Balance Point Heating, Cooling & Plumbing provides professional air conditioning replacement in Fort Collins, Colorado. We serve homes throughout the city, from historic Old Town and the university area to the Harmony corridor, Fossil Creek, Rigden Farm, and newer communities like Bucking Horse and Jessup Farm. When your air conditioner has reached the end of its useful life, our team will help you select, size, and install the right system for your home and your budget. Every replacement includes a Manual J load calculation customized for Fort Collins’ 5,003-foot elevation, so your new system performs at peak efficiency from day one.
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AC Replacement Services We Offer in Fort Collins
When Is It Time to Replace Your AC in Fort Collins?
Fort Collins’ summer heat and semi-arid conditions put consistent demand on your air conditioner from May through September. If your system is showing any of the following signs, replacement may be the more cost-effective choice compared to ongoing repairs:
- Age: Your AC unit is 12 to 15 years old or older. Most central air conditioners have a useful life of 12 to 17 years in Fort Collins’ climate.
- Frequent repairs: You’ve needed two or more AC repairs in the past 12 months, and the costs are adding up.
- Rising energy bills: Your Fort Collins Utilities electric bills keep climbing even though your usage hasn’t changed, which signals declining system efficiency.
- Uneven cooling: Some rooms stay comfortable while others remain warm, especially in two-story homes or homes with south-facing windows along the Harmony corridor.
- R-22 refrigerant: If your system uses R-22 (Freon), the refrigerant has been phased out and is extremely expensive to recharge. Upgrading to a modern R-410A system will save you money over time.
- Swamp cooler limitations: Your evaporative cooler no longer keeps up during the July and August monsoon humidity, and you want consistent cooling regardless of weather conditions.
How We Size Your New AC for Fort Collins’ Altitude
Proper sizing is critical for AC performance and efficiency. An oversized unit will short-cycle, wasting energy and creating uneven temperatures. An undersized unit will run constantly and never fully cool your home during Fort Collins heat waves. At 5,003 feet above sea level, the thinner air affects both the cooling load and the condenser’s operating pressure, which means standard sea-level sizing calculations don’t apply directly here.
Our technicians perform a Manual J load calculation for every replacement. This assessment accounts for your home’s square footage, insulation, window orientation, ceiling height, ductwork condition, and Fort Collins’ specific altitude and climate data. The result is a precisely sized system that keeps your home comfortable without wasting energy or money.
Replacement Options for Fort Collins Homes
We install and service all major AC system types, so we can match the right solution to your home’s layout, your existing ductwork, and your budget:
- Central air conditioning: The most common choice for Fort Collins homes with existing ductwork. We install high-efficiency units rated 16 SEER and above for optimal performance at altitude.
- Heat pumps: A growing choice in Fort Collins, heat pumps provide both cooling and heating in a single system. Modern cold-climate heat pumps perform well even during Colorado winters, and Fort Collins Utilities offers incentives for heat pump installations.
- Ductless mini-splits: Ideal for older Fort Collins homes without existing ductwork, home additions, or supplementing rooms that central AC can’t reach. Ductless systems offer zoned comfort and high efficiency.
- Swamp cooler to AC conversions: We regularly help Fort Collins homeowners transition from evaporative coolers to central AC or ductless systems, including the ductwork modifications needed for the switch.
What to Expect During Your AC Replacement
Our AC replacement process is designed to be straightforward and minimally disruptive:
- Free in-home estimate: A technician visits your Fort Collins home, assesses your current system and ductwork, performs a load calculation, and presents your options with clear, upfront pricing.
- Equipment selection: We help you choose the right brand, model, and efficiency level based on your home’s needs, your comfort preferences, and your budget. We are not locked into a single brand, so we recommend what works best for you.
- Professional installation: Our licensed technicians remove your old unit, install the new system to manufacturer specifications, and test it thoroughly before leaving.
