Manuel Serrano HVAC Mechanical has been handling heating and cooling work across Universal City since 2016, and in that time we've built a reputation for showing up, doing the job right, and standing behind the work. Whether you own a home, manage a rental property, or run a commercial space, we cover the full range of HVAC services: repair, installation, replacement, seasonal maintenance, and emergency calls when the system goes down at the worst possible time. Hire us and you're hiring a neighbor who knows your home.
Heat restored. Cooling dialed in. Comfort back.
We've handled everything from a quick tune-up to a full system swap, and we bring the same care to every job across Universal City and the surrounding Bexar County communities. Below is a look at the work we do every day.
When your air conditioner stops cooling, starts blowing warm air, or won't turn on at all, every hour matters in a Texas summer. We diagnose condenser and compressor problems, check for refrigerant leaks, and trace airflow issues back to the source. Work is performed by qualified HVAC technicians who focus on finding the real problem, not just the easiest fix.
A furnace that won't heat, blows cold air, or refuses to start is more than an inconvenience when winter nights dip below comfortable. We repair gas and electric furnaces and get to the bottom of the problem fast. If your heater isn't working the way it should, call and we'll get the air running right.
Heat pumps run year-round in this climate, handling both cooling in summer and heating in the milder winter months. That continuous use means problems can surface in any season. We diagnose heat pumps that aren't heating, aren't cooling, or have gone down entirely, and we get them back online without delay.
When a repair no longer makes sense, a full system replacement is the honest next step. We handle complete equipment swaps: central AC units, furnaces, heat pumps, and air handlers. Before we recommend anything, we assess the home or building to make sure the new equipment is properly sized. A right-sized system runs efficiently, lasts longer, and keeps every room comfortable.
Room additions, garages, sunrooms, and commercial spaces without existing ductwork are a natural fit for mini-split systems. We install and repair ductless units for both residential and commercial customers. If you have a space that your central system doesn't reach, a mini-split is often the cleanest solution.
A thermostat that isn't reading correctly or won't communicate with the system can make a perfectly good HVAC setup feel unreliable. We install programmable and smart thermostats, replace outdated units, and troubleshoot thermostats that aren't working as they should. A properly calibrated control makes a real difference in comfort and efficiency.
Leaking ducts waste conditioned air before it ever reaches the rooms you're trying to heat or cool. If you're noticing uneven temperatures, weak airflow, or unexpectedly high utility bills, the ductwork is often where the problem starts. We seal and repair duct systems to get airflow back where it belongs.
Central Texas humidity and seasonal allergens make indoor air quality a real concern for a lot of households. We install whole-house air filtration systems and air purifiers that work with your existing HVAC equipment. Cleaner air throughout the home is a straightforward improvement that makes a difference every day.
A seasonal tune-up is the best way to avoid a breakdown during the hottest or coldest stretch of the year. We inspect, clean, and test the system from top to bottom, checking refrigerant levels, electrical connections, burner performance, and airflow. Catching a small problem in spring or fall is a lot less disruptive than dealing with it in July or January.
Don't let a small problem turn into a no-heat night or a no-cool afternoon. When the system goes down and you need someone today, we're available for emergency and same-day service across Universal City and the surrounding area. No heat in the middle of winter and no cooling during a Texas summer are both situations that can't wait until next week. We keep response times short because we know how fast conditions inside a home or building can become uncomfortable and even unsafe.
As a family-run heating and cooling business, we take emergency calls seriously. You'll reach a real person who can get a technician on the way.
Right diagnosis. Right repair. Right on the first visit.
Bexar County runs hot for a long stretch of the year, with summers that push well above 100 degrees and winters that are mild but still bring enough cold to matter. Add in the high ambient humidity that settles over Central Texas through much of the year, and you have a climate that puts real demands on heating and cooling equipment. The three services below come up constantly in this area for exactly those reasons.
Most homes in this part of Texas run a paired furnace-and-AC setup, and when one side of that system reaches the end of its useful life, it often makes sense to look at the full picture. We give honest recommendations on repair versus replacement, never an upsell. If a repair is the right call, we say so. If the age, efficiency rating, and repair history point toward replacement, we walk you through the options clearly. On installation day, we handle the full swap and make sure the new equipment is matched to the actual load of the home or building.
