How to buy a new AC in Florida without getting taken

A system replacement is one of the larger purchases a homeowner makes, it happens under time pressure in the middle of summer, and almost nobody does it twice within a decade. That combination is why the process is so easy to get wrong. Here is what to know before you take a quote.

1. Sizing — where most installations go wrong

The rule of thumb is one ton per 500–600 square feet in Central Florida. Do not buy off the rule of thumb. Orientation, insulation quality, window area, ceiling height and infiltration move the correct answer by a full ton in either direction.

Oversizing is the more common error and the more damaging one. An oversized system satisfies the thermostat before it has dehumidified, and you end up with a cold, clammy house. If a quote arrives without anyone having measured your home or asked about insulation, that number came off a clipboard.

2. SEER2 — and the Florida legal minimum

Florida is in the Southeast regional efficiency zone. Split system air conditioners under 45,000 BTU must be at least 14.3 SEER2 by federal law. Lower-rated equipment cannot legally be installed here.

This matters if you shop online. Plenty of 13.4 SEER2 systems are sold cheaply and are perfectly legal — in Ohio. Buying one for an Orlando house means no licensed contractor can install it and it will not pass inspection. Check the model number against the regional standard before you buy anything.

3. R-32 versus R-410A

The industry is transitioning off R-410A. New equipment increasingly ships with R-32, which has roughly a third of the global warming potential, transfers heat more efficiently, and — because it is a single-component refrigerant — can be topped up after a leak rather than requiring full recovery and recharge.

R-32 is classified A2L, mildly flammable, so it requires a technician trained for A2L handling. That is not a reason to avoid it. It is the direction the whole industry is going, so R-32 equipment will have better long-term parts and service support than R-410A bought today.

4. Ductwork — the part nobody quotes

If your rooms never matched the thermostat with the old system, they will not match it with the new one either. New equipment on a bad duct system buys you a quieter version of the same complaint. Ask whether static pressure was measured. If the answer is vague, the ducts were not assessed.

5. Permits

AC replacement requires a permit and inspection in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. An installer who suggests skipping it is saving themselves a fee and transferring the risk to you — unpermitted work can surface at resale, and it can affect insurance claims.

6. The six questions to ask every installer

1. 1What load calculation did you run, and can I see it?
2. 2What static pressure did you measure on my existing ductwork?
3. 3Is this equipment rated at or above 14.3 SEER2 for the Southeast region?
4. 4Are you pulling the permit, and is the inspection included in this price?
5. 5How will you verify the vacuum before charging — do you use a micron gauge?
6. 6What is covered by your labour warranty, separately from the manufacturer parts warranty?

On buying the equipment separately

We are one of very few Orlando companies that will sell you equipment without our labour attached, which is useful if you are a contractor or have your own crew. For homeowners, weigh it carefully: manufacturer parts warranties generally require licensed installation and registration within 60 days, so a DIY install can cost you a ten-year warranty to save a one-time labour charge.

If you want a quote that answers all six questions above without being asked, call (321) 947-2367 or request one online. We will also tell you if your existing system is worth repairing instead — we sell both, so it makes no difference to us which one you need.