Cities We Serve
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AC Installation
The Install Matters More Than the Brand
Two houses can get the same air conditioner and end up with very different results. One is sized from a load calculation, has its refrigerant charge set by measurement, its ductwork checked for leaks and its airflow verified at the registers. The other got whatever tonnage was on the old unit and a charge set by eye. The first one cools a 105-degree afternoon without straining and pulls the humidity out of the house. The second short-cycles, sweats, and needs its first repair in year three.
Radiant has been installing cooling systems in Central Texas since 1999. We size from the house, not the sticker. We look at the ducts, the attic insulation and the electrical before we quote, because those decide whether a new system performs. The price is in writing and honored for 72 hours, so you can compare it without anyone leaning on you. And every HVAC install over $3,000 is quality-reviewed by a manager as part of the Home Comfort Guarantee.
If your current system still has years in it, we will tell you that, too. A good repair is sometimes the right answer, and we would rather earn your call for a replacement when the time is genuinely right.
Looking for your local team? See AC installation in Austin or AC installation in San Antonio.
- Sized from a load calculation Square footage, windows, orientation, insulation and ducts. Oversized systems are a common Texas mistake and we do not make it.
- Financing that fits Through Service Finance Company, LLC: no interest, no payments for 6 months, then 12.95% APR for 120 months, or 12.95% APR for 180 months. Subject to credit approval.
- Reviewed before we leave A manager checks installs over $3,000: charge, airflow, drain, electrical and the paperwork you will need for the warranty.
Repair or Replace
Signs a Replacement Is the Smarter Spend
None of these alone means the system is done. Two or three together usually do.
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It is past 12 years old
A Central Texas air conditioner does more run hours per year than almost anywhere in the country. Age here counts for more.
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Repairs are stacking up
A capacitor last summer, a fan motor this spring, and now the compressor. Each fix is buying less time than the last.
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It uses an older refrigerant
R-22 is no longer produced, and R-410A is being phased down for new equipment. Refrigerant and parts for older units cost more every year.
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The power bill keeps climbing
An aging system loses efficiency and runs longer to hit the same temperature. Compare this July’s bill to a few summers ago.
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Some rooms never get comfortable
A hot upstairs or a clammy living room can be a sizing or duct problem the old system was never going to solve.
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It runs all day and never catches up
On a 100-degree afternoon, a system that cannot hold the setpoint is either undersized, worn out or losing its cold air into the attic.
What We Install
Complete Systems and the Parts Around Them
A new air conditioner is only as good as what it is connected to. We look at all of it before we quote.
- Central air conditioners Split systems paired with your existing furnace or a new air handler, sized and charged by measurement.
- Heat pumps Often the better replacement in an all-electric home: the same outdoor unit cools in summer and heats through our mild winters.
- Matched indoor coils and air handlers A new outdoor unit on a mismatched old coil is a common shortcut that costs efficiency and warranty coverage. We match them.
- Ductwork repair and sealing Leaky, undersized or crushed attic ducts can waste a large share of what a new system produces. We check before we quote.
- Thermostats and controls Smart or conventional, wired correctly for the staging and fan speeds your new system actually has.
- Removal and refrigerant recovery The old unit is recovered and hauled away properly. Your yard and attic are left the way we found them.
How It Works
From First Visit to a Cold House
Most replacements are finished in a single day. The measuring happens before that day, not during it.
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We measure the house
A load calculation on your actual home, plus a look at the ducts, attic, drain and electrical. This is where sizing gets decided.
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You get options in writing
Usually two or three systems at different efficiency levels, priced with financing shown as a monthly number. Honored for 72 hours.
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Install day
Old equipment out, refrigerant recovered, new system set, brazed, evacuated and charged by measurement. Airflow and drain verified.
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Manager review and walkthrough
Installs over $3,000 get a quality review. We show you the thermostat, the filter and the paperwork, and register the warranty.
Current Specials
Save on the work your home needs most.
Ready to Price a New System?
A written quote, honored for 72 hours, with financing options on approved credit.
What Our Customers Say
Don't just take our word for it — hear from our satisfied customers
★★★★★
Alex performed the winter service on my unit. This business along with Alex, are very professional and upfront about everything. To be transparent, this is the maintenance included with the purchase of a unit from them. I was informed about everything to include pictures as proof. I was told that my unit is 100% and very clean and again pictures to prove it. I was reccomended this business by a friend and glad he did. The initial purchase experience was also amazing. I had contacted 5 other businesses to get quotes about a new unit as my upstairs unit failed. 2 were outrageous quotes and I am technically still waiting on the other 3. On every instance of getting a quote, I waited about 1 week. Luckily my house has two units but still, un acceptable especially during the summer. I guess they all had so much business they did not care for mine. When I called this business not only did they come out the same day, I had the new unit installed with in 48 hrs. Oh and let's not forget the quote they gave me was the lowest of all. I can say enough good things about this business. Keep up the great work.
