Hiring for HVAC work in Houston? Start with the facts that are specific to Houston and Texas: who licenses the work, how to check a license, where permits come from, and what the local market looks like. Every figure below links to its official source.
Before you hire in Houston: a checklist
- Look the HVAC contractor up in the official Texas license lookup and make sure the name and license number match the contract.
- Ask for proof of the insurance or bond Texas requires (listed below) and current workers' compensation coverage.
- Confirm who will pull the permit with City of Houston Permitting Center and that final inspection is included in the price.
- Get at least three written quotes for the same scope; our HVAC guide covers typical costs, questions to ask and red flags.
HVAC licensing in Texas
Texas requires anyone who installs, repairs, or maintains air conditioning, refrigeration, or heating systems to hold a TDLR license. Class A covers any size unit; Class B covers cooling systems of 25 tons and under and heating systems of 1.5 million BTU per hour and under.
| Who licenses it | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) |
|---|---|
| Insurance / bond | Commercial general liability insurance: Class A $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate / $300,000 products-completed operations; Class B $100,000 / $200,000 / $100,000 |
| Check a license | Official license lookup (tdlr.texas.gov) |
Source: tdlr.texas.gov, checked November 15, 2026. Rules change; confirm with the agency before you sign a contract.
Building permits in Houston
Residential building permits for Houston are issued by City of Houston Permitting Center. Permits are commonly required for replacing or adding heating and cooling equipment. Ask your contractor who will pull the permit and book the inspections; a contractor who asks you to pull it yourself is a warning sign.
Official permit office page, checked November 15, 2026.
Houston's HVAC market: firms and pay
Census County Business Patterns counted 1,187 business locations with paid employees in Harris County in 2023 in the industry “plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors,” employing 19,695 people. The median annual wage for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area was $58,940 (May 2025), lower than in most of the 108 metro areas we cover. Local pay levels feed directly into labor rates on quotes.
| Business locations (plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors) in Harris County | 1,187 |
|---|---|
| People employed at those locations | 19,695 |
| Share with fewer than 10 employees | 73% |
| Average annual payroll per employee | $75,700 |
| Median annual wage, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area | $58,940 |
Census counts HVAC and plumbing contractors together in one industry. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 238220; employer establishments only, so self-employed one-person businesses are not counted); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 49-9021). Checked November 15, 2026.
Houston climate and what it means for heating and cooling
Cooling demand is far larger than heating demand here. Houston has more heating degree days than 23 of the 155 cities we cover and more cooling degree days than 131. Degree days track how hard a system works over a year, so they are a fair guide to whether to prioritize furnace or heat-pump heating capacity, cooling capacity and dehumidification, and how quickly an efficiency upgrade pays back.
| Heating degree days (base 65°F) | 1,098 |
|---|---|
| Cooling degree days (base 65°F) | 3,362 |
| Average annual temperature | 71.1°F |
| Average annual precipitation | 55.6 in |
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station Houston Hobby Airport (USW00012918). 30-year averages, not a forecast. Checked November 15, 2026.
Seasonal notes for Texas
Air conditioning runs most of the year in Texas's climate, so cooling capacity, humidity control and condensate drain maintenance matter more than heating. Ask any installer for a load calculation (Manual J) rather than sizing by square footage alone.
Other trades in Houston
More Houston guides
HVAC in other cities
AllCityPros is an independent information resource. We do not endorse, rate or vouch for any business, and nothing here is legal or professional advice. Licensing rules change; confirm requirements with the licensing agency before you sign a contract. Business counts and wages are official statistics for the county or metro area, not counts of businesses available to you.