AC Installation in Phenix City, AL
A new air conditioner in Phenix City will run from May through October every year. Tell us about the house, and a licensed contractor who covers Russell County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Six months of cooling, and afternoons that hit 91
Your air conditioner runs from May through October here, six months of the year. Summer afternoons average 91°F, and that is what it is sized and installed to handle.
A new central air conditioner installed today has to meet a federal minimum of 14.3 SEER2. That is the floor every unit has to clear, not an upgrade you are paying extra for.
- 6 months
- May through October, your air conditioner is on duty
- 91°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
- 15 hail events
- in ten years, and hail bends the fins on outdoor coils
- 13.4 SEER2
- the federal minimum any new unit must meet
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A higher-efficiency unit would save about $30 a year to run in Russell County compared with a new unit at the federal minimum.
Estimates for a typical Russell County home, from EIA household energy data, Alabama fuel prices and NOAA climate normals. Your home will differ.
Alabama requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors tested this contractor before issuing that license, and keeps a record of who holds one. The license belongs to the contractor, not to this particular job, so it tells you the person or company has met the state's standard, not that this installation is being watched step by step.
For the install itself, that oversight comes from the local building office. In most cities and counties, setting a new air conditioner needs a permit and an inspection once the work is done. That inspection is what confirms the unit went in the way it should, separate from whatever the state license already says about the contractor doing the work.
Source: Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
- What size air conditioner does my house need?
- The right size comes from a load calculation, not a rule of thumb based on square footage. A contractor works out how much heat your house gains in a Phenix City summer afternoon, accounting for your insulation, your windows, and how much shade you have. An oversized unit cools the air fast but shuts off before it pulls the humidity out, so the house feels clammy. An undersized one runs constantly and still can't keep up when it's 91 degrees outside. Ask for a Manual J calculation rather than a number based on your old system or your neighbor's house.
- Should I replace the whole system or just the outdoor unit?
- In most cases you want to replace both at the same time. The outdoor condenser and the indoor coil are matched to work together, and pairing a new condenser with an old coil usually means it won't hit its rated efficiency and may not be covered by the manufacturer's warranty. If your indoor coil and ductwork are still in good shape and fairly new, a contractor can tell you whether they'll match up with a new outdoor unit. Have someone inspect both parts of the system before deciding, since what's wrong with one often points to what's coming next in the other.
- Do HVAC contractors in Phenix City need a state license to work on my home?
- Yes. Alabama requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license, issued by the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors. Ask to see the license number before work starts, and you can check it against the board's records. A licensed contractor has met the state's requirements for training and insurance, which matters if something goes wrong with the installation later.