AC repair in Midland

In Midland ZIP 79701, Oncor Electric Delivery Company delivers the power and you buy it from a retail provider you pick on PowerToChoose. Oncor runs its energy efficiency programs through independent service providers listed on its Take A Load Off Texas site whenever programs are open. Oncor isn't a party to your contract with that provider, so the warranty, price and workmanship are between you and the company you hire.

Before you sign for a new system, ask the AC company whether it is a listed provider, whether a program is open right now, and how any incentive shows up on the invoice. If nothing is open, the quote should stand on its own.

HomeGuide's national numbers make the benchmark for Midland quotes:

When a repair quote creeps toward replacement territory, get a second opinion. Texas rules bar HVAC licensees from misrepresenting the need for service or making false statements to win a contract. The Texas HVAC guide explains the rest of the price picture.

AC efficiency and refrigerant rules for Midland installs

Federal minimums put Texas in the Southeast region: a split-system central air conditioner installed on or after January 1, 2023 must reach 14.3 SEER2 if it is under 45,000 Btu/h and 13.8 SEER2 if larger. Since January 1, 2025, new residential systems must use refrigerant with a global warming potential of 700 or less, unless every component was made or imported before that date. A quote should name the SEER2 rating, the tonnage and the refrigerant, so two Midland bids compare on the same equipment.

Texas requires a TDLR license for anyone who installs, repairs or maintains air conditioning, heating or refrigeration for pay. Search the business or the person on TDLR's License Data Search. Two classes exist: Class A for any size of equipment, Class B for cooling up to 25 tons and heating up to 1.5 million BTU per hour. Getting a contractor license takes 48 months of supervised experience within 72 months, or 36 within 48 for a technician certified for a year, plus an exam.

The tech who shows up may be a registered or certified technician working under the license holder. Registered technicians can't advertise HVAC services, so a card or ad with no TACL number and no company behind it is a warning sign. Class B contractors must carry at least $100,000 per occurrence of general liability cover; Class A at least $300,000.

Replacement jobs go through PermitMidland, applied for by the owner or a licensed and bonded contractor. The permit expires if work doesn't start within 180 days of issue or stops for more than 180 days in a row. Book the install soon after the permit is issued, and ask for the permit number so you can watch the inspection status yourself.

The state license is good everywhere in Texas, and since September 1, 2021 a city can't charge a TDLR-licensed HVAC contractor a registration fee, though it can still collect permit fees. A homeowner working on a building they solely own as their home is outside the HVAC licensing law, though the city's permit rules still apply, so check them first.

If a water heater or condensate line is part of the job, you may need a plumber too; see Midland plumbers. Compare AC repair in Odessa, or read the Midland city guide for power and permit basics.