You’re not just buying equipment. You’re buying years of consistent performance when temperatures climb into the 90s and humidity makes your apartment feel like a sauna.
A properly sized and installed system means you’re not cranking the thermostat down to 65 just to feel comfortable at 72. It means your electric bill doesn’t spike 40% every summer because the unit is struggling. It means you sleep through the night instead of waking up drenched at 3 a.m. because your window units can’t keep up.
Most AC problems trace back to installation issues. Wrong refrigerant charge, improper ductwork, undersized equipment for your space. When the install is done right, your system runs efficiently, breaks down less often, and actually cools the rooms you need cooled. That’s what matters when you’re living through a five-day heat wave in Long Island City.
Excellent Air Conditioning and Heating Service has been installing HVAC systems throughout Queens and Nassau Counties for years. We’re not a national franchise following a script. We’re local contractors who understand Long Island City’s mix of new high-rises and older buildings without existing ductwork.
We know that 83% of residents here are renters, which means landlords need reliable installations that won’t generate callback after callback. We know the permit process in NYC and handle the paperwork so you don’t have to chase down inspections. We work with quality brands like Trane, Carrier, and Fujitsu because we’ve seen what holds up and what doesn’t.
Glenn Holewa runs the company, and our technicians are licensed professionals who show up on time, explain what they’re doing, and clean up when they’re done. That’s it. No gimmicks.
First, we evaluate your space. Not every home needs the same system, and square footage alone doesn’t tell the whole story. We look at insulation, sun exposure, ceiling height, and how many rooms you actually need to cool. For Long Island City apartments and homes, we often recommend ductless systems if you don’t have existing ductwork, or central air if you do.
Once we’ve sized the system correctly, we handle the permit applications. Most AC installations in Long Island City require permits, especially for electrical work or new outdoor units. We coordinate the inspections so you’re not dealing with the city yourself.
Installation day involves mounting the indoor and outdoor units, running refrigerant lines, connecting electrical, and testing everything under load. We check airflow, refrigerant charge, and thermostat calibration before we leave. You’ll know how to operate the system, what to expect for maintenance, and how to reach us if something seems off.
After installation, you’ve got manufacturer warranties on the equipment plus our labor warranty on the work. If something goes wrong because of how we installed it, we fix it at no charge.
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Every home AC installation in Long Island City includes a proper load calculation to size your equipment correctly. Oversized units cycle on and off too frequently and don’t dehumidify well. Undersized units run constantly and never quite cool your space. We calculate the right capacity based on your home’s specific characteristics.
You get professional installation of all components: indoor air handler or evaporator coil, outdoor condenser unit, refrigerant lines, condensate drain, electrical connections, and thermostat. For ductless systems, we mount wall units exactly where you need them and run line sets through the smallest possible penetrations. For central air, we integrate with your existing ductwork or install new ducts if needed.
We handle all permit applications and coordinate required inspections with the city. This matters more than most people realize. If you sell your property later and there’s no permit record for major HVAC work, it can create issues during the sale. We document everything properly.
Long Island City’s climate demands reliable cooling. Average summer highs hit 86-90°F, but heat waves push temperatures higher for days at a time. Humidity makes it worse. Your system needs to handle that load consistently, and proper installation is what makes that possible. We test everything under full operating conditions before we consider the job complete.
Central air installation in Long Island City typically runs between $3,500 and $7,500 for most homes, depending on system size and whether you have existing ductwork. Ductless mini-split systems range from $3,000 to $5,000 per zone, with most homes needing two to four zones for complete coverage.
The price includes equipment, labor, permits, and basic electrical work. If your home needs significant electrical upgrades to handle the new system, that adds to the cost. Same with homes that need new ductwork installed. Older Long Island City buildings without existing ducts often do better with ductless systems anyway, which eliminates that expense.
We give you an upfront quote after evaluating your space. No hidden fees, no surprise charges when we’re halfway through the job. You’ll know what you’re paying before we start, and that number includes everything needed to get your system running legally and correctly.
If you already have ductwork from a furnace or existing central air, replacing with another central air system usually makes sense. You’re using infrastructure that’s already in place, which keeps costs down.
If you don’t have ducts, ductless systems are often the better choice. They’re perfect for Long Island City’s older buildings where adding ductwork isn’t practical or would cost more than the ductless system itself. You also get zone control, meaning you can set different temperatures in different rooms and avoid cooling spaces you’re not using.
Ductless systems are quieter, more energy-efficient, and easier to install in apartments or homes with limited space for ductwork. The outdoor unit sits on a roof or exterior wall, and the indoor units mount high on the wall in each room you want cooled. We run refrigerant lines through small holes between the units. It’s less invasive than tearing into walls and ceilings to install ducts.
Most residential AC installations take one to three days, depending on system type and complexity. A straightforward central air replacement where we’re swapping out an old system for a new one usually takes one full day. Ductless installations take one to two days for a typical two or three-zone setup.
If we’re installing ductwork from scratch, add another two to three days. If your electrical panel needs upgrading to handle the new system’s load, that’s additional time. We’ll tell you the realistic timeline upfront based on what your home needs.
Permit inspections can add a few days to the overall timeline, but that doesn’t mean we’re at your house the whole time. We schedule the inspection, the city comes out to verify the work, and we handle any final adjustments. You’re not waiting around for weeks. We coordinate everything to keep the process moving.
Yes, most AC installations in Long Island City require permits, especially if you’re installing a new system, replacing an outdoor unit, or doing any electrical work. The city wants to make sure installations meet code and are done safely.
Licensed contractors handle permit applications as part of the installation service. We submit the paperwork, schedule the required inspections, and make sure everything passes. You don’t have to deal with the city yourself or figure out what forms you need.
Skipping permits might seem like a way to save money, but it creates problems later. If you sell your property and there’s no permit record for major HVAC work, buyers or their inspectors will flag it. You could end up paying to have the system inspected and brought up to code retroactively, or the buyer might walk away. It’s not worth the risk. Do it right the first time.
It depends on your home’s square footage, insulation, ceiling height, window placement, and sun exposure. A proper load calculation factors in all of those variables to determine the right capacity. Most Long Island City homes need between 1.5 and 5 tons of cooling capacity, but that’s a wide range.
Bigger isn’t better when it comes to AC systems. An oversized unit cools the air quickly but shuts off before it removes enough humidity, leaving your home feeling clammy. It also cycles on and off more frequently, which wears out components faster and drives up your electric bill.
An undersized unit runs constantly trying to keep up, never quite reaching the temperature you set on the thermostat. It works harder, costs more to operate, and still doesn’t keep you comfortable during heat waves. We calculate the right size for your specific home so you get consistent cooling without wasting energy or money.
Yes, and it’s common in Long Island City because many buildings have restrictions on street-facing window units or limited space for ground-level outdoor units. Roof installations require additional safety equipment and coordination, but we handle that regularly.
We assess roof access, structural support, and the best location for the outdoor unit before we start. The unit needs proper clearance for airflow and service access. We also need to run refrigerant lines and electrical from the roof down to your indoor unit, which sometimes means working through multiple floors in apartment buildings.
Roof installations take a bit longer and cost slightly more due to the extra labor and equipment needed to work safely at height. But if that’s the only practical option for your building, it’s absolutely doable. We’ve installed systems on roofs throughout Queens and know how to do it right without creating leaks or structural issues.
