Whether you are replacing an aging system or cooling a multi-unit property for the first time, a new AC is only as good as the installation behind it. We size every Brentwood system with a real load calculation, not a square footage guess, and back the work with our installation warranty.
Repairing an aging system is not always the wrong call, but sometimes a new install is the smarter financial decision. These are the clearest signs it is time to stop repairing and start planning a replacement.
Most residential AC systems are built to last 12 to 15 years. Past that mark, efficiency drops and the odds of a major component failure rise sharply, even with regular maintenance.
If you have called for repairs more than twice in the last two summers, or a single repair quote is approaching half the cost of a new system, replacement usually saves money over time.
An aging or undersized system loses efficiency gradually. If your cooling bills have crept up without a change in habits, the system is likely working harder than it should to do the same job.
R-22 was phased out of production in 2020. If your system still uses it, refrigerant for a leak repair is expensive and getting harder to source, and replacement is often the more practical route.
Some rooms cold, others warm, no matter the thermostat setting, often means the system was undersized or poorly matched to the home from the start, not just a maintenance issue.
A system that short cycles or runs nearly nonstop is either the wrong size for the home or losing efficiency fast. Either way, a proper load calculation on a new install usually resolves it for good.
Brentwood's terrain shapes a load calculation before we even open the software. A hillside estate up in Mandeville Canyon usually sits on a lot with real elevation change and window exposure that shifts through the day as the canyon walls block and release direct sun, so a proper Manual J has to treat each side of the house on its own rather than average the whole structure. A flatland home south of Sunset near the Country Mart is often a simpler single-story footprint, but many of these houses only got central air decades after they were originally built, and the calculation has to account for whatever attic insulation and duct sizing was actually installed back then, not what current code would call for today.
Condenser placement follows the same split. On a canyon lot, the equipment often sits on a terraced pad below the house, which means a longer line-set run and a placement plan that has to be worked out during the site visit, not decided the morning of install. On a flatland lot near the Country Mart, placement is usually a straightforward side-yard slab, but some of the older properties here have tight setbacks or a shared driveway with a neighbor that limits exactly where a new condenser can legally sit, and we confirm that during the estimate rather than after the equipment has already arrived.
We measure the home, inspect existing ductwork, and run a Manual J calculation to determine the correct tonnage for your specific property.
You get a clear, itemized quote showing the equipment, SEER rating, and total cost before anything is ordered.
Old equipment is removed, new line sets are brazed, and the system is installed to manufacturer and code specifications, typically in a single day.
We verify refrigerant charge with digital gauges, test airflow at every vent, and walk you through the new thermostat before we leave.
Final pricing depends on tonnage, SEER rating, and your home's specific ductwork condition. These are typical ranges for a full installation in Brentwood.
| System Type | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| 2 to 2.5 ton, standard SEER2 | $5,500 – $8,500 |
| 3 to 3.5 ton, standard SEER2 | $6,500 – $9,500 |
| 4 to 5 ton, standard SEER2 | $8,000 – $12,000 |
| High-efficiency upgrade (18+ SEER2) | Add $1,500 – $4,000 |
| New or replacement ductwork | $2,000 – $6,000 |
TOP CLUB members and financing options are available. Every quote is written and itemized before any work begins.
Free load calculation, written itemized quote, and financing options available.
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