★★★★★
We needed a new air conditioning system because ours was over 15 years old. I decided to get several estimates from different companies here in San Antonio. Each company seemed to have outrageous prices and wanted to put me into something that was above what I needed. I decided to try one more company, Schmidt Mechanical. I went on their website early in the morning and filled out my information asking for someone to contact me. By the end of the same day, Jared was sitting at our table. I told him specifically what I wanted and what I did not want, since I had gained quite a bit of information from my interaction with other companies. We had a lot of fun sitting at the table and talking about many things, but when he put pen to paper, and gave us three choices of product, service, warranties, etc., we knew right away that Schmidt Mechanical was far superior to other companies in town. We sealed the deal and decided that the following Monday would be installation day. Keeping in mind, that would be one week from the day that we sat down and closed. The very next night, our old unit decided to call it quits and we still had six more nights to go until we get the new system. I called the after hours service line and they sent someone out by 10 o’clock that night, but unfortunately the unit couldn’t even carry electricity to be repaired. They didn’t even charge me for that service call. The next morning I called the company to ask if they had any suggestions on what we could do in the meantime. They put their heads together to come up with a solution. We were very thankful to Keith when he called to tell us they were able to rearrange schedules and carve out time in order to have our new AC unit installed two days later. Schmidt Mechanical - professional, honest, dependable, excellent customer service -- a company you will not regret doing business with. Thank you Team Schmidt!
★★★★★
I would highly recommend Radiant Plumbing. After our 17 year old system broke we bought a new AC unit from Radiant. All the people I dealt with were highly professional, explained everything well and were thorough in their inspection. They were very easy to contact, including a number customers can text with concerns or questions. They kept me well informed through the whole process. They even installed at no cost a portable AC to keep us cool before the installation. The installers, Arturo and Rene, were prompt; they arrived at the exact time we were told, and were very respectful of our home.
Radiant helped us quickly; the AC broke Thursday evening, we scheduled the repairman to come Friday, and Saturday they installed the new unit. I know it isn't always able to happen that fast but it was an extra bonus and relief to finally find an AC company that is actually available and answers the phone, unlike A US Air Conditioning, and is efficient and thorough with no high pressure salesmen, unlike ARS.
Thank you Radiant!
11/4/2020 - update
Had CJ out for the system check and he was very professional, informative, and respectful. He had some recommendations and was able to get us a replacement part for free even though we were just outside the 2yr warranty. It was a very unexpected blessing and I greatly appreciate him and the whole Radiant team.
Radiant helped us quickly; the AC broke Thursday evening, we scheduled the repairman to come Friday, and Saturday they installed the new unit. I know it isn't always able to happen that fast but it was an extra bonus and relief to finally find an AC company that is actually available and answers the phone, unlike A US Air Conditioning, and is efficient and thorough with no high pressure salesmen, unlike ARS.
Thank you Radiant!
11/4/2020 - update
Had CJ out for the system check and he was very professional, informative, and respectful. He had some recommendations and was able to get us a replacement part for free even though we were just outside the 2yr warranty. It was a very unexpected blessing and I greatly appreciate him and the whole Radiant team.
Maintenance Membership
Join the Care Club
Home maintenance for $9.99 a month.
Care Club members get two HVAC tune-ups and a plumbing safety inspection every year, priority scheduling, no dispatch fees — ever — and 5% off every repair.
- Priority scheduling
- Seasonal HVAC tune-ups
- Annual safety inspection
- Exclusive member discounts
- Free dispatch on repairs
- No long-term contracts
AC Installation Questions
How long does an AC installation take?
A straightforward replacement, where the new outdoor unit and indoor coil go where the old ones were, is usually done in a day. The crew arrives in the morning, recovers the refrigerant, removes the old equipment, sets and connects the new system, pulls a vacuum on the lines, charges it by measurement and tests it. You should have cold air by evening. Jobs that add ductwork repairs, move equipment, or upgrade the electrical can run into a second day. We tell you the plan before install day, so nobody is surprised.
Do I need a permit to replace my air conditioner in Texas?
In most Central Texas cities, yes. Replacing HVAC equipment generally requires a mechanical permit, and the work has to be done by a licensed contractor. Radiant is licensed in both markets (TACLB138285E in Austin, TACLB138286E in San Antonio) and handles the permit as part of the job. A permit is not paperwork for its own sake. It means the install gets inspected, which protects you when you sell the house and if a warranty claim ever comes up. A contractor who offers to skip it is offering to save themselves time at your expense.
How efficient a system should I buy?
Texas is in the southern region for federal efficiency standards, so the minimum for a new central air conditioner here is already higher than in the northern states. Above that minimum, the question is payback. With our cooling season running six months or more, a higher-efficiency system earns back its premium faster in Austin or San Antonio than it would in most of the country, and variable-speed equipment also does a noticeably better job of pulling humidity out of the house. We usually quote two or three options and show the estimated operating cost next to each, so you can see where the extra money goes.
Should I replace the indoor and outdoor units together?
Usually, yes. The outdoor condenser and the indoor evaporator coil are designed as a matched pair. Putting a new outdoor unit on an old coil often means the system never reaches its rated efficiency, and many manufacturers will not honor the full warranty on a mismatched set. It also matters with refrigerant: new equipment uses a different generation of refrigerant than older systems, so an old coil may not be compatible at all. If your furnace is also near the end of its life, replacing the whole system at once is generally cheaper than two separate jobs a few years apart. We will price it both ways so you can see the difference.
Can I finance a new air conditioner?
Yes. Radiant offers financing through Service Finance Company, LLC, subject to credit approval. The current programs are no interest and no payments for 6 months, followed by 12.95% APR for 120 months, or a straight 12.95% APR for 180 months. Your comfort advisor can put the monthly payment on the quote next to the equipment price, which makes it easier to compare a new system against the repair and energy costs of keeping the old one running. Full details are on our financing page.
*Offers cannot be combined with other promotions or applied to dispatch fees. No cash value. Must present offer at time of service. Call for details.
