The technician just told you the compressor is on its way out. Or maybe nobody had to tell you: the system is 18 years old, it runs all afternoon without catching up, and this is the third repair since last June. At some point you stop asking how to fix it and start asking what to replace it with. That’s a good question, and it deserves more than a quick guess off the old unit’s nameplate.
Bruce Solomon Plumbing, Heating & Air installers put in new central air and ductless systems for homes across Randallstown, MD 21133. We size every system to the house, check the ducts it will depend on, and install equipment from LG and Mitsubishi.
What Goes Into a New AC Installation
Air conditioning installation is the process of removing an old cooling system and putting in a new one that is sized, connected and tested for a specific home. Around Randallstown, that job falls to the Solomon family’s company, in business since 1984, whose installers bring a decade or more of hands-on work to every changeout.
The equipment matters, but the installation matters more. A premium air conditioner installed at the wrong size, on leaky ducts, with the wrong refrigerant charge, will disappoint you. A well-matched system installed carefully will run quietly and hold humidity down for years.
Sizing Your System: Why We Start With a Load Calculation
The most common installation mistake is simple. Somebody looks at the old unit, sees “3 ton,” and puts in another 3-ton unit. But the old system may have been wrong from day one, and the house has probably changed since then. New windows, added insulation, a finished basement or an addition all change how much cooling a home needs.
Manual J, in plain English
A Manual J load calculation is the industry method for figuring out how much heat a house gains in summer. It looks at square footage, insulation, window size and direction, air leakage, and how the home sits on the lot. The answer tells us what size system you really need.
Why size matters so much in Maryland
An oversized AC cools the house fast and shuts off before it has pulled much moisture from the air. You end up cool and clammy. An undersized one runs nonstop on the hottest days and never quite gets there. Right-sizing is how you get both comfort and humidity control through a Randallstown summer. It also helps the equipment last. A system that runs in steady, longer cycles puts less wear on the compressor than one that starts and stops a dozen times an hour. When we’re done with the calculation, we’ll show you the numbers and explain what drove them, so you’re not just taking our word for it.
Central Air Installation in 21133: Ducts and Layout
A new condenser is only as good as the ductwork it pushes air through. Plenty of homes here date from the Eisenhower years through the early Clinton era, and some ducts are original. Before we recommend equipment, we look at them for leaks, crushed runs and returns that are too small. If they need work, repairing and sealing the ducts is often part of the plan.
Split-levels and bi-levels
Layouts in neighborhoods like Foxridge and Woodlands bring their own challenge. In these multi-level floor plans, cool air tends to pool on the lower floors while the bedrooms up top stay warm. A single thermostat can’t read both. Options include:
- Zoning, with dampers that send more air where it’s needed
- Duct changes to improve airflow to the upper level
- A ductless unit for the one room that never cools down
Pairing with your furnace
Your air conditioner shares the blower and indoor coil with the furnace, so the two need to match. If your furnace is also getting up there in years, replacing both together can make sense. Here’s more on furnace installation for Randallstown homes if you’re weighing both at once.
Refrigerants and Efficiency: What’s Changed
If your current unit was installed before about 2010, it very likely uses R-22. That refrigerant is obsolete, and new supplies are no longer made. It’s one of the biggest reasons older systems get harder to keep running and why a leak on an R-22 system often tips the decision toward replacement.
New systems use newer refrigerants with lower global warming potential, such as R-454B or R-32. They can’t simply be poured into an old system, which means a new outdoor unit usually calls for a matched indoor coil and clean, properly sized refrigerant lines.
Efficiency is now rated in SEER2, an updated testing standard. A higher SEER2 number means less electricity for the same cooling. We’ll show you where the practical sweet spot is for how you use your home, instead of steering you to the biggest number on the brochure.
LG, Mitsubishi and Ductless Options
We install two lines we trust. LG builds top-tier, premium equipment with quiet inverter-driven compressors that ramp up and down rather than slamming on and off. Mitsubishi is well known for ductless mini splits and for systems that keep running efficiently across a wide range of temperatures.
Ductless systems are a strong choice for finished basements, sunrooms, garage conversions and additions that were never tied into the main ducts. Many of them also heat. If a system for both seasons interests you, read about heat pump options in Randallstown. If repair still makes sense for your current unit, we’ll say so, and our AC repair team in Randallstown can take care of it. Selling you equipment you don’t need isn’t how we work.
How Installation Day Goes
Our crew arrives when we said we would, slips on shoe covers, and protects the floors along the path to your equipment. The old unit comes out, the new equipment goes in, and the refrigerant lines are pressure tested and evacuated before the system is charged. Then we run it, measure temperatures and airflow, confirm the condensate drain carries water away properly, and show you how to run the new thermostat and change the filter. We’ll also point out the outdoor disconnect and show you how much clearance to keep around the condenser, which matters on the shaded, leafy lots so common in Baltimore County. Trucks are fully stocked, so there’s no running back to a supply house mid-job, and the area is cleaned before we leave.
A new system is a big decision, and plenty of families spread it out. If spreading it out would help, you can pay over time with approved credit. And before you commit, it’s worth reading feedback from local customers who went through a replacement with us. Once your new equipment is running, our broader air conditioning services in Randallstown, including yearly maintenance plans, keep it that way.
Before You Replace Your AC: FAQs
How do I know if I should repair or replace my air conditioner?
Replace it when repairs are frequent, the system uses R-22, or it can no longer keep the house comfortable. If it’s younger and the fix is a single worn part, repair usually makes more sense, and we’ll tell you which one we’d choose.
What size AC do I need for my house?
The right size comes from a Manual J load calculation, not from square footage alone or the old unit’s label. It accounts for insulation, windows, layout and air leakage in your specific home.
How long does central air installation take?
A simple like-for-like swap usually wraps up between breakfast and dinner. Adding zoning, reworking ducts or pairing it with a new furnace adds time, and you’ll know the schedule before we start.
Can I add AC to a room that doesn’t have ducts?
Yes. A ductless mini split mounts on the wall with a small outdoor unit and cools that room on its own thermostat.
Schedule an In-Home AC Consultation
We’ll measure your home, look at the ducts and talk through options with you at the kitchen table. Schedule an in-home AC consultation by calling (410) 833-2188, or book your consultation online and we’ll confirm a time.
Caring Technicians
Our technicians know how to treat your home with respect. We come prepared with booties and drop cloths to protect your home.
Always On Time
Your time is very important to us. We strive to show up at your home when we say we will fully equipped for the job.
We Focus On You
You're our first priority! We will not leave you to service a new or bigger job. We focus on outstanding customer service!
Locally Owned
We don't just work here, we live here, too! We know all of the homes in the areas we serve and are familiar with your home's model.