AC Installation in Corvallis, OR
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Corvallis summers don't ask much of an air conditioner
Summer afternoons here average 79°F. That's mild, and it means a new system spends most of its time barely working to keep a house comfortable.
Any central air conditioner installed new has to meet a federal minimum of 13.4 SEER2, so it starts out efficient no matter who makes it. In a climate this mild, the bigger question is getting the size right for your house, not finding a unit that can survive extreme heat, because Corvallis doesn't see much of that.
- 79°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
- 13.4 SEER2
- the federal minimum any new unit must meet
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
Going above the federal minimum saves little here, about $20 a year.
Estimates for a typical Benton County home, from EIA household energy data, Oregon fuel prices and NOAA climate normals. Your home will differ.
Oregon requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The Construction Contractors Board licenses the contractor, not the job itself, so the license on file covers who they are, not a sign-off on this particular installation. Oregon sets a $1,000 floor under which a licensed contractor isn't required, but a new air conditioner runs well past that, so this job falls under the license requirement.
For an installation like this, the piece that checks the actual work is the permit. Most cities and counties in Oregon require a permit for a new air conditioner, along with an inspection once it's in, and that inspection is what confirms the unit was set up correctly, separate from whatever the contractor's license already covers.
Source: Oregon Legislative Assembly
- What size air conditioner does my house need?
- There's no single answer without looking at your house. A contractor works this out with a load calculation, which factors in your square footage, insulation, window area and layout, not just square footage alone. Putting in a unit that's too big cools the air fast but doesn't run long enough to remove humidity, and one that's too small runs constantly and never quite keeps up. Ask whoever quotes the job to show you the load calculation, not just a size based on your old unit.
- Should I replace the whole system or just the outdoor unit?
- If your indoor coil and furnace or air handler are old too, replacing just the outdoor unit can cause problems. The outdoor unit and indoor coil are matched to work together, and pairing a new outdoor unit with an old indoor coil often means you lose efficiency and sometimes voids the warranty. A contractor can check the age and condition of both and tell you whether the indoor side is worth keeping. If the whole system is close in age, replacing it together usually makes more sense than patching one part of it.
- Do HVAC contractors in Corvallis need a state license to work on my home?
- Yes. Oregon requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license through the Construction Contractors Board, and that license covers the contractor, not just the individual job. There's an exception for small jobs, but installing an air conditioner falls outside that, so check that whoever you hire is licensed. You'll also need a permit from the local building office, with an inspection once the work is done.