AC Replacement
AC Installs in New Orleans
The most important day in the life of an air conditioner is the day it is installed. We perform strict load calculations to ensure your new system controls humidity perfectly and lasts for years.
Why Replace Now?
- System is over 12 years old
- Uses obsolete R-22 refrigerant
- Frequent, expensive breakdowns
- High energy bills
- Uneven cooling or high indoor humidity
Why Bigger Isn’t Better in New Orleans
Many contractors in New Orleans simply look at the size of your old unit and install a new one of the exact same capacity. This is a mistake.
An oversized air conditioner will cool the house too quickly and shut off before it has time to remove the humidity from the air. The result is a home that feels cold and clammy, with a system that short-cycles itself into an early grave.
At New Orleans Mechanical Pros, we perform a Manual J load calculation before every installation. We measure square footage, window exposure, insulation levels, and ceiling height to determine the exact cooling capacity your home requires.
The Advantage of Variable-Speed Technology
For ultimate comfort in South Louisiana, we strongly recommend variable-speed or two-stage equipment. Unlike older systems that only run at 100% capacity, variable-speed systems can run at lower speeds for longer periods. This continuous operation pulls significantly more moisture out of the air, keeping your home comfortable at a higher thermostat setting while using less electricity.
The Installation Process
- Assessment: We evaluate your ductwork, electrical service, and cooling load.
- Options: We provide good, better, and best options based on your budget and efficiency goals.
- Installation: We remove the old equipment, install the new system to manufacturer specifications, and braze lines with nitrogen to prevent contamination.
- Commissioning: We test static pressure, verify refrigerant charge, and ensure the system is operating at peak efficiency before we leave.
Start with the House, Not the Equipment Brochure
A load calculation is only useful when the inputs match the building. We measure conditioned area, ceiling height, orientation, window type and shading, insulation, infiltration, occupancy, internal loads, and the location of the duct system. A raised house with leaky floor penetrations behaves differently from a slab home, and a renovated shotgun with rooms added over time may not resemble the assumptions used for the old unit. Installing an old AC unit with a new ac unit install in New Orleans, can be a difficult task!
We also investigate comfort history. Which rooms lag in the afternoon? Does the house feel damp even when the thermostat is satisfied? Does the system run continuously on design days or start and stop every few minutes? Those answers help confirm whether the old tonnage, airflow, duct layout, or control strategy created the problem.
The result is a capacity target and an airflow plan, not a promise that a bigger number solves everything. Correct sizing gives the equipment enough run time to remove moisture while still meeting the sensible cooling load during New Orleans heat.
Efficiency and Staging Choices
SEER2 is the current seasonal efficiency rating used to compare cooling equipment under updated test conditions. A higher rating can reduce electrical use, but the label does not correct bad ductwork, improper charge, weak airflow, or poor control setup. Installation quality and the building load determine how much of the rated performance reaches the rooms.
Single-stage equipment operates at full capacity whenever it runs. Two-stage systems can spend more time at a lower capacity, while variable-capacity equipment can adjust across a wider range. Longer, lower-output cycles can improve humidity control and temperature stability. The tradeoff is higher initial cost, more sophisticated controls, and model-specific service parts.
We compare comfort goals, expected run time, electrical use, serviceability, controls, warranty, and budget. We do not recommend premium staging simply because it is the most expensive line on a proposal.
Ductwork Can Limit a New System
We inspect return size, supply layout, insulation, leakage, transitions, filter location, and the static pressure the blower will have to overcome. A new unit connected to a crushed return or undersized trunk can be noisy, freeze the coil, lose capacity, and shorten motor life. Necessary duct corrections belong in the proposal before the equipment is installed.
What Happens on Installation Day
Before work begins, we confirm the equipment match, work area, access, shutdown plan, thermostat, drain route, line-set plan, electrical requirements, permit status, and any duct corrections. Floors and the path through the home are protected. Refrigerant is recovered, and the old equipment is removed without cutting corners that create cleanup or safety problems.
The new indoor and outdoor sections are set level and connected with sealed duct transitions. Refrigerant tubing is prepared and brazed with nitrogen flowing to limit oxidation inside the piping. The line set is pressure-tested, evacuated with a micron gauge, and checked to confirm it holds before refrigerant is released or weighed in. Electrical connections, disconnect, overcurrent protection, condensate safeties, trap and drain pitch, thermostat, and equipment configuration are completed to the project scope.
Startup is not a ceremonial flip of the breaker. We set airflow, confirm motor and compressor amperage, measure temperature change and static pressure, verify refrigerant charge using the manufacturer’s procedure, test drains and safeties, and observe operation through a stable cycle. Required inspections are coordinated, and you receive operating and filter instructions before the crew leaves.
Replacing a system after a major failure?
Ask for the load, duct, electrical, drain, permit, and commissioning scope—not only the model numbers.
What Changes the Installed Price?
Capacity, efficiency, staging, indoor air handler or furnace, thermostat, line-set condition, duct corrections, electrical work, drain work, equipment location, attic or roof access, crane or lift needs, permits, and required code corrections all affect the total. Two houses with the same square footage can have very different scopes.
We provide equipment and labor as separate, understandable parts of the proposal. Manufacturer coverage applies to the registered equipment under its terms. Labor coverage comes from the installing contractor and has its own term and exclusions. We explain both. Any financing or rebate is only included when a current program is verified for the selected equipment and customer; we do not build a proposal around an unconfirmed incentive.
Installation Questions
Can you reuse the existing refrigerant lines?
Sometimes. The line size, length, condition, routing, refrigerant compatibility, and manufacturer requirements have to be checked. A line that is damaged, contaminated, buried without protection, or incorrectly sized should not be reused simply to reduce the proposal.
Do I need new ductwork with a new AC?
Not automatically. We test whether the existing ducts can carry the required airflow at an acceptable static pressure and inspect leakage, insulation, and damage. We recommend targeted correction or replacement only where the system needs it.
How long does an installation take?
A straightforward residential changeout can often be completed in a day. Duct changes, difficult access, electrical upgrades, permits, controls, or commercial crane work can extend the schedule. The proposal should state the expected sequence.
Should I repair the old unit instead?
Repair can be the better value when the failure is isolated and the rest of the system is sound. Compare the repair with equipment age, refrigerant, coil and compressor condition, warranty, efficiency, comfort history, and likely near-term repairs. Our AC repair page explains that decision.
See the full service overview or call (504) 826-3775 to discuss a replacement assessment.