Adding or Replacing Central Air in Gresham
Plenty of Gresham homes were built without any air conditioning at all, and plenty more have a unit that is 15 or 20 years old. Either way, (503) 755-9845 connects you with an independent contractor who handles central air, heat pump and ductless installs around East County.
If the house has a forced-air gas furnace, adding cooling is usually a matter of setting an outdoor unit and placing a coil on top of the furnace. If it has baseboard heat or a wall furnace, ductless is often the better fit.
What a proper install includes
Getting it right starts with sizing. The contractor needs to do a load calculation for the house, and not just guess from the square footage or copy the old unit. A split-level in Gresham with big west windows needs a different system than a ranch house shaded by firs.
- A load calculation based on windows, insulation, shade and room layout
- An indoor coil rated to pair with the outdoor unit
- Fresh refrigerant lines if the old ones are damaged or sized wrong
- A dedicated electrical circuit and disconnect
- A City of Gresham mechanical permit and the final inspection
- Readings at startup that confirm refrigerant charge and airflow
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Central AC added to an existing gas furnace | $6,000 to $11,000 |
| Heat pump on existing ducts | $9,000 to $16,000 |
| Single-zone ductless mini-split | $4,000 to $7,500 |
| Three-zone ductless system | $10,000 to $18,000 |
| New refrigerant line set | $600 to $1,800 |
Ranges only. The contractor quotes your home after measuring it and running the load calculation.
Central AC or a heat pump?
In the Portland area, a heat pump costs about the same to install as a straight AC, and it heats the house too. Our mild, damp winters suit heat pumps well. Many owners keep their gas furnace as a backup for the coldest east wind days and let the heat pump carry the rest of the year.
Energy Trust of Oregon runs incentive programs for customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power and NW Natural. Amounts and rules change, so ask the contractor what applies on the day you get your quote. The heat pump conversion page covers swapping out oil and baseboard heat.
Call and book an estimate. The contractor sizes up the house and puts a price in writing.
(503) 755-9845Refrigerant rules for new equipment
R-22 stopped being made in 2020, so an old R-22 system with a leak gets expensive fast. New systems built from 2025 on use R-454B or R-32 instead of R-410A. If you are replacing a unit that still runs R-22, plan on new equipment both inside and out.
Questions about AC Installation & Replacement in Gresham
- Adding central air: how long does it take?
- On a house that already has a forced-air furnace and good ducts, one or two days is common. New circuits, duct changes or a tight crawlspace can stretch that.
- Will my old ductwork work with AC?
- Often it will, but ducts sized only for heat can be small for cooling. The contractor checks airflow and the return path before recommending a size.
- Do I need to replace my furnace at the same time?
- Not always. If the furnace is newer and its blower is in good shape, a contractor can add the coil and outdoor unit and leave the furnace alone.
Free to call. A person answers 24 hours a day and connects you with a local contractor.
(503) 755-9845