HVAC FAQ
San Antonio, TX

Common repairs run $150–$600. Capacitor replacement: $150–$250. Refrigerant recharge: $200–$400. Contactor replacement: $150–$300. Evaporator coil cleaning: $150–$250. Major repairs — compressor ($1,200–$2,500), evaporator coil replacement ($800–$1,800) — run higher. We diagnose first and give you a written price before any work starts. No surprises.

Most likely causes: low refrigerant (indicates a leak somewhere in the system), dirty evaporator or condenser coil reducing heat transfer, frozen evaporator coil from restricted airflow, failing compressor, duct leaks dumping conditioned air into your attic, or a system that's undersized for your home's square footage. Call us for same-day diagnosis — (210) 760-6407.

Short cycling — turning on and off every few minutes — is usually caused by an oversized system that reaches setpoint too quickly, low refrigerant, restricted airflow from a dirty filter, a frozen evaporator coil, or a failing thermostat. In San Antonio's humidity, short cycling also means poor moisture removal — your house stays clammy even at 73°F. Get it diagnosed before it causes compressor failure.

Yes. Call (210) 760-6407 any time for urgent situations. When your AC goes out in July heat or your heat fails during a January cold snap, we dispatch licensed technicians as quickly as possible throughout San Antonio and surrounding Bexar County communities.

12–17 years with proper annual maintenance. San Antonio's extreme heat — temperatures above 100°F are common June through August — and the 9-month cooling season accelerate wear compared to national averages. Systems without regular maintenance often fail in 10–12 years. Systems that run continuously in neglected condition sometimes fail in 7–8 years.

16 SEER2 is the sweet spot for most San Antonio homeowners — significant efficiency improvement over older 14 SEER equipment with a reasonable 4–7 year payback period. 18–20 SEER2 (Carrier Infinity series) makes sense for homes running AC 10+ hours daily all summer, particularly larger homes in Stone Oak, Shavano Park, or Alamo Heights where the dollar savings are larger. We'll run the actual payback math for your home — no guessing.

A complete replacement typically runs $4,500–$12,000 depending on system size (tonnage), efficiency rating (SEER2), and installation complexity. Carrier Performance series (16–18 SEER2): typically $5,000–$8,500. Carrier Infinity series (20+ SEER2): typically $8,000–$12,000+. We provide written quotes with no hidden costs — equipment model, labor, permit, and warranty all specified before you commit.

Manual J is the ACCA industry-standard method for calculating your home's exact cooling and heating load. It factors in square footage, insulation levels, window count and orientation, ceiling height, local climate data (San Antonio's specific degree-days), and more. Any contractor who sizes a system without Manual J is guessing — and an oversized or undersized system short-cycles, wears out faster, and can't maintain comfort or control humidity. We always do Manual J before recommending equipment.

Most residential AC replacements (same-location swap) are completed in one full day. New construction or installations requiring new ductwork may take 2 days. We provide a specific timeline in your written proposal before you commit to anything.

Carrier is our primary recommendation. Carrier systems — specifically the Performance and Infinity series — are built to handle extreme heat reliably. As a Carrier Authorized Dealer, Good Times HVAC provides the full 10-year parts warranty on Carrier equipment. The Carrier Infinity variable-speed systems also handle San Antonio's high humidity significantly better than single-stage units, which is as important as cooling capacity here.

Every 1–3 months in San Antonio — more frequently than most HVAC guides suggest, because your system runs so many more hours here. Standard 1-inch filters: monthly during peak season (April–October). 4-inch media filters: every 6–12 months. Homes with pets or allergy sufferers: more frequently. During summer when your system runs 10+ hours daily, check monthly at minimum. A clogged filter reduces airflow, causes freezing, and forces your compressor to work harder in already-extreme heat.

Three reasons that matter in San Antonio specifically: (1) Most manufacturer warranties require documented annual maintenance — skip it and you may void your warranty. (2) A dirty condenser coil (outdoor unit) can reduce efficiency by 30% and increase electrical draw — and San Antonio's caliche dust and cedar pollen clog coils faster than average. (3) Maintenance catches small problems ($150 capacitor) before they become major ones ($2,000 compressor) — and capacitors fail most often during the first extreme heat wave of summer, when technician schedules are completely full.

Yes. Good Times HVAC offers annual maintenance plans that include a spring AC tune-up before the cooling season and a fall heating inspection before winter. Plans include priority scheduling, discounted repair rates, and our 20+ point maintenance checklist. Call (210) 760-6407 or visit our maintenance plans page for current pricing.

Five highest-impact steps: (1) Set thermostat to 78°F when home, 82–85°F when away — every degree you raise the setpoint saves 4–8% on cooling costs. (2) Replace filters monthly — a clogged filter forces your system to work harder and use more electricity. (3) Seal duct leaks — leaking ductwork in 140–160°F Texas attics can waste 20–30% of conditioned air before it reaches your living spaces. (4) Install a smart thermostat with geofencing and pre-cooling before CPS Energy peak pricing hours (typically 3–7 PM in summer). (5) Schedule annual maintenance — a dirty condenser coil can reduce efficiency by 30%, costing you every month the problem persists.

Search the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation at tdlr.texas.gov. Every licensed HVAC contractor in Texas holds a TACL (Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor) license. Good Times HVAC holds TACLA154716E — verify it directly on the TDLR website. Never let an unlicensed contractor touch your HVAC system; illegal installation voids your equipment warranty and creates liability if something goes wrong.

TACLA is the license type — Texas Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License, issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The number 154716E is our specific license identifier. This license is required by Texas law for any contractor performing HVAC work, and it verifies that the contractor has met the state's training, testing, and insurance requirements. You can verify any TACL license at tdlr.texas.gov.

A TACL license is a state government requirement — it's the legal minimum to perform HVAC work in Texas. Carrier Authorized Dealer is a manufacturer certification — it means the contractor has completed Carrier's training programs and meets their standards for installation quality and customer service. The Authorized Dealer status also unlocks the full 10-year parts warranty for customers; systems installed by non-authorized contractors receive reduced warranty coverage. Good Times HVAC holds both.

Good Times HVAC is owned and operated by Jimmy Crenshaw (owner) and Austin Privett (operations), serving the San Antonio area. Jimmy has been in the HVAC industry for over two decades. Austin Privett handles operations, scheduling, and customer follow-up. You'll often get one of them directly when you call, not a call center.

Yes — especially for installations. Get at least 3 quotes. When comparing, make sure each specifies: exact equipment model and efficiency rating (SEER2), what's included in the price (permits, thermostat, refrigerant, hauling old equipment), whether Manual J sizing was performed, and the warranty terms. Low-ball quotes typically mean wrong-size equipment, unlicensed labor, excluded permit fees, or non-authorized dealer installs that reduce your warranty from 10 years to 5.

We serve San Antonio and surrounding communities throughout the region, including: Stone Oak, Alamo Heights, Helotes, Schertz, New Braunfels, Boerne, Cibolo, Universal City, Live Oak, Converse, Leon Valley, Shavano Park, Terrell Hills, Castle Hills, Windcrest, Selma, Bulverde, Spring Branch, Pleasanton, and Seguin. Not sure if we cover your area? Call (210) 760-6407 — if you're within driving distance of San Antonio, we'll let you know.

Yes. Good Times HVAC is a Carrier Authorized Dealer, which means our technicians have completed Carrier's manufacturer training and we meet Carrier's standards for installation quality, customer service, and parts access. This authorization allows us to provide the full Carrier 10-year parts warranty on qualifying equipment installed by our team. We handle warranty registration for you at time of installation.