- Ductwork inspection: We inspect your existing ductwork during every replacement. Leaky or damaged ducts can waste 20 to 30% of your conditioned air, undermining the benefits of a new system.
- System commissioning and walkthrough: We walk you through your new system’s operation, thermostat settings, and recommended maintenance schedule before we leave.
Why Fort Collins Homeowners Choose Balance Point for AC Replacement
- Altitude-optimized installations: Every system we install is sized and calibrated for Fort Collins’ 5,003-foot elevation, not generic sea-level specs.
- Free same-day estimates: No pressure, no obligation. We present clear options and let you decide on your timeline.
- 0% interest financing: Our flexible financing plans make a new AC system affordable, with easy monthly payments and no interest for qualified buyers.
- Rebate assistance: We help you identify and apply for Fort Collins Utilities rebates, federal tax credits, and manufacturer promotions to lower your total cost.
- Warranty protection: Every installation includes a manufacturer warranty, and our workmanship is backed by our own satisfaction guarantee.
- Ongoing care: Our Whole Home Comfort Plan keeps your new system performing at its best with annual tune-ups, priority scheduling, and member discounts.
Frequently Asked Questions About AC Replacement in Fort Collins
How much does AC replacement cost in Fort Collins?
The cost of AC replacement in Fort Collins varies based on your home’s size, the type and efficiency of the system you choose, and whether any ductwork modifications are needed. We provide free, no-obligation in-home estimates with transparent pricing so you know the full cost upfront. We also offer 0% interest financing to help fit the investment into your budget.
What SEER rating should I choose for Fort Collins?
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) measures cooling efficiency. The federal minimum is currently 15 SEER for our region, but we generally recommend 16 SEER or higher for Fort Collins homes. Higher SEER ratings deliver greater energy savings on your Fort Collins Utilities bill, and the dry climate means your system runs frequently during peak summer, so the efficiency gains add up. Our technicians can calculate the payback period for different SEER levels based on your usage patterns.
Can I switch from a swamp cooler to central AC?
Yes, and it is one of our most common projects in Fort Collins. Many homes in Old Town, the university area, and other established neighborhoods still have swamp coolers as their primary cooling. We handle the full conversion, including installing the outdoor condenser, adding or modifying ductwork, running the refrigerant lines, and removing the old evaporative unit. The result is consistent cooling that works even during Fort Collins’ humid monsoon weeks in July and August.
How long does AC replacement take?
A standard central AC replacement (swapping an existing unit for a new one with no ductwork changes) is typically completed in one day. Swamp cooler to AC conversions or installations that require new ductwork may take two days. We work efficiently to minimize disruption and will give you a clear timeline during your estimate appointment.
Are there rebates available for a new AC in Fort Collins?
Fort Collins Utilities periodically offers rebates for high-efficiency cooling equipment, and federal tax credits may apply for qualifying systems, including heat pumps. Available programs change annually, so our team checks current incentives during your estimate and helps you take full advantage of any savings. Ask us about rebate availability when you schedule your free estimate.
Fort Collins Neighborhoods We Serve for AC Replacement
We provide AC replacement throughout Fort Collins and surrounding communities:
- Old Town and Downtown Fort Collins
- Harmony Road Corridor, Front Range Village, and Fossil Creek
- Rigden Farm, Bucking Horse, and Jessup Farm
- Campus West and the CSU University Area
- Horsetooth Hills and West Fort Collins
- Kechter, Observatory Village, and Southridge Greens
- Nearby: Timnath, Windsor, Loveland, and Wellington
Our Fort Collins office at 4730 S College Ave means fast response and local expertise. View our full service area.
Get a Free AC Replacement Estimate in Fort Collins
Ready to upgrade your home’s cooling? Call Balance Point Heating, Cooling & Plumbing at 970-345-3361 or request your free estimate online. We’ll visit your Fort Collins home, assess your needs, and present clear options with upfront pricing and flexible financing.
