Whether it is an oak-shaded estate lot or a newer property along Ventura Boulevard, a new AC is only as good as the installation behind it. We size every Encino 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.
Encino is named for the massive live oak canopy that once covered the area, and older estate properties near Los Encinos State Historic Park often still sit under that same mature tree cover today. Heavy shade can reduce cooling load significantly compared to an open lot, so a system sized off a generic square-footage chart without accounting for tree cover is often the wrong size in either direction. We run a full Manual J load calculation for every installation that factors in actual shading, not just square footage.
Newer construction along the Ventura Boulevard corridor, without the same oak canopy, faces more direct sun exposure and a different cooling profile entirely. We evaluate the property's real tree cover and orientation on every installation so a new system is not sized off a generic Valley-wide assumption, and we plan for equipment placement during the initial site visit, not after it is already on order.
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 Encino.
| 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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