Picking an HVAC contractor in Malibu is mostly a question of who will size, place and permit a new system for this stretch of coast. A house on the bluffs at Point Dume and a canyon home toward Agoura Hills need different equipment and different plans. Malibu AirCon Services is an install-first company for Malibu: new central air, heat pumps and ductless systems, with the permit and the HOA steps handled for you.
How your job gets priced
Our price comes from the house, not from a chart. We write the quote before work starts, and it is set by:
- The equipment, named by model and sized by a room-by-room load calculation.
- Coastal protection, such as a coated coil and a corrosion-resistant cabinet, where salt reaches the pad.
- Ducts: kept, sealed, resized or new.
- Access to the pad and the attic or crawl space.
- Electrical work, if the panel needs room for a new circuit.
- The City of Malibu permit and the inspection.
To get on the schedule, send your address, the size of the house and the equipment you have now through the walkthrough request form. We will reply with a time.
What to compare between two bids
Two quotes for the same house can look far apart for good reasons and bad ones. Put them next to each other and check these:
| On the bid | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Sizing | A load calculation, not a copy of the old unit's size |
| Equipment | Model names for the outdoor and indoor units |
| Coastal parts | Coated coil and cabinet named, if your pad sees salt |
| Ducts | Tested first, with sealing or replacement priced in its own line |
| Permit | Pulled by the contractor, with the inspection on the schedule |
| Duct test | The HERS rater visit, if Title 24 applies to your scope |
| Removal | Haul-away of the old equipment |
A bid that leaves out the permit or the load calculation is cheaper on paper because it skips work. Ask each contractor to fill in the missing lines before you compare totals.
What the first visit covers
The walkthrough is where the number comes from. Our tech measures the rooms, notes the windows and the sun, and checks the attic or crawl space for duct routes. Outside, we look at the current pad, how close it sits to the sand or the slope, and how the crew will carry equipment in.
We also open the electrical panel, read the labels on the existing units, and ask how you use the house. A full-time home, a weekend place and a rental call for different setups. If you want to run it from your phone while you are away, we note that for the thermostat.
You leave the visit with the options we see. The written quote follows, with heat pump, ducted and ductless choices compared where more than one fits.
Permits, HOA rules and gated streets
Replacing an AC, heat pump, furnace or ductwork is permitted work in California. In Malibu the City of Malibu building and safety division issues the permit, and we file it and book the inspection. Depending on the scope, Title 24 Part 6 can call for duct sealing and a duct leakage test, checked by a third-party HERS rater who is not the installer.
Gated communities and HOAs often set rules on where a condenser sits and how it is screened. We read those rules and arrange gate access before the crew arrives. See our AC installation page for the systems we put in and our heating installation page for heat pumps and furnaces, including homes on propane.
Repairs while you plan a replacement
You may need the old system running while you decide. We still take repair calls. If a part fails on a unit you plan to replace, we fix it, show you what we found, and write the replacement next to the repair so you can compare. Our AC repair page covers those visits.
FAQ
What does an HVAC contractor do on a new install?
We size the system, pick the equipment, set the pad, run the line set, connect the ducts and the electrical, file the permit and start the system. On the coast, that includes choosing parts that stand up to salt air.
Why do two HVAC quotes differ so much?
They often cover different work. One may include a load calculation, the permit, duct sealing and coastal parts, and the other may not. Line up the items before you compare totals.
Do you handle the permit in Malibu?
Yes. We file with the City of Malibu building and safety division and book the inspection. If a HERS duct test applies, we schedule the rater too.
Can you work in a gated community?
Yes. We check the HOA rules for condenser placement and screening and set up gate access before the install day.
Will you repair my system if I am not ready to replace it?
Yes. We repair it and put a replacement option in writing beside the repair, so you decide when the time is right.
Set up the first visit
Ready to have the house walked and priced? Call (877) 716-8328 and Malibu AirCon Services will book a time to measure the rooms and look at the pad.
Need Professional HVAC Service?
Our HVAC-experienced technicians are ready to help with all your AC and heating needs. Contact Malibu AirCon Services today for expert service throughout the Malibu, Point Dume and Agoura Hills service area.
