Cost guide
AC Replacement Cost in Killeen, TX: Repair or Replace?
A central air conditioner costs $2,500 to $7,500 installed, and a full heating-and-cooling system $5,000 to $11,000 (HomeGuide national figures, read November 11, 2026). In Killeen a changeout also needs a City mechanical permit, listed at $50 per unit.
Published November 11, 2026 · Figures and rules checked against the sources listed at the end of this page.
What new equipment costs
| What is replaced | Typical installed range |
|---|---|
| Central air conditioner | $2,500 to $7,500 |
| Heat pump | $3,800 to $8,200 |
| Furnace | $2,000 to $5,400 |
| Full system (heating and cooling) | $5,000 to $11,000 |
| Full system with new ductwork | $7,000 to $16,000 |
Source: HomeGuide, “How Much Does a New HVAC System Cost to Install or Replace? (2026)”. National ranges, not quotes from Killeen companies.
Repair or replace: five questions
- What failed? A capacitor ($100 to $250) or contactor ($200 to $450) is a repair on almost any system. A compressor ($600 to $2,500) or evaporator coil ($1,000 to $4,500) is where the comparison starts.
- How old is the system? The data plate on the outdoor unit shows the manufacture date. The older the unit, the less a large repair buys you.
- Is this the second or third repair? One failure is bad luck. A pattern is the system telling you something.
- Is the part under warranty? A covered compressor changes the math completely. Have the model and serial number ready.
- How were the summer bills and the comfort? Rooms that no longer cool and bills that keep climbing both point toward replacement.
Ask the contractor to price both paths on the same visit. The repair cost guide has the range for each individual repair.
What the quote should include
- The equipment model numbers, size (tons) and efficiency rating, not just “3-ton system”.
- Whether the indoor coil and the outdoor unit are both being replaced, and whether the refrigerant lines are reused.
- Any ductwork changes. The City of Killeen notes that duct work requires proof of a duct leakage or tightness test by the installer.
- The permit, named as a line item, and who is applying for it.
- Manufacturer warranty terms and the company’s own labor warranty.
The Killeen permit for a changeout
The City of Killeen’s “Projects That Require a Permit” handout lists changing HVAC equipment under mechanical permits and says HVAC changeouts are generally approved in three days. Permits can be obtained by contractors registered with the City, or by a homeowner doing their own work on a property listed as their homestead. The City’s 2026-2027 fee schedule lists the residential mechanical permit at $50 per unit.
The handout also says that, as the property owner, it is your responsibility to make sure the work is done under the City’s construction regulations, so ask to see the permit. Details are in the Killeen HVAC permit guide.
Check the license first
Texas law requires an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor license to do this work for the public. Before you sign a replacement contract, look the company up in TDLR’s license search; it takes a few minutes.
Sources and dates
Every figure and rule above names where it came from and the date it was read. Price ranges are national guides; a written quote for your own system is the real number. For permit and license rules, the City and TDLR have the last word. Prices are rechecked at least every six months.
- HomeGuide, “How Much Does a New HVAC System Cost to Install or Replace? (2026)” — read November 11, 2026. National ranges, not Killeen quotes
- HomeGuide, “How Much Does AC Repair Cost? (2026)” — read November 11, 2026. National ranges, not Killeen quotes
- City of Killeen, “Projects That Require a Permit” (handout dated September 19, 2024) — read November 11, 2026
- City of Killeen, “2026-2027 Permit Fees” (FY 27 Fee Schedule) — read November 11, 2026