The San Antonio metro climate is well-suited to heat pumps. Winters here are mild enough that a heat pump handles the heating load efficiently, and the same system covers cooling through the long summer. We install heat pumps as new systems and as switchovers from older equipment. If you're weighing a heat pump against a traditional split system, we can walk you through the comparison based on your specific setup. Call today and we'll set up your appointment.
High humidity in Central Texas isn't just uncomfortable. It affects indoor air quality, encourages mold growth, and makes a properly cooled home feel warmer than it actually is. A whole-home dehumidifier integrated with your existing HVAC system pulls excess moisture out of the air consistently, across every room. We size and install dehumidification equipment that works with your current setup and pairs well with smart controls and zoning systems for full comfort management.
If you've never hired an HVAC company before, or if you've had frustrating experiences with contractors who don't communicate well, we want to change that. We work with single-family homeowners, apartment and condo residents, landlords with rental portfolios, property management companies, and commercial clients across Universal City and nearby communities.
For rental properties and multi-family buildings, we understand that a tenant without cooling or heat is an urgent situation. We respond quickly, document the work clearly, and keep property managers in the loop throughout the job. For commercial clients, including offices, retail spaces, and warehouses, we handle both repair calls and planned maintenance on equipment of all sizes.
This is the kind of HVAC work neighbors pass along by word of mouth, and we've built our business on exactly that. We'll get your home comfortable again fast.
When the technician arrives, the real work begins, and every person we send out is a qualified HVAC technician who takes the diagnosis seriously. We've been working in this area since 2016, and we know the equipment, the climate, and the neighborhoods. We serve Universal City and the surrounding communities, including Converse, Schertz, Live Oak, Kirby, Selma, Windcrest, Cibolo, and the northeast San Antonio corridor.
We're locally owned and personally accountable for every job. When something needs attention after the work is done, you call us and we handle it. Give us a call and we'll get the comfort back.
We work to get a technician on the way as quickly as the schedule allows, and we treat no-heat and no-cool calls with the urgency they deserve. Same-day response is our goal for emergency situations, and after-hours availability means you are not waiting until the next business day. Call (830) 590-9289 and we will get moving.
Keep doors and windows closed to hold in whatever cool air remains. Draw blinds or curtains on sun-facing windows to reduce heat gain. Keep an eye on vulnerable household members, including young children and elderly adults, and move to a cooler part of the home or a neighbor's space if conditions become unsafe.
We check refrigerant charge and look for signs of leaks, inspect the condenser coil for dirt and debris blocking airflow, test the capacitor and contactor, and verify that the fan motor and compressor are operating within normal range. We also check the electrical connections on the unit itself and confirm that the system is communicating correctly with the thermostat.
Common warning signs include unusual sounds like banging, squealing, or rattling, inconsistent heating or cooling across rooms, the system short-cycling on and off, and a noticeable rise in energy bills without a change in usage. If you are noticing any of these, it is worth having a technician take a look before the problem gets worse.
Those sounds usually point to a mechanical problem inside the system. Banging can indicate a loose or broken component in the blower or compressor. Squealing often means a worn belt or bearing. Rattling can be debris in the system or a loose panel. A technician can pinpoint the source and tell you what it will take to fix it.
The decision usually comes down to the age of the equipment, the cost of the repair relative to a replacement, and how efficiently the system is running. If a system is more than 15 years old and facing a major repair, replacement is often the better investment. We give honest recommendations on repair versus replacement, never an upsell, and we walk you through the numbers so you can decide with confidence.
We start with an assessment of the home or building to make sure new equipment is properly sized for the space. We walk you through the equipment options and give you a clear cost estimate before anything is ordered. On installation day, qualified HVAC technicians handle the full swap and confirm the system is running correctly before we leave.
We assess the space, recommend appropriately sized equipment, provide a detailed estimate, and schedule the installation once you approve the plan. The installation is handled by qualified HVAC technicians who manage the full job from equipment removal through startup and testing. We do not consider the job done until the system is running the way it should.
A failing system has to work harder and run longer to reach the set temperature, which drives up energy consumption. Refrigerant leaks, dirty coils, failing capacitors, and duct leaks all reduce efficiency and force the equipment to compensate. Addressing the underlying problem almost always brings energy use back down.
Yes. We document what we found, what work was performed, and what was installed or replaced. You will have a clear record of the visit so you know exactly what was done and can reference it for future service or warranty purposes.
Permit requirements vary depending on the scope of the work and local jurisdiction. Where permits and inspections are required for an installation or replacement, we address that as part of the project so the work meets current standards. If you have questions about whether your specific job requires a permit, ask us when you call for an estimate.
