# How to choose an air conditioning contractor in Houston

Source: https://thehoustonhomeowner.com/trades/hvac
Publisher: The Houston Homeowner (https://thehoustonhomeowner.com)

> Verify the TDLR Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor license, require a load calculation before anyone quotes a replacement system, and get the equipment model numbers and permit in writing.

## License

Texas requires an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor license (TACL, class A or B) from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for any company that installs, repairs or services HVAC equipment for pay. The license number must appear on vehicles, invoices and advertising. Technicians who handle refrigerant must also hold an EPA Section 608 certification.
Verify at: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch/ (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation)

Permits: The City of Houston requires a mechanical permit and inspection for replacing a condenser, air handler or furnace, and for new ductwork. Routine repairs and maintenance do not.

## Walk away if

- No TACL license number on the truck or paperwork.
- They quote a replacement system without measuring the house or running a load calculation (Manual J). Sizing by the old unit's tonnage is guessing.
- The bid does not list the model numbers of the condenser, coil and air handler. Without them you cannot verify the efficiency rating you are paying for.
- They condemn a compressor or recommend a full replacement on the first visit without showing you readings.
- They push a same-day decision with a discount that expires tonight.

## Ask before you hire

- What is your TDLR TACL license number?
- Will you perform a load calculation before sizing the system, and can I see it?
- What are the exact model numbers for the condenser, evaporator coil and air handler or furnace?
- Is the Houston mechanical permit and inspection included?
- What is the labor warranty, and who registers the manufacturer's parts warranty?

## Houston specifics

Air conditioning in Houston is not a comfort system. It runs nine months a year and does most of the work of controlling humidity, which is what keeps the house from growing mold. An oversized unit cools the air fast and shuts off before it has pulled the moisture out, which is why a load calculation matters more here than almost anywhere else in the country.

The seasonal pattern is predictable: the first hot week in May and the first cold snap in November flood every company with calls. Companies that are good in July are good because they have enough licensed technicians, not because they answer the phone fastest.

## Reading an AC bid

A complete bid for a replacement lists each piece of equipment by model number, the rated efficiency, the refrigerant type, whether the line set and the drain are replaced, whether the ductwork was inspected, the permit, the thermostat, and the labor warranty separate from the manufacturer's parts warranty. Two bids with the same model numbers are comparable. Two bids that say "3-ton 16 SEER system" are not.

## Frequently asked

**Does an HVAC company in Houston need a license?**

Yes. Texas requires an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor license from TDLR for any company that installs or services HVAC equipment. Look up the number before you book.

**Do I need a permit to replace my AC in Houston?**

Yes. The City of Houston requires a mechanical permit and inspection when a condenser, air handler or furnace is replaced.

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