keep dust contained, and clean up the work area before we leave. Most installations don’t require you to be home all day — but someone over 18 needs to be present to sign the final paperwork and walk through the system with us.
Usually, yes — especially if your current system is 10 or more years old. A new system uses less electricity to deliver the same cooling, and in Central Texas, where the AC runs most of the year, that difference shows up on every bill. How much you save depends on how efficient your old system is, which tier you choose, and the condition of your ductwork. Your Comfort Advisor will compare your current system with the options you’re considering at your free estimate.
It depends on what you're coming from and what you move to, but the jump is often substantial. Replacing a low-SEER unit from the 2000s with a mid- or high-efficiency SEER2 system can cut the energy needed for the same cooling by a meaningful margin. We'll give you the specific comparison for your home and the systems you're considering — no vague promises.
The regional minimum is 14.5 SEER2, and that's a fine, budget-friendly floor. Because our cooling season is so long, though, stepping up to a higher-SEER2 system often pays back through lower bills over time — the longer you run your AC, the more that efficiency is worth. Your Comfort Advisor can run the trade-off with you against real pricing.
If your unit is under about 10 years old and only needs a routine repair, keep it. Once you're past 12 years, facing a major repair, or watching your bills climb every summer, the running cost of an inefficient system starts to outweigh the savings of holding on. We lay out that whole framework in our repair-or-replace guide — and the pricing on this page shows exactly what a replacement runs, so you can weigh it against another repair bill.
The Bottom Line
Replacing your AC system is one of the larger purchases you’ll make as a homeowner. You deserve to know exactly what you’re getting and what it costs — before anyone shows up at your door.
The right system for your home depends on your square footage, your fuel source, how long you plan to stay in your home, and how much you value long-term comfort and efficiency versus upfront cost. There’s no single right answer — but there is a right answer for your specific situation, and any Koala Cooling Comfort Advisor will help you find it.
Lots of companies in Central Texas can beat us on price. No one can beat us on customer service. After all, we are Koala-fied.
Have more questions or want to talk through your options?
Click 'Contact Us' for a free install quote from one of our Comfort Advisors.
