Your system is 12-15+ years old
Coastal Virginia is hard on outdoor equipment. Salt air, humidity, and hurricane-season debris shorten the life of a condenser. Past fifteen years, repair money starts working against you.
New AC installation & replacement
AC replacement and installation in Hampton Roads.
Whether you’re replacing a system that’s finished or adding central air for the first time, we size it for your home with a load calculation and install it so it performs the way it’s rated to.
- Serving Hampton Roads since 2003
- 20+ years experience
- Master HVAC licensed
- Master Gas licensed
- Class A contractor
- Financing available
Before you replace anything
Make sure your AC is actually done.
Before we quote any system, we find out what actually failed. Sometimes that’s a repair that buys you five more seasons. Sometimes it’s a duct problem a new condenser wouldn’t have fixed. And sometimes the answer is yes, it’s time, with a straight explanation of why.
Not sure it’s dead? Start with AC repair
Five signs it’s actually time.
Here are some common signs, what they usually mean, and when it’s time to replace.
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It runs on R-22 refrigerant
Production ended in 2020. These systems can still be serviced, but refrigerant costs have climbed steeply, which changes the math on any leak repair. If your unit predates 2010, it’s worth checking.
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You’ve paid for two or more repairs in the last two years
One repair is maintenance. A pattern is a system telling you something.
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The compressor has failed
This is the expensive one. On an older system, that repair often costs enough that putting it toward a new system is the better use of the money. We’ll show you both numbers.
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Your bills climb every summer while the house gets less comfortable
Efficiency losses are gradual and easy to miss. If you’re paying more to be less comfortable, the system is working harder to do less.
Replacement Path
Should you replace it with the same thing?
This depends on your ductwork, fuel costs, and how long you’re staying. Many Hampton Roads homes on a straight AC and gas furnace would do better with a heat pump, one system for both. Others should keep the furnace. We’ll walk you through the real comparison instead of quoting whatever you already had.
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View systems we installKeep your furnace
New AC only
Keeps your existing furnace and ductwork. Lower up-front cost. Makes sense when your heating equipment is newer and working well.
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Switch to heat pump installationReplace both
Switch to a heat pump
One system, heating and cooling, often lower operating cost in this climate. Makes sense when the furnace is aging too, or you’re on expensive fuel.
What We Install
New systems we install.
We install and service every major brand, and we’ve had our hands inside all of them for two decades. That matters more than which logo is on the cabinet. We’re not a franchise working off one manufacturer’s quota. Our recommendation comes from what actually holds up in this climate.
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Straight air conditioning
New condenser and evaporator coil, keeping your existing furnace or air handler.
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Complete split systems
Outdoor and indoor units replaced as a matched set, usually the right call when both are aging.
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Matched-system installation
Pairing components properly so the system performs the way its ratings promise. Mismatched equipment is one of the most common reasons a new AC underdelivers.
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First-time AC installation
Adding central air to a home that’s never had it, or cooling an addition. We’ll assess ductwork, electrical service, and whether ductless would serve you better.
Our Brands
Brands we install and service
Load calculation & sizing
Sized for your house, not the old sticker.
A lot of new systems are sized by reading the sticker on the old unit and ordering the same tonnage. That’s a guess, and it inherits whatever was wrong with the original install.
We run a load calculation instead: square footage, insulation, windows, ductwork, how your house is actually built.
Our Process
What’s included, start to finish.
Every replacement includes all of it. No line items that show up later as extras.
Before we order anything
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We measure the house
Not the sticker on your old unit. Square footage, insulation, windows, ductwork.
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We pull the permit
Filed with the city, inspection scheduled, and we’re there when the inspector is.
The day it goes in
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We haul the old one off
Old equipment out, loaded up, and disposed of properly. Nothing left in your yard, garage, or crawlspace.
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We install and verify
Set, connected, charged. Then we confirm the charge and check airflow at the registers.
Before we pull out
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We register the warranty
Filed with the manufacturer on day one, so the coverage is there if you ever need it.
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We walk you through it
How to run it, what it needs, and your questions answered before we leave.
SEER2, plainly
What efficiency ratings actually mean.
SEER2 tells you how much cooling a system produces for the electricity it uses. Higher is more efficient, and more efficient costs more up front, but the highest-rated system isn’t automatically the right one. A high-efficiency unit on leaky ductwork in an under-insulated house won’t deliver the savings on its label, and the payback on jumping from mid-tier to top-tier can run longer than you plan to stay in the house.
So we’ll show you the real operating-cost difference for your home and your ductwork, and let you decide where the money does the most good. Sometimes that’s a better system. Sometimes it’s a mid-tier system and fixing the ducts.
Testimonials
Hear from our customers.
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Mike was very professional and thorough throughout the entire process. Haven’t felt with any HVAC service before Ductman and will never choose anything else now. Thank you for a great experience.
Robert Clark
Google review
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Everyone was respectful, a pleasure to work with, and they got the job done in a timely fashion with a great quality of work. My house heats even better now than before. 10/10 I absolutely recommend them.
James Maurmeier
Google review
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Furnace went out on what seems like the coldest day so far this year. Chris answered our call and promptly sent out a technician to review the issue and provide an estimate. They were able to order and install the part quickly for a reasonable price. I would definitely call them again if we had another HVAC issue.
Charisse
Google review
Our Work
Recent work
View Case Study : Matched split system, 1980s ranchMatched split system, 1980s ranch
View Case Study : Central air added to a 1940s bungalowCentral air added to a 1940s bungalow
View Case Study : Oversized unit right-sized after load calcOversized unit right-sized after load calc
Financing & Payment
A new system is rarely a purchase anyone planned for. Financing is available, and we offer a cash discount if you’d rather not finance. We’ll lay out both so you can see the real difference.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does a new AC system cost?
It depends on the size of your home, the type of system, the condition of your ductwork, and the efficiency level you choose. We give you the numbers in writing after we’ve looked at your house, not over the phone, because a phone estimate is a guess.
How do I know if I need a new AC or just a repair?
Before we quote any system, we find out what actually failed. One sign on its own isn’t a verdict; two or three together usually is: an age of 12-15+ years, R-22 refrigerant, repeated repairs, a failed compressor, or bills that climb while comfort drops.
Do I have to replace the indoor unit too?
Not always. A straight AC replacement swaps the condenser and evaporator coil and keeps your furnace or air handler. When both are aging, replacing them as a matched set is usually the right call. Mismatched equipment is one of the most common reasons a new AC underdelivers.
Can I get a new AC and keep my furnace?
Yes. Replacing just the AC keeps your existing furnace and ductwork, at a lower up-front cost. It makes sense when your heating equipment is newer and working well; if the furnace is aging too, a heat pump may be the better option.
Can you add central air to a house that’s never had it?
Yes. We assess your ductwork, electrical service, and whether ductless would serve you better before recommending a system.
What size air conditioner do I need?
We run a load calculation (square footage, insulation, windows, ductwork, how your house is actually built) instead of copying the tonnage on your old unit.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. Financing is available, and we offer a cash discount if you’d rather not finance. We’ll lay out both so you can see the real difference.
Get Started
Let’s find out what your system actually needs.
Whether that turns out to be a repair, a new system, or a duct problem nobody’s mentioned yet, you’ll get a straight answer and your options in plain English.