Locally-owned since 1977 • Licensed, bonded and insured in Washington (WA Contractor Reg. #HOMECCA785BD) • NATE-certified technicians • Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer
Air Conditioning in Federal Way, WA
We install, repair and maintain central air conditioning, heat pumps and ductless mini-splits for homes in Federal Way. Our comfort advisors and technicians work out of the Sumner branch; call (425) 645-0404 or use the form to get a visit scheduled. For a new system, the advisor measures the home and gives you written options, rebate help and financing choices.
Do Federal Way homes need air conditioning?
Federal Way summers are usually pleasant and mostly dry. For years, many homes got by with fans. That changed for a lot of owners after the record-breaking heat of late June 2021. Heat waves are short here, but upstairs bedrooms can stay uncomfortably warm for days afterward, which is hard on children, older adults and anyone working from home.
Because cooling is needed only a few weeks a year, we usually suggest a system that also heats: a heat pump takes over most of the heating from a furnace or baseboards and handles the hot days too.
Cooling costs around Federal Way
Published estimates, not our prices:
| Work | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| AC or HVAC repair | About $350 average; $100 to $3,000 | Angi, HVAC repair costs, 2026 data |
| Central AC replacement, Seattle area | $5,098 to $9,785, about $7,377 | Angi, Seattle AC replacement costs, updated August 2026 |
| Ducted heat pump, Seattle area | $3,160 to $20,000 depending on efficiency | Angi, Seattle heat pump installation costs, updated July 2026 |
| Ductless mini-split, one zone | $2,222 to $5,555 | Angi, Seattle mini-split costs, 2026 data |
Choosing a cooling system
| Option | Best for |
|---|---|
| Central AC with your furnace | Homes with good ducts and a newer gas furnace |
| Ducted heat pump | Homes with ducts that want lower heating bills plus cooling |
| Ductless mini-split | Homes with baseboards or wall heaters, additions, and hot upstairs rooms |
| Heat pump paired with a gas furnace | Owners who want electric heat most of the year and gas backup on the coldest days |
We compare at least two options in writing so you can weigh up-front cost against running cost and rebates.
Homes without ducts
Older ramblers, apartments and townhomes in Federal Way often heat with baseboards or wall heaters and have no ducts. A ductless mini-split adds cooling without tearing into walls: an outdoor unit, a small line set and one or more indoor heads. Because it replaces the baseboards as the main heat source, PSE’s electric-to-heat-pump rebate can apply (PSE electric resistance to heat pump rebate).
Hot upstairs bedrooms
In two-story homes, the upstairs often runs noticeably warmer than the main floor in summer. Common causes are undersized return ducts, leaky ducts in the attic and one thermostat on the main floor. Fixes range from adjusting airflow and sealing ducts to adding a single ductless head upstairs.
Common AC problems
| Problem | Usual cause |
|---|---|
| Outdoor fan stopped, unit humming | Failed capacitor or contactor |
| Air barely cool | Refrigerant leak, dirty outdoor coil or clogged filter |
| Ice on the copper lines | Low airflow indoors or low refrigerant |
| Water near the furnace or air handler | Blocked condensate drain or failed pump |
| Ductless head dripping or musty | Dirty filter or coil, blocked drain |
| Breaker trips when it starts | Compressor or wiring fault |
Near the water at Dash Point and Redondo
Homes along the shoreline sit in salt air, which corrodes outdoor coils and electrical parts faster than inland air. For these homes, we talk through coil coatings and placement that keeps the unit out of direct spray, and we recommend rinsing the outdoor coil gently each spring. A unit that is serviced every year near the water tends to hold up better than one that is ignored.
Wildfire smoke and closed windows
Wildfire smoke has settled over the Puget Sound region in several recent summers, and it tends to arrive during hot spells, exactly when you would otherwise open the windows. A cooling system lets you keep the house closed up. Pair it with a higher-rated filter in the furnace or air handler, and run the fan to keep air moving through the filter on smoky days.
Cooling for rental homes
Cooling is a common request from rental owners too, especially after tenants have lived through a heat wave in a top-floor unit. A ductless unit in the main living area or a heat pump replacing old baseboards can make a rental easier to keep comfortable, and the heating savings stay with the tenant all winter. We coordinate access with the tenant and send the written options to the owner.
