AC Repair & Installation in Brownwood, TX

At least once a year — ideally in early spring before the heat hits. A tune-up includes checking refrigerant levels, cleaning the coil, inspecting electrical connections, and testing the thermostat. In Central Texas, your system runs hard from April through October, so skipping maintenance usually means a breakdown on the hottest day of the year. We offer maintenance plans that keep your system on a regular schedule.

A well-maintained central AC system lasts 15–20 years, but efficiency drops off after 12–15. A good rule of thumb: if the repair costs more than half the price of a new system and the unit is over 10 years old, replacement is usually the smarter investment. You'll also gain a significant efficiency bump — a modern 16-SEER2 Lennox unit can cut cooling costs 30–40% compared to an old 10-SEER system. We'll price out both options and let you make the call.

It depends on more than square footage. We calculate cooling loads based on your home's layout, insulation, window exposure, ductwork condition, and ceiling height. A system that's too small will run nonstop and never keep up in July. One that's too big will short-cycle, waste energy, and leave your house humid. For most homes in the Brownwood area, you're looking at 2.5 to 5 tons.

In Central Texas, 12–18 years is typical. Our summers push systems harder than the national average, so units here tend to age faster than the 15–20 year range you'll see online. The biggest factors are maintenance history and installation quality. A system that gets annual tune-ups and was sized correctly will outlast one that was neglected or oversized by five years or more.

The most common causes are a dirty air filter, low refrigerant from a leak, a frozen evaporator coil, or a failing compressor. Start with the filter — if it's clogged, swap it out and give the system an hour. If that doesn't fix it, you likely need a technician. A bad compressor on an older unit usually means it's time to talk replacement.

SEER2 measures how much cooling your system delivers for the electricity it uses — higher is better. It replaced the older SEER rating in 2023 with a tougher test that better matches real homes and ductwork, so a SEER2 number reads about 5% lower than the old SEER number for the same unit. The bigger story is how far equipment has come: many older systems around here are rated 8–10 SEER, and a new system can use a third or more less electricity for cooling. Lennox models go up to 26 SEER2. We'll help you find the efficiency level that makes sense for your usage and electric rates.