HVAC Installation in Tucson, AZ
A new system here will heat from November through March and cool from April through October every year. Tell us about the house, and a licensed contractor who covers Pima County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
A system that runs nearly all year here
Cooling runs April through October in Pima County, seven months of afternoons averaging 99°F. Heat covers the other five, November through March, on nights that average 38°F. There is almost no month when the system gets a real break.
A cooling season that long makes sizing matter more than it would somewhere the system only runs a few months. A unit too big for the house short cycles and never pulls the humidity down. One sized right runs long and steady through the afternoon heat. About half of homes here heat with gas, and even a mild five-month heating season needs a furnace matched to the house, not just swapped in at whatever size was there before.
- 5 months
- November through March, your system heats
- 7 months
- April through October, it cools
- 38°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 99°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
Arizona requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors tests and licenses HVAC contractors before they can take on a job like this. The license belongs to the contractor, not to any single installation, so it tells you the person or company has met the state's standard, not that this particular job was done right.
For that, most cities and counties call for a permit from the local building office when a furnace, air conditioner or heat pump goes in, along with an inspection once the work is finished. That inspection is where the gas connections and the rest of the installation get a second set of eyes beyond the contractor doing the work.
Sources: Arizona State Legislature · Arizona Registrar of Contractors
- When should I replace my HVAC system?
- Replace it when repairs start getting frequent or the system can no longer keep up on a 99°F afternoon or a 38°F night. An aging system that struggles to hold temperature is working harder to do less, and homes here need heat or cooling all year. If your furnace or air conditioner needs a second repair in as many years, that is usually the sign to start pricing a replacement instead of another fix.
- Should I replace my furnace and air conditioner at the same time?
- If they are close in age, yes, it is worth doing together. Your furnace and air conditioner share the same blower and often the same ductwork, so pairing an old unit with a new one can mean one works against the other and wears out sooner. Replacing both also means one visit instead of two down the road. If one unit still has years left in it, a contractor can tell you whether it makes sense to wait or move on both now.
- What happens during an HVAC installation?
- A contractor removes the old equipment, sets the new furnace or air conditioner in place, and connects it to your ductwork, gas line or electrical circuit, and refrigerant lines as needed. Once it is connected, they test the system to make sure it is heating or cooling correctly and check the airflow through your existing ducts. Depending on your home, they may also need to adjust or seal ductwork so the new equipment performs the way it is supposed to. A contractor can walk you through what your specific installation will involve.