AC Installation · Liberty Hill, TX

AC Installation, Done the Way Your Manufacturer Says It Should Be

Real load calculations. AHRI-matched equipment. Full commissioning before we leave. Most "AC installation" companies in Central Texas slap a unit in, charge the deposit, and head to the next job. That's how you end up with a $9,000 system that runs like a $4,000 system. We don't do that. We install AC equipment to the manufacturer's specs - the way it has to be to actually deliver what you paid for.

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1day
Most AC Installs Complete
10yr
Mfr Parts & Labor Available
AHRI
Matched Systems Only
9+
Brands We Install
Before You Buy

Should You Even Replace It?

An AC installation is one of the biggest home expenses most people will ever face. Before we sell you anything, here's the honest math on whether you actually need a new system - or whether you'd be smarter to fix the one you've got.

Rules of thumb, not religion

There's no single magic number that tells you to replace a unit. What we look at is a combination of age, refrigerant type, repair history, efficiency, and what's actually failed. Sometimes a 12-year-old unit with a bad capacitor is a $200 fix and another 5 years of life. Sometimes a 9-year-old unit with a leaking coil is the start of an expensive spiral.

The factors on the right are the ones we work through with every customer who's on the fence. None of them alone makes the decision - but together they paint the picture.

And if we tell you to replace and you'd rather repair - or vice versa - we'll do it either way. The point of the conversation is information, not a sales script.

The $5,000 Rule

If the repair costs more than your unit's age in years times $500, replace it.

A 12-year-old unit needing a $6,000+ repair is past the point. A 7-year-old unit needing the same fix isn't. It's not perfect, but it's the closest thing to a rule we use.

1
System age

Under 8 years old? Fix it. Over 15? Almost always replace. The 8-15 window is where the conversation actually happens.

Verdict Depends
2
Refrigerant type

R-22 ("freon") units are obsolete. R-22 refrigerant is no longer manufactured and what's left is expensive. If your unit uses R-22, you're on borrowed time.

If R-22 Replace
3
What's actually broken

Capacitor, contactor, fan motor, thermostat - all repairs. Compressor, evaporator coil, or condenser coil - now we're talking real money, and the rest of the system is getting old at the same time.

Small parts Repair
4
How efficient is it now

A unit installed before 2006 is running 10 SEER or worse. A new SEER2 system runs 14.3 to 22+. You can cut cooling costs 30-50% just by replacing equipment that old, regardless of whether the old one still works.

Pre-2006 Consider
5
Repair history (last 3 years)

One service call in 3 years is normal. Three or more in the same window is the system telling you it's done. Money you spend chasing failures is money that should be going toward replacement.

3+ repairs Replace
What "Real Install" Actually Means

Six Things We Do That Most AC Installation Crews Skip

An AC installation is far more than swapping a box. Here's what the manufacturer requires for the warranty to be valid - and what most install crews quietly leave out to save 4 hours per job.

01
Sizing

Manual J load calculation

Square footage alone is a lousy way to size an AC system. We do a Manual J calculation that accounts for insulation, window orientation, ceiling height, attic conditions, and infiltration. The result is a tonnage that matches your house - not the previous unit, which was usually wrong to start with.

What others do"Looks like a 4-ton. Let's go with that." Result: oversized system that short-cycles, doesn't dehumidify, and dies young.
02
Matching

AHRI-matched indoor & outdoor

The outdoor condenser and indoor coil have to be matched on the AHRI directory for the rated SEER and capacity to be valid - and for the manufacturer warranty to hold. We pull the AHRI certificate number and give it to you in writing with the install paperwork.

What others do"Eh, the old coil is fine, we'll reuse it." Result: rated capacity not met, warranty potentially voided, efficiency claims fictional.
03
Refrigerant

Triple-evacuation to 500 microns

Before charging refrigerant we pull a deep vacuum on the line set and indoor coil - three pull-downs, holding at 500 microns. This removes moisture and non-condensables that would otherwise destroy the compressor over time. Takes hours, not minutes, and we have the gauge reading to prove it.

What others do"15 minutes on the pump is fine." Result: moisture in the lines, acid formation, compressor failure in 4-6 years instead of 12-15.
04
Line Set

Line set inspection & brazing

If your existing line set is in good shape, we reuse it. If it has kinks, oil from a burnout, or wrong sizing for the new system, we replace it. Joints are brazed under nitrogen flow - not soldered, not flared shortcuts - so the connections survive 15+ years of thermal cycling without leaking.

