New AC Installation in Milpitas, CA

Is a new AC installation different from an AC replacement?

Yes. This page is for homes, additions and ADUs that have no air conditioning today. If you already have an AC and it is wearing out, see AC replacement instead. Adding cooling for the first time takes more planning, because we have to check that your ducts, electrical panel and yard can support a new system.

What are my options for adding air conditioning?

The best option depends mostly on whether your home has ducts. Here is how the three main choices compare.

Option	How it works	Good fit when
Central AC	An outdoor unit and an indoor coil that use your furnace’s ducts and blower	You have a gas furnace with ducts in good shape and only need cooling
Heat pump	Looks like a central AC, but runs in reverse to heat in winter	You have ducts and your furnace is also getting old, or you want to heat with electricity
Ductless mini-split	An outdoor unit connected to wall-mounted indoor heads, with no ducts	Homes without ducts, additions, ADUs and converted garages

Our mild Bay Area climate suits heat pumps well, and both heat pumps and mini-splits cool and heat in one system. We will explain the trade-offs honestly on the estimate.

What do you check before installing a new AC?

We check everything the new system depends on, so it works well from day one.

• Ducts. Older ducts were often sized for heating only. Cooling needs more airflow, so we check the size, condition and leaks, and recommend duct repair or replacement only if it is needed.
• Electrical panel. A new AC needs its own circuit. We check that your panel has room and capacity for it.
• Outdoor unit location. We find a spot with good airflow, about 2 feet of clearance and a short run to the indoor unit.
• Condensate drain. An AC makes water as it cools. We plan where that water drains.
• Sizing. We do a load calculation: a room-by-room look at your home’s size, windows, insulation and sun exposure, so the system is neither too big nor too small.

Do I need a permit and HERS testing for a new AC?

Yes, a new AC needs a city permit, and many jobs also need HERS testing, where an independent energy tester checks the system and ducts. We pull the permit, schedule the inspection and arrange HERS testing for you.

Does my city require a heat pump?

Some Bay Area cities have heat pump rules, and they change from time to time. Our AC replacement page explains the rules we know about when an AC is replaced, and our rebates page lists programs by city. We check what applies to your home on the free estimate. You may also qualify for rebates on a heat pump; call us and we’ll check what applies to your home.

What happens during a new AC installation?

1. Free estimate. We check your ducts, panel and yard, do a load calculation, and give you a clear written quote.
2. Permit. We pull the city permit.
3. Prep work. We add any duct, electrical or drain work the system needs.
4. Installation. We set the outdoor unit on a pad, install the indoor coil or mini-split heads, and connect the refrigerant lines, wiring and drain.
5. Testing. We check refrigerant, airflow and temperatures, and HERS testing is done where required.
6. Walkthrough. We show you how to use the thermostat or remote and how to care for the system.

I highly recommend Upgrade Home Services. Victor is fair, knowledgable, affordable, and provides very professional customer support.

Dawn S., Google review

Which AC brands do you install?

We install any brand you want, including Amana, Carrier, Payne, Goodman, Daikin and Mitsubishi. See a Goodman AC installation in Los Altos and a mini-split installation in Cupertino. Upgrade Home Services is a family-owned company based at 743 Ames Ave in Milpitas, licensed by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB #1066776) and serving homeowners since 2002. We work across 22 cities in Santa Clara, San Mateo and southern Alameda counties, including Milpitas, San Jose, Los Altos, Cupertino and Palo Alto.