AC Installation & Repairs in Palo Alto, CA
- Installation
- Repair
- Service
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Air Conditioning Installation Services in Palo Alto, California
Air & Plumbing Systems has installed and repaired air conditioning in Palo Alto for over 25 years, on everything from a single-zone mini split tucked into an Eichler bedroom addition to a full central AC system with new ductwork near downtown.
Why Choose Air & Plumbing Systems?
- California-licensed HVAC contractors (License #901246)
- Central AC, ductless mini splits, and window/wall units, all installed by the same crew
- Familiar with Palo Alto’s permit process and CPAU’s electrification requirements
A new system and a straight swap of an existing unit both get correct sizing for your home, the permit, and a signed inspection card for your records.
Matching the AC System to Your Home
Central AC, ductless mini splits, and window/wall units each fit a different situation. Here’s how we help Palo Alto homeowners choose:
- Ductless Mini Split: independent zone control and no ductwork required, the usual fit for an Eichler or another mid-century home that was never ducted for cooling.
- Central AC: the most efficient option per square foot when the home already has ductwork sized to handle it.
- Window & Wall Units: the lowest-cost option, best suited to a single room or as a stopgap before a larger install.
Get a Quote for Your Palo Alto Home
Tell us your home’s square footage and whether it already has ductwork, and we’ll recommend a system before we schedule a visit.
AC Installation Concerns
A system sized off square footage alone tends to short-cycle in a well-insulated newer home and run constantly in an older one with single-pane windows, so we do a load calculation rather than a rule-of-thumb estimate. Palo Alto has one of the largest concentrations of Eichler homes in the Bay Area, and their post-and-beam construction with radiant floor heating was never built with ducts for cooling, which is why a mini split is usually the answer rather than trying to retrofit ductwork into the slab. Palo Alto is served by CPAU, the city’s own utility, not PG&E, and permits go through the city’s Development Services building department, which enforces some of the strictest Title 24 and electrification requirements in the county. We handle that paperwork as part of the job.
Benefits of Professional AC Installation
- Correct Sizing: An oversized unit cycles too often; an undersized one runs constantly without keeping up. We calculate load rather than guess.
- Fewer Callbacks: Refrigerant charge and airflow set correctly the first time mean fewer repair visits down the line.
- Longer Equipment Life: A system that isn’t overworked from day one typically outlasts a poorly installed one by several years.
- Permit on Record: A signed inspection card matters at resale; a system installed without one can complicate a home sale.
Our Palo Alto technicians size and install the system on the same visit whenever the scope allows it.
AC Service & Maintenance
Replace the filter every 1-3 months. A clogged filter is the single most common reason a system loses airflow and starts running longer cycles. A seasonal tune-up before summer catches a low refrigerant charge or a failing capacitor before either one turns into a no-cool call in July. On a mini split serving an Eichler’s open floor plan, we also check that the indoor head is still positioned to cover the room evenly, since these layouts have long, uninterrupted sightlines where airflow can miss a corner if the unit was undersized at install. Most residential systems last 12-15 years, and once a repair estimate starts approaching half the cost of a new system, replacement is usually the better math.
Get a Free Consultation in Palo Alto, CA
Tell us about your cooling needs
We size and quote central AC, ductless mini split, and window/wall unit installations, and diagnose repairs on the same visit.
Case studies
FAQs
Yes — we install and repair central AC, ductless mini splits, and window/wall units throughout Palo Alto, including its Eichler neighborhoods. Call (408) 733-2000 to schedule a free on-site assessment.
Yes. Eichlers were built with radiant floor heating and no ducts, so cutting ductwork into the slab isn’t practical. A ductless mini split runs on refrigerant lines through a small wall penetration instead, which is why it’s the standard recommendation for these homes.
The main factors are system type, home size, and whether existing ductwork can be reused as-is. We come out for a free assessment and hand you a written, itemized quote so there’s no guesswork before the work begins.
Yes. Palo Alto runs its own utility, CPAU, rather than PG&E, so the rebate programs and requirements are specific to the city rather than the ones that apply in neighboring towns. We check your address against CPAU’s current program during the free assessment rather than quoting a rebate that may not apply to you.
Most central AC swaps wrap up in 4-8 hours, and a single-zone mini split is often done in half a day, so cooling is usually back the same day. If new ductwork needs to go in, plan on 2-3 days instead. We’ll confirm the exact timeline at your free assessment.
Often, yes — same-day repair visits are usually available in Palo Alto if you call earlier in the day. Slots fill up quickly once temperatures spike, so it’s worth reaching out as soon as you notice a problem. Call (408) 733-2000 and we’ll confirm the soonest opening.
Yes — Air & Plumbing Systems holds California HVAC License #901246 and brings over 25 years of experience to jobs across Palo Alto and the wider Bay Area.
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