You are choosing an air conditioning company for a Westside house that needs a new system, and the first thing to know is that the house decides the job. Westside AirCon Services installs central air and ductless systems across Culver City, Mar Vista, Palms, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Venice. To get a walk-through on the calendar, ask for the written install quote and tell us what you have now.
What sets the price of your install
A full central air install has no single number, because two houses on the same street can need very different work. The written quote lists each item, so you can see where the total came from. Here is what moves it.
| Item | What moves it |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Single-stage, two-stage or variable-speed, and the size the load calculation calls for |
| Ducts | Sound ducts get sealed and reused. Undersized runs get reworked, and that adds labor |
| Condenser spot | Rear pad, side yard, roof or balcony. Tight access changes the hours |
| Electrical | Breaker, disconnect and wiring, and whether the panel can take the new load |
| Permit and testing | The permit, plus duct sealing and a leakage test where the scope calls for them |
If the house cannot take ducts, the install is ductless, and those jobs have clearer ranges. A single-zone ductless system for one room runs $3,500 to $5,800 installed, depending on BTU capacity and wall penetration. Multi-zone setups for three to four rooms start around $11,500 and climb based on line-set length and how many indoor heads you need. See our ductless mini split service for the full picture.
Central air or ductless, house by house
We do not start from a product. We start from what the building can carry, and we look before anything is ordered.
- A bungalow built before central air was standard. There may be no duct path at all. Opening walls to add one may make no sense, so the plan usually turns to ductless heads, with a small wall penetration for each line set.
- A Mar Vista tract house with an attic. The attic and crawlspace get checked for existing duct runs. Where they are sound, central air is a straight swap. Where they are undersized, the quote prices the fix as its own line.
- A room addition, a converted garage or a detached studio. These were added after the house was built and may be cut off from the main ducts. A ductless head serves one space without touching the rest.
- A condo or an apartment. The building sets the rules, which is covered below.
Every AC installation gets a load calculation matched to the house, a written scope and a startup test before we call the job done. The crew walks you through the running system, so you see it work before they leave.
Condo and apartment installs: who signs off
In the Culver City condos and the apartment buildings across West LA, the outdoor unit does not go up until the property manager or HOA agrees on where it sits and how it is screened. We handle that paperwork as part of the install scope, so you are not the go-between.
Tell us in the request whether the building has a board and whether the balcony, wall or roof is available. If a ducted system cannot work in the unit, the quote says so and prices the ductless option beside it. You can compare both numbers on one sheet.
Permits and testing on the quote
Replacing an AC or ductwork in California is permitted work. In Mar Vista, Palms, West Los Angeles and Venice the permit comes from LADBS. Santa Monica and Culver City each run their own building and safety division. Your quote names the permit that applies to your address.
Title 24 Part 6 can require duct sealing and a duct leakage test on a change-out or duct work, verified by a third-party HERS rater who is not the installer, depending on the scope. New residential split systems are now built around lower-GWP A2L refrigerants such as R-454B or R-32, and efficiency is rated in SEER2. Natural gas here is SoCalGas. Power is LADWP in Los Angeles neighborhoods and SCE in Santa Monica, and Culver City is mostly SCE with LADWP for a portion.
If your old unit might still be fixable, say so. We look at it first and tell you plainly whether repair or replacement is the better spend, and our AC repair service covers the first case.
Questions before you hire
Can you quote a house that has never had central air?
Yes. We look at the attic and crawlspace for duct runs, then write the quote for central air or for ductless heads, whichever the house can carry. Both can sit side by side on the same sheet if you want to compare.
Do you handle the HOA approval for the outdoor unit?
Yes. We coordinate with the property manager or HOA on placement and screening, and that work is part of the install scope in the quote.
Will the quote show where the money goes?
Yes. The equipment, labor, permit, electrical and any duct work are separate lines. You get it in writing before any work starts.
How soon can someone come out?
We answer around the clock, so call and we will find a time that suits you. The walk-through comes before the quote, and the quote comes before any equipment is ordered.
Book your install visit
Send the form above with your street and a line about the house, or call (877) 360-6719 and ask for an install walk-through. We will measure what is there and write the quote before any work begins.
Need Professional HVAC Service?
Our HVAC-experienced technicians are ready to help with all your AC and heating needs. Contact Westside AirCon Services today for expert service throughout the the Culver City Corridor service area.
