Overhead view of a gray residential air conditioning condenser unit mounted on a concrete pad beside a house with asphalt shingle roofing.

AC Installation in Silverthorne, CO

Tell us about the house, and a licensed contractor who covers Summit County will get in touch.

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Step 1 of 3: Equipment

What kind of equipment?*

An overhead view of a residential air conditioning condenser unit mounted on a concrete pad next to a house with vinyl siding.

Silverthorne summers don't ask much of an air conditioner

Summer afternoons here average 68°F. An air conditioner sitting on that kind of load isn't working hard most days it runs.

What it does have to hold up against is weather, not heat. The county has logged 42 damaging wind events and hail up to 0.75 inches over the past ten years. The outdoor unit needs to take that without its coil or fan getting torn up. Any new central air system installed today also has to meet the federal minimum of 13.4 SEER2, so that part is set no matter who installs it.

68°F: the average summer afternoon it cools against
1 hail events: in ten years, and hail bends the fins on outdoor coils
13.4 SEER2: the federal minimum any new unit must meet

Isometric line illustration of a cutaway house showing an indoor air handler with branching ducts in the attic space, connected by a line set to an outdoor condenser unit beside the building, with simple furniture in two rooms.

An outdoor air conditioning condenser unit on a concrete pad next to the gray vinyl siding of a residential home.

Going above the federal minimum saves little here, about $0 a year.

A new unit at the federal minimum, 13.4 SEER2$0 a year
A higher-efficiency unit$0 a year

Estimates for a typical Summit County home, from EIA household energy data, Colorado fuel prices and NOAA climate normals. Your home will differ.

What size air conditioner does my house need?: The right size comes from a load calculation, not the square footage of your house alone. A contractor looks at your insulation, your windows, and how much shade your house gets before landing on a number. Summers here run mild, with afternoons averaging 68°F, so an oversized unit is a real risk in this climate. It will short cycle, cooling the air quickly but shutting off before it pulls the humidity out.
Should I replace the whole system or just the outdoor unit?: If your outdoor unit fails but the indoor coil and furnace are still in good shape and reasonably new, replacing just the outdoor unit can work. The catch is matching. An old indoor coil paired with a new outdoor unit can run at lower efficiency than either part is rated for on its own, and some combinations will not work together at all. A contractor can look at the age and condition of both halves and tell you whether they will pair well or whether replacing both makes more sense.
Do HVAC contractors in Silverthorne need a state license to work on my home?: Ask any contractor for their license and insurance information before they start, and confirm they pull the permit the work requires. A licensed, insured contractor is accountable if something goes wrong with the installation. A contractor working in Silverthorne can tell you exactly what license and permit rules apply to your job.

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