HVAC Installation in San Francisco, CA
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San Francisco asks for heat more than cold
Winter nights here average 45°F from December through February, and homes need heat from November through May, seven months of the year. That's a long stretch for a furnace to carry, and it means the system spends more time heating than doing anything else.
Cooling barely enters into it. Summer afternoons average 70°F, mild enough that most homes here get by without air conditioning at all. If you're installing new, size the equipment for the heating load first. Whatever you put in should also meet the federal minimum efficiency rating for the type you choose, since anything sold and installed today has to clear that bar.
- 7 months
- November through May, your system heats
- 45°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 70°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
California requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The license sits with the contractor, not the job. California's Contractors State License Board tests and records the person or company, and that record follows them from one house to the next, not from one installation to the next.
For a heating and cooling system installation, most cities and counties require a permit from the local building office, and an inspection once the work is done. The permit and inspection are separate from the license. They check that this particular job was done to code, in this particular house.
Sources: California Legislative Counsel · Contractors State License Board
- When should I replace my HVAC system?
- Replace it when repairs keep coming or the system can't keep up anymore, not just because it's old. A furnace that short cycles, one that can't hold the house at 45°F nights without running constantly, or a unit needing a second repair in a year or two is telling you something. If it's the original system in the house and parts are getting harder to find, that's another sign. A contractor can look at the actual unit and tell you whether the next repair is worth it or not.
- Should I replace my furnace and air conditioner at the same time?
- Most homes here don't have central air to begin with, since cooling isn't needed in this climate. If your home only has a furnace, there's no reason to add air conditioning just because the furnace is due. Some homes do have a heat pump or AC paired with the furnace, and in that case, replacing both together can make sense if they share ductwork and controls. A contractor can tell you whether your setup calls for that or whether the furnace can be swapped on its own.
- What happens during an HVAC installation?
- A contractor removes the old furnace or system, checks the ductwork and venting, and sets the new unit in place. They connect the gas line, the electrical, and the vent, then run the system through its paces to check the ignition, the airflow, and the thermostat response. If ductwork needs sealing or a vent needs updating to meet code, that gets handled during the same visit. In California, the contractor doing this work has to hold a license from the Contractors State License Board, so it's worth confirming that before the work starts.