New AC Not Cooling It Anymore? We Can Fix That.
When your air conditioner’s on its last leg — or already gone — you don’t have a lot of patience for runaround. Steve’s has been installing heating and cooling systems in the Kansas City metro since 1979, and a new AC install is one of the most common calls we get once the weather turns. We’ll come out, look at your actual home (not just quote a number over the phone), and walk you through what size unit you need and what it’s going to run you. No surprises when the invoice shows up.
Call (816) 436-8475 for a free quote, or fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you same day.
We’ve Been Doing This Since 1979
A lot of companies showed up in the last five years chasing the HVAC boom. We were already here before most of them were born. That matters when it comes to installation — sizing a system wrong is the single most common mistake in this business, and it’s the one that costs you the most over the life of the unit. Too big and it short-cycles, never dehumidifies right, and wears out early. Too small and it runs constantly trying to keep up on the hottest days of the year. We size every install based on a real load calculation for your house, not a rule of thumb based on square footage.
We’re also an authorized American Standard dealer, which means the equipment we install is backed by both the manufacturer’s warranty and our own workmanship guarantee — not just whatever brand happened to be cheapest that week.
AC Installation Across the Kansas City Metro
We’ve installed AC systems all over this area since 1979, and every neighborhood
throws us something different. Overland Park’s a mix of older ranch homes with undersized ductwork sitting right next to newer builds that just need a straightforward swap. Lenexa’s had so much new construction over the last several years that a good chunk of our calls out there are first-time installs on systems barely out of warranty.
Prairie Village and parts of Riverside run older, so we’re often modifying duct runs or upsizing returns just to get a new unit to perform the way the spec sheet says it should. Liberty and Gladstone tend toward bigger lots and bigger systems — sometimes zoned, which changes how we size things. North Kansas City’s got a fair number of older multi-family and duplex properties where access is half the job. And out in Platte City we’re covering more rural property — longer line sets, and sometimes well water that affects how we set up the condensate line. Different homes, different fixes, but it’s all in a day’s drive for us.
How Much Does a New AC Installation Cost in Kansas City?
Most full AC installations we do in the metro run somewhere between $9,000-12,000 depending on the size of the home, the tonnage needed, and whether your ductwork needs any work done to it. That’s a wide range on purpose — the number changes a lot based on things like whether we’re replacing a like-for-like system versus upsizing, whether your electrical panel needs any modification, and how much attic or crawlspace access we’re dealing with. We’ll give you an exact number after we’ve actually looked at the job, not a phone estimate. We also offer flexible payment and financing options if you need to spread the cost out — ask us about it when we come out for the quote.
Getting the Right Size System for Your Home
Bigger isn’t better when it comes to air conditioning — it’s actually one of the more expensive mistakes homeowners make without realizing it. An oversized unit cools the air fast but shuts off before it’s pulled the humidity out of the room, so the house feels clammy even though the thermostat says it’s cool. It also cycles on and off more, which wears out the compressor faster. We run a proper load calculation on every install — square footage, insulation, window exposure, ductwork condition, all of it — so you get a system sized for your actual house, not a generic number.
What’s Included When You Install With Us
A new AC installation from Steve’s isn’t just a box swapped out in the backyard. We handle the full job — removing and disposing of your old unit, running or modifying line sets and ductwork as needed, setting up the new thermostat, and testing the whole system under load before we leave to make sure it’s actually cooling the way it should, not just running. If your ductwork’s undersized or leaky (common in a lot of the older homes we work on in Prairie Village, Riverside, and parts of KCK), we’ll flag that during the quote — patching that up front saves you from a system that never performs to spec no matter how good the unit is.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a new AC installation take?
Most straightforward replacements take a single day — usually 4 to 8 hours depending on access and whether any ductwork needs modification. If we’re adding zoning or doing significant ductwork, it can stretch to two days.
Do I need a permit to install a new AC unit in Kansas City?
In most cases, yes — Kansas City and the surrounding municipalities require a permit for AC replacement, especially if there’s any electrical or ductwork change involved. We pull the permit as part of the job, so it’s one less thing on your plate.
What size AC unit do I need for my home?
It depends on more than square footage — insulation, window count and orientation, ceiling height, and ductwork condition all factor in. We run an actual load calculation on-site rather than guessing off a chart, which is why we don’t quote sizing over the phone.
Can you install a new AC system if I don’t have existing ductwork?
Yes — for homes without ductwork, a ductless mini-split system is usually the better fit than trying to retrofit ducts into walls and ceilings that weren’t built for them. We install both traditional split systems and ductless setups depending on what your home actually needs.
What financing options are available for AC installation?
We offer flexible payment plans so a failed system in July doesn’t have to mean paying the full cost up front. Ask about current financing options when you call for your quote.
Do you install American Standard systems specifically?
Yes — we’re an authorized American Standard dealer, and it’s the brand we install most often, though we work with other major manufacturers depending on what fits your budget and home.
Ready for a Free Quote?
Call (816) 436-8475 and we’ll get you scheduled for a no-obligation quote, or fill out the contact us form and a real person will call you back — same day, not three days from now.
