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A contractor quoting a central AC installation in Houston County has to settle the sizing question before anything else, and that means understanding what the equipment will actually run against. 77 severe weather events were recorded in Houston County, Texas between 2015 and 2024. At that rate, severe weather lands here from time to time but does not define how a system spends most of its hours. The real load on a central AC unit here comes from summer heat and how well the original install matched the house, which is why duct configuration and equipment selection drive the quote more than storm exposure does.
Ductwork laid in for older equipment carries assumptions about airflow that a new central AC system may not share. Half the homes in Houston County, Texas were built in 1981 or earlier (2020-2024 ACS 5-year). A contractor sizing and placing a new unit here has to assess whether the existing duct layout can deliver what the new system needs, or whether sections have to be rerun before the equipment is ever connected. That assessment drives the quote more than the unit itself does.
What a Central AC System Includes
The indoor air handler sits inside the house, usually in a utility closet, attic, or basement, and it holds the evaporator coil that pulls heat out of the air moving through it. The outdoor condenser unit sits on a concrete pad beside the house and carries the compressor and condenser coil. Those two units are the core of what a contractor installs.
A refrigerant line set runs between the indoor and outdoor units, carrying refrigerant back and forth through copper tubing. A condensate drain line runs from the air handler to a floor drain or outside, removing the moisture the coil pulls from the air. The thermostat on the wall ties the whole system together, signaling when to run and when to stop.
The drawing shows a typical layout, and a licensed contractor determines what applies to your specific house.
Get matched in Houston CountyHouston County by the Numbers
77 severe weather events were recorded in Houston 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 Houston County, Texas were built in 1981 or earlier (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesHouston County, Texas holds 10,837 housing units (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesOwners occupy 70.6% of the occupied homes in Houston County, Texas (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesRules & Standards Governing Central AC Installation in Houston 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 and Legal Requirements in Houston 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 Houston County
Houston County's climate puts real stress on cooling equipment, and that stress accumulates over time. How hard a system has to work, and how long it holds up, is a local question shaped by local conditions.
77 severe weather events, 2015–2024. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database.