Aircon installer pricing in San Francisco

Per-hour EPA-certified labor: $95-$185 for mid-SF, $145-$310+ for Pacific Heights, Sea Cliff, Presidio Heights, Russian Hill. Per-system install: heat pump (cooling + heating) $9,000-$22,000; mini-split single zone $4,500-$15,000; multi-zone (3-5 indoor units) $15,000-$50,000; Pacific Heights zoned multi-stage $22,000-$85,000. State CSLB C-20 and EPA Section 608 numbers on every quote.

Yes, both, plus $25,000 surety bond and CA ARB compliance. CSLB C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning license for any AC work over $500. Federal EPA Section 608 certification (Type I, II, III, or Universal) for any refrigerant handling. Print all numbers on every quote and invoice.

Yes, SF mild marine climate (summers often 60-70F, rare freeze in winter) makes heat pumps highly efficient year-round. Cooling load is minimal for most homes (especially western fog belt); heating load is mild. Quote heat-pump as default residential standard ($9,000-$22,000 per single-family home). Provides cooling for occasional eastern SF heat waves and heating for mild winters. SGIP rebate ($3,000-$8,000) and federal ITC apply.

Mini-split is the dominant solution. Pre-1920 Edwardian flats almost never have ductwork. Quote single-zone $4,500-$15,000, multi-zone (3-5 indoor units) $15,000-$50,000. Daikin Quaternity, Mitsubishi Hyper-Heat, Fujitsu Halcyon HFI proven for SF mild climate; lower-cost models suffice given minimal cooling load. Often paired with 200A electrical service upgrade.

Yes, fast-growing market driven by CA wildfire smoke (August-October from Northern CA and OR fires). Quote whole-home HEPA filtration retrofit ($1,500-$5,500 per system) as upsell on every new HVAC install. SF Public Health Department Spare The Air alerts during 2018 + 2020 wildfire seasons drove sustained demand.

Wall-split installations run roughly $300-500 per kW installed. A 5kW unit fully installed is $1,800-3,200; a 12kW multi-head system is $5,000-9,000. Ducted systems run $700-1,200 per kW because of the ducting work.

Heat-load rule of thumb: 0.15kW per square metre in moderate climates, 0.20kW in hot climates. A 25sqm bedroom needs 4-5kW; a 50sqm open-plan needs 7-9kW. Over-sized units short-cycle and waste energy; under-sized never cool the room. Insist on a heat-load calc for any install over $3,000.

For installs over $2,000, get 2-3 quotes. Compare brand, capacity, warranty, refrigerant type, and install detail. The cheapest quote often uses budget brands with 3-year warranties vs branded units with 5-7 year warranties for 10-20% more.

Wall splits are individual units, cheaper, easier to install, each room independent. Ducted is one outdoor unit with hidden roof-space ducting to all rooms, more expensive but cleaner aesthetic and centralised control. Wall splits cost half what ducted does for the same total kW.

A standard 5kW wall-split install is 4-6 hours for a 2-person team. Multi-head and ducted systems take 2-3 days. Larger commercial or ceiling-cassette installs take 4-5 days.