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Sizing a central AC system here starts with what the house demands, not with a weather file that forces the contractor's hand. 63 severe weather events were recorded in Andrews County, Texas between 2015 and 2024. At roughly one severe weather event every couple of months on average, that record sits low enough that it does not drive the core decisions a contractor makes when quoting an installation. Duct routing, load calculation, and the condition of existing electrical service are where the real variables live in Andrews County. A contractor who accounts for those gets the unit right; one who skips them does not, whatever the weather outside.
Ductwork sized and routed for older equipment does not automatically carry a modern central AC system, and that mismatch is where most of the real work in an Andrews County installation lives. Half the homes in Andrews County, Texas were built in 1983 or earlier (2020-2024 ACS 5-year). A house built in that period was wired and ducted for the technology available then, and a contractor installing a new system has to confirm whether the existing trunk lines and branch runs will move the volume of air the new unit demands. If they will not, the installation scope expands before the new equipment ever gets set. The electrical service gets the same scrutiny.
What a Central AC System Includes
The outdoor condenser unit sits outside the house, usually beside the foundation, and holds the compressor and condenser coil. Inside, the air handler or furnace cabinet stands in a utility closet, basement, or attic and holds the evaporator coil that pulls heat from the air. Together these two cabinets are what a new central AC installation puts in place.
The thermostat mounts on an interior wall and is the control point the homeowner uses every day. A refrigerant line set runs between the outdoor and indoor units, and a condensate drain line carries moisture from the evaporator coil out of the house.
The drawing shows a typical layout, and a licensed contractor determines what fits the specifics of your home.
Get matched in Andrews CountyAndrews County, by the numbers
63 severe weather events were recorded in Andrews County, Texas between 2015 and 2024.
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, bulk CSV export, events 2015-01-01 through 2024-12-31.Half the homes in Andrews County, Texas were built in 1983 or earlier (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesAndrews County, Texas holds 7,153 housing units (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesOwners occupy 78.5% of the occupied homes in Andrews County, Texas (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesCodes & Standards Governing Central AC Installation in Andrews County, Texas9 sourced rules and standards
What the Installation Actually Looks Like
Split-system central air conditioners rated below 45,000 Btu/h manufactured on or after January 1, 2023 must meet a federal minimum of 13.4 SEER2.
Split-system central air conditioners rated at or above 45,000 Btu/h manufactured on or after January 1, 2023 must meet a federal minimum of 13.4 SEER2.
Split-system central air conditioners manufactured between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2022 had to meet 13 SEER, the metric that preceded SEER2.
Single-package central air conditioners manufactured on or after January 1, 2023 must meet a federal minimum of 13.4 SEER2.
Space-constrained central air conditioners manufactured on or after January 1, 2023 must meet a federal minimum of 11.7 SEER2.
Federal efficiency standards for split-system central air conditioners and heat pumps are set on each certified combination of outdoor unit and indoor coil rather than on the outdoor unit alone.
Residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump systems assembled in the field, including mini-splits and unitary systems, may not be installed on or after January 1, 2025 using a refrigerant with a global warming potential above 700.
A field-assembled system whose specified components were all manufactured or imported before January 1, 2025 carries no installation compliance date under the refrigerant restrictions and may still be installed.
Licensing Rules for Andrews County, Texas
In Texas a person may not engage in air conditioning and refrigeration contracting unless that person holds a license issued under the state air conditioning and refrigeration contractor law.
Severe Weather Events in Andrews County
Extreme weather puts real hours on HVAC equipment, and Andrews County's climate is the baseline any installed system has to hold up against. What the chart below records is workload history, and workload history is what shapes the right equipment choice for this area.
63 severe weather events, 2015–2024. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database.