What others do"Line set looks fine, flare it on." Result: tiny refrigerant leak that costs you a coil in year 6.
05
Airflow

Static pressure verification

After install we measure total external static pressure across the air handler. If it's outside the manufacturer's spec, that's a problem - and we tell you. Most "high bills after install" complaints are actually airflow problems the install crew never bothered to check.

What others do"It blows cold, we're done." Result: system runs out of spec from day one and dies early.
06
Commissioning

Full commissioning & documentation

Before we leave, we record superheat and subcooling, supply and return temperatures, amp draws, and static pressure. You get a startup report. The manufacturer wants it for warranty registration, and frankly so do you - it's proof the system was installed to spec.

What others do"Here's your invoice, have a great day." Result: no baseline, no proof of proper install, no leverage if something goes wrong.
Choosing Your Equipment

Which System Tier Is Right for You

Every install conversation eventually gets to "which one do I actually buy." Here's the honest breakdown of the three tiers we install and who fits where. Real pricing comes after we see your house and run the load calc.

Standard Efficiency
14.3 SEER2 single-stage
  • Meets the current federal minimum efficiency standard for the southern U.S.
  • Single-stage compressor - on or off, no in-between
  • Lowest upfront cost of any new install
  • Solid, proven equipment from every major brand
  • Typical lifespan with proper install: 12-15 years
Best fit Rental properties, secondary homes, tight-budget replacements, or houses you don't expect to keep long. Will absolutely cool the house. Just won't dehumidify as well or cost as little to run as the higher tiers.
Mid-Efficiency
15-17 SEER2 two-stage
  • Two-stage compressor runs longer at lower power for better dehumidification
  • 15-25% lower cooling bills than standard tier in Central Texas climate
  • Better humidity control - house feels cooler at higher set points
  • Quieter operation outside and inside
  • Typical lifespan: 15-18 years
Best fit Most Liberty Hill, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and Leander homeowners staying in their house 7+ more years. The sweet spot of comfort and operating cost without the premium price tag of variable speed.
High-Efficiency
18+ SEER2 variable speed / inverter
  • Variable-speed compressor modulates output continuously, not in steps
  • 30-50% lower cooling costs than standard tier in our climate
  • Best humidity control available - nearly silent on low stage
  • Often qualifies for utility rebates and federal energy tax credits
  • Typical lifespan: 18-22 years with proper install
Best fit Forever-homes, high-end builds, comfort-first buyers, or anyone with a big Texas electric bill they're tired of paying. Highest upfront cost, lowest lifetime cost if you stay in the house.
The Question Nobody Asks

What About Your Ductwork?

Here's the thing almost no AC installation company brings up: a brand new system bolted to leaky old ductwork is a brand new system running at maybe 70% of its rated capacity. Every duct leak in your attic is conditioned air heating your insulation instead of your bedroom.

The average Central Texas home built before 2010 has duct losses in the 20-35% range. Builders used cheap flex duct, sealed it with tape that fails in 5 years, and ran it through 130-degree attics. We see this every week.

An AC installation done right includes looking at the ducts before we touch the equipment. Sometimes the ducts are fine. Sometimes they need sealing. Once in a while they're so bad we'll tell you to budget for duct replacement before you spend money on a high-tier system that will never deliver what it's rated for.

✓
Free duct inspection with any install quoteWe look at every accessible run before we quote a system size. No charge, no obligation.
✓
Honest answer on whether they need workIf your ducts are fine, we'll tell you they're fine. We don't manufacture problems to sell repairs.
✓
Sealing & replacement available, not pushedIf the ducts do need work, we'll quote it separately. You decide what you want to do.
30%
Average Conditioned Air Lost To Duct Leakage In Older Central Texas Homes
After the Install

Warranty & Financing - Plain English

Warranty

Up to 10-year manufacturer parts & labor, plus our 1-year install warranty

Every new system we install comes with the manufacturer's parts warranty - and with most brands, an extended 10-year parts and labor warranty is available when the system is registered within 60 days. We handle the registration, we give you the paperwork, and we back the install itself with our own 1-year labor warranty.

If something goes wrong inside the first year that's tied to how the system was put in, we come back and fix it. No fight, no fee, no "well, that's not technically covered." That's the difference between an install warranty that means something and one that's just a sticker.

