Local Guide · AC and heating · San Antonio, TX
What should San Antonio homeowners know before hiring an AC contractor?
San Antonio averages more than 120 days of 90-degree heat. Here is how to check a contractor and what the city requires before it issues a mechanical permit.
San Antonio averages about 122 days a year at 90 degrees or hotter, and 2023 brought 131. The city no longer issues its own mechanical contractor licenses. Instead, a contractor must register a state license with San Antonio's Development Services Department before it can receive a permit, so ask for both the TDLR license number and proof of city registration.
Who licenses ac and heating providers
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Texas requires a TDLR Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor license statewide. The City of San Antonio says it no longer issues mechanical contractor licenses; to receive a permit, a contractor must register a state license with the Development Services Department by providing a government photo ID, the state license ID card and proof of liability insurance.
Check a license →Key facts for San Antonio, TX
- San Antonio International Airport averages 122.4 days a year at or above 90 degrees, based on 1991 to 2020 normals.
- The airport's normal August high is 96.0 degrees, and its record high in the normals table is 111 degrees, set in September 2000.
- In 2023, the airport logged 131 days at 90 or hotter and 3,969 cooling degree days, against a normal of 3,147.
- Normal annual rainfall at the airport is 32.38 inches, and normal 6 a.m. relative humidity is 84 percent.
- During the February 2021 storm, San Antonio International Airport stayed below freezing for 4 days and 12 hours, one hour shy of the record set in 1951, according to NWS.
- The City of San Antonio no longer issues mechanical contractor licenses; contractors must register a state license to receive a permit.
How does San Antonio's heat compare?
NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for San Antonio International Airport show 122.4 days a year at 90 degrees or hotter, with a normal August high of 96.0 degrees. The station's record high in its normals table is 111 degrees, from September 2000.
The air is somewhat drier than on the coast. Normal relative humidity at 6 a.m. is 84 percent for the year, and normal annual rainfall is 32.38 inches. Cooling demand is still heavy: 3,147 cooling degree days in a normal year.
2023 ran well above that. The airport logged 131 days at 90 or higher and 3,969 cooling degree days. A system that barely kept up in a normal summer may struggle in a year like that, which is one reason ENERGY STAR advises a contractor to size equipment to your house rather than guess.
What does San Antonio require before a contractor gets a permit?
The City of San Antonio's Development Services Department says the city no longer issues mechanical contractor licenses. To receive a permit, a contractor must register a state license with the city. Registration requires:
- A government-issued photo ID.
- The state license ID card.
- A certificate of insurance or other proof of liability insurance.
The city says it will honor existing city-issued mechanical licenses. For permit questions, the department lists 210-207-1111.
What did the 2021 freeze mean for San Antonio?
NWS Austin/San Antonio called February 10 to 18, 2021, an unprecedented eight-day stretch of winter weather. San Antonio International Airport stayed below freezing for 4 days and 12 hours, one hour short of the record set in late January and early February 1951. San Antonio recorded 2 to 3 inches of snow in the second round, and NWS noted failed power grids and burst water pipes across the region.
San Antonio normally sees only about 14 nights a year at or below freezing, so heating systems may sit idle for long stretches. A fall check of the heat pump or furnace, as ENERGY STAR recommends, helps catch problems before a cold snap.
How to choose a provider in San Antonio, TX
- Verify the TDLR license and environmental air conditioning endorsement.
- Ask for proof the contractor's state license is registered with San Antonio Development Services.
- Confirm who will pull the permit and when the inspection is scheduled.
- Ask how the contractor sized the system for San Antonio's long hot season.
- Schedule a heating check in fall, even though freezes are infrequent.
- Ask which EPA Section 608 certification the technician holds.
- Check that the proposal lists model numbers, warranty terms and the license number.
Nearby
Questions people ask
Does San Antonio license AC contractors?
Not anymore. The city says it no longer issues mechanical contractor licenses. Contractors need a TDLR state license, which they must register with the city's Development Services Department to receive a permit.
What does a contractor need to register with San Antonio?
The city lists a government photo ID, the state license ID card and a certificate of insurance or other proof of liability insurance.
How many hot days does San Antonio get?
NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals show 122.4 days a year at 90 degrees or hotter at San Antonio International Airport. In 2023 the airport logged 131.
How long did San Antonio stay below freezing in February 2021?
NWS says San Antonio International Airport stayed below freezing for 4 days and 12 hours, one hour shy of the record set in 1951.
Who do I call about a San Antonio mechanical permit?
The city's Development Services Department lists 210-207-1111 for questions.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI: 2023 Local Climatological Data, San Antonio (KSAT), PDF
- City of San Antonio Development Services: Mechanical Contractor
- NWS Austin/San Antonio: February 2021 Historical Winter Storm Event (PDF)
- ENERGY STAR: 10 Tips for Hiring a Heating and Cooling Contractor
- ENERGY STAR: Heating and Cooling Maintenance Checklist
- TDLR License Data Search
This guide was written by our editorial team from the public sources listed above. It is general information, not legal advice; confirm licensing and terms directly with any provider.