Placement, noise and neighbors
Townhome and lot-line homes leave little room for an outdoor unit. We look at clearances, noise toward bedroom windows (yours and the neighbors’), and drainage before recommending a location. If your home is in a community with an HOA, check whether it needs to approve the outdoor unit before we install.
Spring maintenance
A spring tune-up keeps an air conditioner or heat pump ready for the first hot week. We clean the outdoor coil, check refrigerant pressures, test the capacitor and contactor, clear the condensate drain, check airflow and confirm the thermostat is calling correctly.
Permits and rebates
Federal Way issues mechanical and electrical permits, and residential applications go through MyBuildingPermit (City of Federal Way, Permit Center). We pull them and book the inspections. PSE, which serves Federal Way (City of Federal Way, Who Do I Contact), offers rebates on heat pumps that replace electric heat or are added to a gas furnace (PSE electric resistance to heat pump rebate; PSE hybrid heat pump rebate). See our PSE rebates page.
Get an estimateA comfort advisor will call you to set up your visit.
How we install
Home Comfort Alliance has served Puget Sound homeowners since 1977 and is licensed, bonded and insured in Washington (WA Contractor Reg. #HOMECCA785BD). Our comfort advisor sizes the system to your home, and our electricians and technicians handle the circuit, the equipment and the startup as one job. Read more about cooling installation or see all Federal Way services.
Warranty and Home Comfort Club
We support the manufacturer’s warranty on covered equipment parts, and we stand behind our cooling installations with a 1-year labor warranty from installation.
Join our Home Comfort Club, a monthly membership starting at $15 a month, and a new system we install gets extended labor coverage for as long as your membership stays active, up to 5 years from installation. Ask your technician or comfort advisor for the current plan details.
Federal Way air conditioning FAQ
How much does air conditioning cost in Federal Way?
Seattle-area data puts a central AC replacement between $5,098 and $9,785, about $7,377, and a one-zone ductless mini-split between $2,222 and $5,555 (Angi, Seattle AC replacement costs, updated August 2026; Angi, Seattle mini-split costs, 2026 data). These are published estimates; you get a written quote from us.
Is a heat pump better than central AC in Federal Way?
For most homes, yes. A heat pump cools like an air conditioner and also heats through the long heating season, and PSE rebates apply when it replaces electric heat or pairs with a gas furnace (PSE electric resistance to heat pump rebate; PSE hybrid heat pump rebate). Central AC alone does not qualify for those rebates.
Can you add AC to a home with baseboard heat?
Yes. A ductless mini-split is the usual answer for homes without ducts. One outdoor unit can serve one or several indoor heads, and it heats in winter as well.
Why is my AC running but not cooling?
The most common causes are a clogged filter, a dirty outdoor coil, a failed capacitor or a refrigerant leak. Turn the system off if the copper lines are frosted over and call us.
How long does an AC installation take?
Adding a coil and outdoor unit to an existing furnace usually takes one day. Ductless systems take one to two days depending on how many indoor heads are installed.
Do I need a permit for air conditioning in Federal Way?
Usually. Federal Way issues mechanical and electrical permits, filed online through MyBuildingPermit (City of Federal Way, Permit Center). We pull the permits and book the city inspections.
What warranty comes with your work?
We support the manufacturer’s warranty on covered equipment parts, and our labor warranty covers installations for 1 year from installation. Home Comfort Club members (monthly membership starting at $15 a month) with a new system installed by Home Comfort Alliance get extended labor coverage for as long as their membership stays active, up to 5 years from installation.
Why Choose Home Comfort Alliance in Federal Way?
Your Comfort is Our Promise
We promise...
Reliable heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical service, all from one trusted company.
To educate and guide you through your options so you’ll find the right solution at the right price.
Knowledgeable and respectful workers who ensure both your own comfort during the installation process, and lasting comfort from your home systems.
Outstanding service, communication, and follow-up, so your home is comfortable now and for years to come.
Get a cooling estimate in Federal Way
A Sumner-based comfort advisor will measure your home and give you written options, incentive help and financing choices.
Get an estimate
A Sumner-based comfort advisor will call you to set up your visit.