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Before a contractor can size and quote a central AC installation here, they have to understand what the existing system was actually up against. 47 severe weather events were recorded in Seminole County, Georgia between 2015 and 2024. At that rate, severe weather is an event in this county rather than a standing condition, which means a failing system points a contractor toward how the original equipment was sized and installed, and how well it was maintained over the years. A bad install or an undersized unit will run itself out regardless of what the sky does, and that is what shapes the scope of replacement work.
Ductwork laid down for an older generation of equipment was designed around what that equipment needed, and a new central AC system draws and distributes air on different terms. Half the homes in Seminole County, Georgia were built in 1981 or earlier (2020-2024 ACS 5-year). A contractor quoting an installation here has to assess whether the existing runs, returns, and connections will carry the new load before the unit itself is even priced. If the ducts are undersized or routed in ways that choke airflow, the electrical service is the next question. Both have to be answered on-site.
What Gets Installed With a New Central AC
The outdoor condenser unit sits on a concrete pad beside the house and holds the compressor and condenser coil, which are the core of the system. Inside, the air handler mounts in a utility closet, basement, or attic and moves conditioned air through the home. These two units are what a homeowner is buying when they commission a central AC installation.
A copper refrigerant line set runs between the outdoor and indoor units, and an insulated section of that line carries refrigerant back and forth between them. The thermostat goes on an interior wall and gives the homeowner control over when the system runs and what temperature it holds.
The drawing shows a typical layout, and a licensed contractor determines exactly how each piece fits the specifics of your house.
Get matched in Seminole CountySeminole County, by the numbers
47 severe weather events were recorded in Seminole County, Georgia between 2015 and 2024.
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, bulk CSV export, events 2015-01-01 through 2024-12-31.Half the homes in Seminole County, Georgia were built in 1981 or earlier (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesSeminole County, Georgia holds 5,081 housing units (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesOwners occupy 80.2% of the occupied homes in Seminole County, Georgia (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesCodes & Standards for Central AC Installation in Seminole County, Georgia8 sourced rules and standards
What the installation actually looks like
Split-system central air conditioners rated below 45,000 Btu/h manufactured on or after January 1, 2023 must meet a federal minimum of 13.4 SEER2.
Split-system central air conditioners rated at or above 45,000 Btu/h manufactured on or after January 1, 2023 must meet a federal minimum of 13.4 SEER2.
Split-system central air conditioners manufactured between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2022 had to meet 13 SEER, the metric that preceded SEER2.
Single-package central air conditioners manufactured on or after January 1, 2023 must meet a federal minimum of 13.4 SEER2.
Space-constrained central air conditioners manufactured on or after January 1, 2023 must meet a federal minimum of 11.7 SEER2.
Federal efficiency standards for split-system central air conditioners and heat pumps are set on each certified combination of outdoor unit and indoor coil rather than on the outdoor unit alone.
Residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump systems assembled in the field, including mini-splits and unitary systems, may not be installed on or after January 1, 2025 using a refrigerant with a global warming potential above 700.
A field-assembled system whose specified components were all manufactured or imported before January 1, 2025 carries no installation compliance date under the refrigerant restrictions and may still be installed.
Severe Weather Events in Seminole County
Weather conditions place real demands on cooling equipment, and those demands vary by location. What happens in Seminole County shapes how hard a central AC system has to work and how long it holds up under that load.
47 severe weather events, 2015–2024. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database.