Air conditioning systems remove heat and humidity from indoor air using a refrigerant cycle between indoor evaporator and outdoor condenser coils. Portland averages 450 cooling degree days annually with 15-25 days above 90°F per summer, and increasing heat dome events make reliable AC essential for health and home comfort.
Choosing the right air conditioning system is one of the biggest home comfort decisions you will make. This guide covers the three...
ViewAC installation covers the sizing and fitting of a central air conditioning system, ductless mini-split, or heat pump to your home's cooling...
ViewNeed AC repair in Portland? If your air conditioner is blowing warm air, won't turn on, or is leaking water, Efficiency Heating...
ViewShould You Repair or Replace Your AC? If your AC is past its prime, running loud, tripping breakers, or just not keeping...
ViewCentral AC replacement in Portland starts at $6,995 installed, and premium variable-speed systems top out around $12,500. Where your home lands depends...
ViewEfficiency Heating & Cooling provides AC installation, repair, and maintenance across the Portland metro area. Central AC, ductless mini-splits, and heat pumps in cooling mode. All brands serviced. NATE-certified technicians, rated 4.9 stars across 1,500+ Google reviews, serving Portland since 2008.
Not sure whether to repair or replace? As a rule of thumb, once a system is over 10 years old, a full AC installation service often costs less over time than repeated repairs. Our best AC buying guide walks through central air, ductless, and heat pump options to help you decide.
From repairs and tune-ups to full system installs. We keep Portland homes and offices cool when it counts.
Click the option that best describes your situation
No cool air, strange noises, or AC not working during heat wave
$189 diagnostic, applied to the repair
What AC replacement costs in Portland, by home size, with available rebates
From $6,995 installed
Central AC vs ductless vs heat pump: sizing, SEER ratings, brands, and what to look for
Diagnose issues, preventive care, or system check-up
$189 diagnostic, applied to repair
Locally owned, NATE-certified, and serving Portland since 2008
Every technician is NATE-certified in air conditioning systems. This means tested, verified expertise for your home's cooling system.
Portland homeowners trust us for honest recommendations and quality work. Read our reviews on Google, Yelp, and Angie's List.
Over 18 years serving Portland metro. We've seen every type of AC system and Portland climate challenge. Licensed CCB #187834.
No surprise charges. We provide written estimates before any work begins. Price includes parts, labor, and disposal.
Heat waves don't wait, and neither do we. Emergency AC repair with no extra charge for nights, weekends, or holidays.
NATE-certified, factory-trained installation of premium high-efficiency systems. Extended manufacturer warranties and quality parts access.
Portland's climate creates unique challenges for air conditioning systems that generic HVAC advice doesn't address. Our local expertise ensures your AC is sized and maintained for Portland's specific conditions.
Portland averages 350-450 cooling degree days annually, concentrated in July-September. However, heat waves can add 50-100 CDD in just a few days. We size systems for these extreme events, not just averages. When one arrives, follow our guide to keeping your AC running through a heat wave.
Portland's unique climate causes specific AC problems. Our technicians diagnose and fix these issues daily.
Many Portland ACs were sized before recent heat waves. Systems that were adequate 10 years ago can't keep up with 100°F+ days.
Portland's cottonwood fluff and spring pollen clog condenser coils faster than in other cities, reducing efficiency by 20-40%.
Older R-22 systems leak refrigerant over time. With R-22 phased out, repairs are increasingly expensive.
Low refrigerant, dirty filters, or poor airflow cause ice buildup that stops cooling entirely.
Heat waves strain capacitors. When they fail, your compressor or fan motor won't start.
Incorrect placement, dead batteries, or miscalibration cause uneven cooling or system short-cycling.
Our NATE-certified technicians service all major AC brands and install premium high-efficiency systems backed by manufacturer warranties.
Factory-trained installation and service of premium high-efficiency systems. Access to manufacturer rebates, extended warranties up to 10 years, and quality parts availability. We install systems that consistently rank among the most reliable in the industry. Pairing a new install with regular hvac preventative maintenance keeps it running efficiently for its full lifespan.
AC services we offer across the Portland metro area
Source: NOAA Portland International Airport weather station (USW00024229), 30-year climate normals.
NATE-certified technicians, upfront pricing, and same-day service across Portland metro. Call us or book online.
Same-day service available, 24/7 emergency repairs
Central AC installation in Portland starts at $6,995, and premium variable-speed systems top out around $12,500. Heat pumps and ductless mini-splits start at $5,995. Price depends on the system type, efficiency rating, and installation complexity. We provide free in-home estimates with written pricing and list any confirmed Energy Trust of Oregon incentive.
AC sizing depends on square footage, insulation quality, window efficiency, sun exposure, and Portland's climate. Many Portland homes need 20-30% more capacity due to heat waves exceeding 100°F. Our NATE-certified technicians perform Manual J load calculations for proper sizing.
