Installing air conditioning in Tiburon, Belvedere or Mill Valley is less about raw cooling power and more about fit. Summers near the water are mild and often foggy, so a new system’s real job is the handful of warm afternoons, the view rooms with large west-facing glass and the upper floors that trap heat, handled quietly and without short-cycling the rest of the year. Getting that right comes down to three decisions: the type of system, its size, and where the equipment goes.
Choosing the type of system
| Option | Suits homes that | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Central split AC | Already have a furnace and ducts in good shape | Uses the furnace blower and ducts; a coil sits on top of the furnace |
| Ducted heat pump | Have ducts and want one system for heating and cooling | Replaces the AC and takes over most heating; see heat pump installation |
| Ductless mini-split | Have no ducts, radiant floors, or a few hot rooms | Each room gets its own indoor unit; see mini-split installation |
| Ducted mini-split | Want hidden equipment for two or three rooms | A slim air handler in a closet, attic or soffit feeds short ducts |
Sizing: why we measure first
A load calculation looks at floor area, insulation, window area and direction, shading, air leakage and the rooms you actually use. In a mild coastal climate the answer is nearly always smaller than a rule of thumb suggests. An oversized unit cools the air fast, shuts off and starts again a few minutes later: more noise, more wear, uneven rooms and less moisture removed. A right-sized unit, especially a variable-speed one, runs longer at low speed, which is also the quietest way to cool a house.
We also look at the ductwork before quoting. A new air conditioner cannot make up for a crushed return, a leaking joint in the crawlspace or a supply run too small for the room at the end of a long hallway. If the ducts need work, it appears in the proposal as its own line.
Efficiency and refrigerant
Air conditioners are rated in SEER2, a measure of seasonal cooling efficiency; a higher number means less electricity for the same cooling. Because cooling hours here are few, the step up to the highest-rated equipment pays back slowly on energy alone. What usually justifies a variable-speed system is comfort and low noise. New systems now use refrigerants with a lower global-warming potential, such as R-454B or R-32, in place of R-410A. The indoor coil and outdoor unit must be a matched pair for that refrigerant, and existing copper lines are checked before they are reused.
Placement, noise and salt air
The outdoor unit needs clearance for airflow and service, a level pad, and a spot where its sound will not carry into a bedroom, yours or a neighbor’s. HOAs and neighbors on the peninsula often have firm views on where condensers go, so we compare the manufacturer’s sound ratings and the site plan before settling on a location. Near the water, salt air attacks coil fins and cabinet screws. A sheltered spot, a coated coil where the manufacturer offers one, and easy access for rinsing the coil all add years to the unit.
How an installation runs
- Home visit. Load calculation, duct check, electrical panel and placement options.
- Proposal. System options with their efficiency ratings and an upfront price for each, before you commit.
- Scheduling. An installation date that works for your household.
- Installation. Old refrigerant is recovered, the new equipment set, lines pressure-tested and evacuated, the system charged, and the electrical and condensate drain connected. Floors and finishes along the work path are protected.
- Walkthrough. We run the system, check airflow and temperatures, and show you the thermostat, the filter and what to keep clear around the outdoor unit.
Financing is available with approved credit, and the equipment carries the manufacturer’s warranty.
In your town
The local pages for AC installation in Tiburon, Belvedere and Mill Valley cover the homes there, including Mill Valley’s older houses with crawlspace ducts and little spare room, which often point toward ductless equipment. Once the system is in, a yearly AC tune-up keeps it running as designed, and if your current unit might still be fixable, start with AC repair.