Last summer we replaced a 2003 unit in a Tigard split-level — the homeowner had already paid for two Freon charges on a system that no longer manufactured its own refrigerant. By the time we showed up it was pushing $900 toward a compressor rebuild on a 22-year-old machine. The math didn't work. We told them that straight, wrote up a replacement quote the same day, and had a new two-stage Carrier running before the weekend heat arrived. That's a pretty typical call for us, and it's the kind of job we think we do well.
There's no universal rule, but a few signals make the answer clear. R-22 refrigerant hasn't been manufactured since 2020 — if your system still uses it, every pound of refrigerant you add is pulled from a dwindling stockpile and priced accordingly. SEER ratings below 10 are a second signal: modern units start around SEER2 14.3 for our climate zone, so you're often paying 40–50% more in electricity every month to run an old system. And if you've spent more than half the replacement cost on repairs over the past two or three seasons, the compressor or heat exchanger is usually next. We walk through your actual numbers — repair history, current efficiency rating, available rebates — before anyone signs anything.
Most single-family air conditioner replacement portland jobs wrap in one day. We arrive on time, lay down floor protection, and recover existing refrigerant to EPA standard before touching the old equipment. The old condenser and coil come out; new equipment goes in and gets charged to manufacturer specification. We run multiple test cycles before we leave and walk you through thermostat operation, filter schedule, and warranty documentation. Questions after the fact? Call the office — we answer.
Portland's climate punishes bad sizing from both directions. An undersized unit runs continuously through a heat event and never dehumidifies properly; an oversized unit short-cycles, which accelerates compressor wear and leaves rooms feeling clammy even when the thermostat says it's satisfied. Every replacement we do starts with a Manual J load calculation — square footage, insulation, window area, orientation, local climate data. It's the same calculation a good mechanical engineer would run, and it costs nothing extra as part of the installation process. Skipping it is how homeowners end up calling us to replace a two-year-old system because someone sold them the wrong size.
We go over this at the end of every installation because it's where most of the post-warranty problems start. The right filter and the right interval depends on your specific blower's static pressure range — a high-MERV filter on the wrong system starves the airflow and burns out components prematurely. During walkthrough we'll tell you exactly what your equipment needs. Proper ac filter replacement is one of the easiest ways to protect a $6,000–$10,000 investment. If you have pets, allergies, or a home with a lot of wood floors (which circulate dust differently than carpet), we'll talk through higher-MERV options that work with your setup. Questions later about air conditioning filter replacement schedule or filter type? Just call — no appointment needed for a quick question.
SEER2 ratings vary across the equipment lines we carry, and the delta in monthly operating cost is real — especially during the longer cooling seasons Portland has been seeing since 2021. Two-stage and variable-speed compressors also handle the shoulder-season pattern well: those weeks in May and late September when the temperature swings 25 degrees between morning and afternoon. Our team tracks current PGE and Pacific Power utility rebate programs and state incentives, and we factor the numbers into your quote so you're looking at net cost, not just sticker price.
Oregon requires mechanical permits for equipment replacement, and we pull them as part of the job. It's not something you need to manage separately or chase down later. The permit process exists so the work gets inspected — which protects you at resale and on your homeowner's insurance. We've done this long enough to know which jurisdictions move quickly and which ones need a follow-up, and we build that into the scheduling conversation so there are no surprises on your end.
Every technician we send carries current Oregon licensure. The company holds full bonding and insurance on every job. That's the baseline — it means if something unexpected happens during installation, you're covered, not chasing down a subcontractor's liability policy. Efficiency Heating & Cooling has been family-operated since 2008. We have three locations — Portland, Milwaukie, and Happy Valley — and the same crew that built this reputation is still doing the work. We're not a franchise, and we don't staff for volume at the expense of quality.
We staff specifically to cover same-day calls across the Portland metro — Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualatin, Lake Oswego, Gresham, Oregon City, Clackamas, and the surrounding areas. No overtime surcharge regardless of when you call. During a serious heat event, urgent replacement visits get prioritized over routine work. If you're calling in the middle of a 100-degree stretch with a system that quit, tell us that — dispatchers triage accordingly.
A new air conditioner running on an aging furnace or a compromised duct system won't perform the way the specs say it will. We evaluate the whole setup when we're on site, and if there are issues with the furnace or ductwork that would undercut the new equipment's performance, we'll tell you — along with what it would cost to address them and whether it makes sense to sequence the work. We also offer AC repair in Portland when the system isn't yet at end-of-life, a full range of air conditioning in Portland including tune-ups and maintenance agreements, furnace repair in Portland for heating-side problems, and the complete range of HVAC services in Portland when you need multiple trades coordinated under one roof.
How long does a typical AC replacement take? One day for most Portland-area single-family homes. Complex duct modifications or permit timelines can extend that — our dispatcher gives you an accurate estimate when we schedule.
Does my existing ductwork need to be replaced? Often not. Our technicians inspect duct sizing and condition during the assessment visit. If the existing ductwork can support the new equipment's airflow, we'll say so. If modifications are needed, we scope them before you commit to anything.
Do you charge more for evening or weekend appointments? No overtime surcharges, ever. Same pricing regardless of when you call or when we come out.
How do I know what size system I actually need? We run a Manual J load calculation on every replacement — not a rule-of-thumb estimate based on square footage alone. That calculation determines the right equipment size for your specific home, and we explain what it shows before making a recommendation.