We recommend annual AC maintenance every April-May before cooling season. Portland's cottonwood and pollen can clog coils quickly. Homes with pets or allergies benefit from bi-annual service. Maintenance plans start at $14/month.
Yes, we provide 24/7 emergency AC repair throughout Portland metro with no extra charge for nights, weekends, or holidays. During heat waves, we prioritize elderly, medical-need, and infant households. 90-minute average response time.
Absolutely! Ductless mini-split systems are perfect for Portland's historic homes without existing ductwork. They provide efficient cooling and heating without major renovations. Installation typically takes 1 day, and ductless mini-splits start at $5,995 installed.
AC repair starts with a $189 diagnostic, applied to the repair if you go ahead. The price then depends on the repair (capacitor, fan motor, compressor, refrigerant leak), the age and model of your system, and parts and labor time. We quote the repair before any work starts, with no overtime charges.
Portland's mild summers with occasional heat waves make several options excellent: heat pumps (ideal for Portland, providing both cooling and heating at 300-400% efficiency), central air conditioning (great for whole-home cooling with existing ductwork), ductless mini-splits (perfect for older Portland homes without ductwork), and high-efficiency AC units (16+ SEER for lower utility bills). Energy Trust of Oregon offers rebates up to $3,000 for qualifying systems.
Look for an Oregon CCB license (ours is CCB# 187834), NATE-certified and factory-trained technicians, a strong local reputation you can check in its Google reviews, and upfront pricing with no hidden fees. Efficiency Heating & Cooling is family-owned and has served Portland since 2008, and stands behind every job with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Yes. Energy Trust of Oregon offers up to $3,000 for qualifying heat pumps, PGE and Pacific Power offer utility rebates, and manufacturers run seasonal offers. We help Portland homeowners identify every available rebate and handle the paperwork: combined incentives can save $3,000-$5,000 or more.
A few recent Google reviews from homeowners across the metro. We don't edit them.
Phil did a great job of carefully examining all the components of our almost 20 year old HVAC system. He took detailed photos and videos to show me the status. And he didn’t try to sell me anything else! Great experience 10/10System inspection
Efficiency Heating and Cooling came out to our home to do general maintenance on our furnace and heat pump, and also level our heat pump. Tristan was our technician. His work was efficient and thorough. He explained everything he did and told me what Efficiency H&C had to offering the way of maintenance programs. I am very happy with the services we received.Furnace & heat pump maintenance
This was my first time working with this company, and it was an amazing experience! Wayne was super personable, and explained things thoroughly and transparently. The cost was reasonable and that was with the maintenance membership program we joined. Highly recommend this business!Maintenance membership
I definitely recommend Efficiency! On this year's hottest day my AC quit working and Efficiency was able to send a technician right out. He fixed it quickly (luckily it was not a major issue) and now I'm basking in cool air. Thank you so much!AC repair
Tristan was very thorough with diagnosing the issues with my system and walked me through them so I could better understand my options for repair. We’ve had a few HVAC techs look at our system over the last decade or so, and Tristan was by far the best.System diagnosis
Jason came out for an estimate for a heat pump for my house. He listened to what I was looking for function-wise, evaluated the property, gave me a quote with 4 options, and explained the pros and cons of each. He was thorough, friendly, and not at all condescending (women, if you know, you know). Very professional.Heat pump estimate
I bought a furnace from these folks over 10 years ago and was very impressed with their work. I've had them tune up my furnace every year since and it's still the great quality and friendly service. They are dependable and knowledgeable every time I deal with them. I highly recommend them.Furnace install & tune-ups
Efficiency Heating and Cooling is a great company to work with. They gave me multiple options based on personal wants/needs with my 100+ year old house and were patient helping educate me and navigate to a decision. They were prompt, scheduling was easy, very professional, knowledgeable, and walked through with me how my system works once the job was complete. Couldn’t be happier from beginning to end and would heartily recommend them!100+ year old home
Called so many companies to find someone who did duct work beyond cleaning (I had a leak in the duct) and.so glad I got a hold of these guys. Professional, fast, and thorough. Great all around!Duct leak repair
Hire them immediately! Super fair pricing, great service. My Technician, Tristian was communicative and thorough. I tried hiring another company prior and they had me pre-pay, after tons of no shows and shoddy work followed by more no shows I demanded my money back and happily gave it to Efficiency Heating and Cooling.HVAC service
Tristan was very professional. He was on time and explained everything thoroughly. I appreciated the no pressure conversation of future work that could be done with my heating system.Heating system service
What a great experience with Efficiency. From the estimate process to installation, they made everything seamless and easy. When we hit an unexpected snag during installation, they kept us well informed about what was going on how it might affect the timeline. They got everything done and the system is working great!System installation
Two tune-ups a year, priority scheduling and 15% off repairs. No contract, cancel anytime.
Month-to-month · No long-term contract · Covers one system; add more for a discount
You'll talk to someone in our Milwaukie office, not a call center. We'll get a tech out and give you the price before any work starts.
(503) 698-5588Rather talk to someone?
