Heating and air conditioning repair in Houston
Our guide to heating and air conditioning repair covers how the job works. Below: the Houston numbers a HVAC contractor looks at, with sources.
Houston housing, by the numbers
The median home in Houston dates from 1982, so about half the housing is that old or older. Of the 56 other cities in this network, 11 have newer housing by median year built. Age of the house is a clue to duct leaks and insulation, which change the right system size.
Source: Census ACS
Source: Census ACS
About 42% of occupied homes in Houston are lived in by their owners. That is 391,519 of 930,404 households. The share of owner-occupied homes here is higher than in 10 of the 56 other cities we cover. If you rent, your lease likely puts heating and cooling repairs on the owner.
Source: Census ACS
Source: Census ACS
Electricity is the leading heating fuel in Houston, covering about 64% of occupied homes. Other fuels: utility gas 34%, bottled or tank gas under 1%, fuel oil or kerosene under 1%. Switching fuels is possible, but ask what it means for your panel, gas line and ducts.
Source: Census ACS
Source: Census ACS
What the weather asks of a system in Houston
Air conditioners near Houston face about 3,280 cooling degree days in a typical year, per NOAA's 1991-2020 normals. Measured at the Houston-Port (TX) station. The cooling load here is higher than in 48 of the 56 other cities we cover. That cooling load is what an air conditioner or heat pump has to keep up with on the long summer afternoons.
Source: NOAA normals
Source: NOAA normals
Houston averages about 1,222 heating degree days a year, the NOAA measure of winter heating load. Measured at the Houston-Port (TX) station. The heating load here is higher than in 5 of the 56 other cities we cover. Winters at that level put most of the year's wear on the heating side.
Source: NOAA normals
Source: NOAA normals
A normal year brings about 5 nights at or below freezing near Houston (NOAA normals). The number of freezing days here is higher than in 6 of the 52 other cities we cover.
Source: NOAA normals
Source: NOAA normals
Expect around 109 days a year at 90 F or above in Houston, going by NOAA normals. Of the 54 other cities in this network, 46 have a lower number of 90 F days.
Source: NOAA normals
Source: NOAA normals
When the weather tests homes in Houston
FEMA's National Risk Index rates heat wave risk in Harris County, TX as very high. The same heat wave rating applies in 7 of the 55 other cities in this network. Extended heat is hard on compressors that are already weak.
Source: FEMA risk index
Source: FEMA risk index
FEMA's National Risk Index rates cold wave risk in Harris County, TX as very high. The same cold wave rating applies in 16 of the 53 other cities in this network. Frozen weather is when a furnace that limped through fall finally quits.
Source: FEMA risk index
Source: FEMA risk index
In Texas, HVAC contractors are licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR); status can be checked on the agency's official lookup page.
Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) (Texas) · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) license information
Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) (Texas) · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) license information
Sources, checked October 2026
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year, profile 16000US4835000
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USC00414326
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), Harris County, TX
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) (Texas)
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) license information
Local offices and rules in Houston
Houston publishes its local amendment documents for each 2021 code (IBC, IRC, IECC, UMC, UPC and others) on the Houston Permitting Center's Construction Code Amendments page.
Source: www.houstonpermittingcenter.org. Checked October 2026.
Source: www.houstonpermittingcenter.org. Checked October 2026.
Air conditioning contractors working in Houston must register their Texas TDLR license with the city each year using form CE-1307, a certificate of insurance and photo ID, and the state license must be current at registration.
Source: www.houstonpermittingcenter.org. Checked October 2026.
Source: www.houstonpermittingcenter.org. Checked October 2026.
In Houston, modifying or altering an existing HVAC system by adding or removing parts or equipment requires a mechanical permit (Alteration of HVAC), and the licensed contractor must first register their license with the city.
Source: www.houstonpermittingcenter.org. Checked October 2026.
Source: www.houstonpermittingcenter.org. Checked October 2026.
CenterPoint Energy's HVAC System Replacement Incentives cover central A/C, heat pump and mini-split systems starting at 15.2 SEER2, with incentives applied directly to the invoice of a participating contractor.
Source: www.centerpointenergy.com. Checked October 2026.
Source: www.centerpointenergy.com. Checked October 2026.
CenterPoint's ComfortCheck A/C Tune Up Program is offered to residential customers in the Houston Electric service area (excluding apartments) with a working central A/C or heat pump at least one year old and no tune-up in the past five years.
Source: www.centerpointenergy.com. Checked October 2026.
Source: www.centerpointenergy.com. Checked October 2026.
Houston sits in the CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric delivery territory; CenterPoint owns the poles and wires but is not a retail electric provider, so households buy power from a retail electric provider of their choice under Texas retail competition.
Source: www.centerpointenergy.com. Checked October 2026.
Source: www.centerpointenergy.com. Checked October 2026.
If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility from outside. Keep a working carbon monoxide alarm near the bedrooms, and do not open a furnace cabinet that is running.
Common jobs