Financing

Financing available, no pressure

For most homeowners an AC installation is a sudden, unplanned expense. Financing is available through our equipment manufacturers - often with promotional terms for qualified buyers (deferred interest, low monthly, that kind of thing). We can walk you through what's available when we quote your job.

What we won't do is push financing as a way to upsell you into a system tier you don't need. The right system for your house comes first; how you pay for it comes second. Plenty of customers pay cash and we're equally happy either way.

Common Install Questions

AC Installation, Answered Honestly

How long does an AC installation actually take?
A straight replacement - same general configuration, same line set location, no duct changes - is typically a single full day. Six to ten hours from arrival to startup. Add half a day if we're moving the indoor unit, replacing line sets, or doing significant duct work. We never split a Texas summer install across two days if we can help it - leaving someone without AC overnight in July isn't acceptable. We start when we say we'll start and we leave with the system running.
Do I need to be home for the whole install?
No. We need access to start, a walkthrough at the end so you can see what was done and ask questions, and someone home to receive the system handoff and paperwork. The middle 6-8 hours, you can be at work, running errands, whatever you need to do. Plenty of our installs happen while customers are at the office.
What happens to my old AC unit and any leftover refrigerant?
We haul it away. The refrigerant is recovered to EPA-required standards (not vented to atmosphere, which is illegal), the copper and aluminum go to a recycling facility, and the unit itself is properly disposed of. You don't pay extra for any of it - it's part of the install price. If anyone quotes you a separate "disposal fee," that's a markup, not a real cost.
Do you only install certain brands, or are you brand-agnostic?
Brand-agnostic. We're factory-certified on Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Rheem, Ruud, Bryant, Goodman, York, and American Standard. Some companies are loyal to one brand because they have a dealer agreement that pays them more. We don't have any of those. We recommend the equipment that fits your house, your budget, and your priorities - and we tell you why.
How long should a properly-installed new AC system actually last in Central Texas?
A standard-tier system put in correctly: 12-15 years. A mid-tier or high-efficiency system installed and maintained properly: 15-22 years. The biggest predictor of system lifespan isn't the brand or the tier - it's the quality of the install. Bad install kills a $12,000 system in 6-8 years. Good install keeps a $5,000 system running for 15+. That's why we obsess over the steps in the section above.
My existing AC still works. Is there any reason to replace it preemptively?
Sometimes, yes. If your unit is 15+ years old and uses R-22 refrigerant, replacing it now - while it's still running and you have time to plan - is much less stressful than replacing it in 102-degree weather after it fails. Same logic if you've already had multiple repairs in the last couple of years. The worst time to buy an AC is in the middle of a Texas July when yours just died and you'll take anything you can get. If you're starting to wonder, that's the conversation to have now.
Will a bigger AC cool my house better?
No, and this is the most common mistake homeowners get talked into. An oversized AC cools the air fast but doesn't run long enough to pull humidity out, so your house feels clammy even at 72 degrees. It also short-cycles, which wears the compressor out years early. The right size system is one that runs for long, steady cycles on the hottest day of summer - not one that blasts cold air for 5 minutes and shuts off. That's what the load calculation gives you.
Do you handle the permit and inspection paperwork?
Yes. Any AC installation that touches refrigerant lines or electrical requires a mechanical permit through the local jurisdiction. We pull the permit, schedule the inspection, and meet the inspector on site. You don't do any of that yourself. Many shops skip permits to save the fee and the time - which is illegal, voids your manufacturer warranty, and can become a problem when you sell the house.
Real Google Reviews

What Customers Say

Verified 5-star Google reviews from real Texas Legacy Services customers.

★★★★★

"Peter took the time to actually listen to what my situation was, then instead of taking my money by scheduling a service, he walked me through what I had to do to fix the problem on my own. He took almost 30 mins out of his time to not only talk to me but review photos I was texting him, troubleshooting with me in real time. They earned my future business for sure."

Robert K.Google Review · Local Guide
★★★★★

"Peter is awesome. Best AC technician ever."

Elad D.Google Review
★★★★★

"Excellent professional service. You can tell they are real pros that know what they are doing. Highly recommended, they will spot the issues that other 'pros' left behind."

Christian E.Google Review · Local Guide

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We'll Show You the Math.

Free in-home AC installation estimate, real load calculation, honest tier recommendation. No pressure, no commission games.

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