Manuel Serrano HVAC Mechanical is ready to take your call, whether you need a same-day repair, a system replacement estimate, or a seasonal tune-up before peak season hits. We work with homeowners, landlords, and commercial clients across Universal City and Bexar County, and we treat every job the same way: show up on time, do the work right, and leave the space better than we found it.
Call (830) 590-9289 to request an estimate or schedule your service.
Trusted by homeowners. Relied on by property managers. Ready for your system.
We handle the full range of residential and commercial heating and cooling work in Universal City and the surrounding Bexar County communities. Whether you need a quick repair, a seasonal tune-up, or a complete system replacement, the table below lays out what each service covers and who it is best suited for. If you have questions about your specific situation, call us and we will walk you through the options before any work begins.
| Service | What the Service Includes | When You Need It | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonal Maintenance and Tune-Ups | Full system inspection and cleaningRefrigerant and airflow checkThermostat calibrationSmall-problem identification before failure | Homeowners and property managers who want to extend equipment life and avoid emergency calls | Spring is the right window for AC service before the heat arrives; fall is the right time for heating service before temperatures drop. We also offer maintenance for commercial clients. |
| Full System Installation and Replacement | Equipment sizing for your home or buildingNew central AC or furnace installationFull system swap with matched componentsClear estimate before anything is ordered | Homeowners or property managers replacing an aging or failing HVAC system | Heavy cooling seasons in Bexar County accelerate wear; a properly sized replacement system can lower monthly energy costs noticeably compared to an aging unit running past its useful life. |
| Emergency HVAC Service | Same-day response when slots are availableAfter-hours and weekend callsNo-heat and no-cool emergency dispatchReal local person answers when you call | Any household or business where the system has gone down and waiting days for service is not an option | System failures do not keep business hours; we handle emergency calls and work to get a technician on the way as quickly as the schedule allows. |
| Heat Pump Installation | Site assessment and load calculationEquipment selection and sizingFull installation from start to finishZoning and comfort-control walkthrough | Homeowners looking to replace an aging central air system or add efficient heating and cooling from one unit | Heat pumps are a strong fit for the South Texas climate because mild winters mean the system rarely has to work at the limits of its heating capacity. |
| Indoor Air Quality and Air Filtration | Whole-home air filtration installationAir purifier and air scrubber setupHumidity and moisture assessmentIntegration with existing HVAC equipment | Households dealing with stale air, allergy symptoms, or persistent odors that do not clear on their own | Excess indoor humidity in this climate can affect air quality, not just comfort; addressing both filtration and humidity together often produces the biggest improvement. |
| Whole-Home Dehumidification and Humidity Control | Whole-home dehumidifier installationIntegration with existing HVAC equipmentHumidity level assessmentComfort and air quality improvement | Homes where high indoor humidity makes the air feel warmer than the thermostat shows or where moisture is straining the AC | Persistent humidity is common in Bexar County; a whole-home dehumidifier reduces the load on your AC and makes indoor spaces feel more comfortable at the same thermostat setting. |
| Furnace and AC System Replacement | Assessment of existing equipmentReplacement equipment recommendationFull installation by qualified techniciansEnergy-efficiency review as part of the process | Households where repairs have become frequent or efficiency has dropped sharply | Long run-times in South Texas heat add up fast; when repair costs approach the value of the equipment, replacement is often the smarter investment. |
| Thermostat and Smart-Control Installation | Wi-Fi and programmable thermostat installationReplacement of inaccurate or failed unitsSmart-control setup and app configurationMulti-zone control options | Homeowners who want better control over comfort and energy use, or whose current thermostat is not reading temperatures correctly | A thermostat upgrade is one of the lower-cost HVAC improvements with an immediate payoff, and it can be scheduled quickly without a major job window. |
| Ductwork Repair and Sealing | Duct leak location and diagnosisSealing of problem areasReplacement of deteriorated duct sectionsAirflow verification after repair | Homes with uneven temperatures room to room or higher-than-expected energy bills despite a functioning system | Leaky ducts are a common and underdiagnosed cause of comfort problems; a duct inspection often explains why a system that tests fine at the unit still cannot keep the house comfortable. |
| Heat Pump Repair and Service | Full system diagnosticRefrigerant and airflow checkReversing valve and controls inspectionRepair estimate before work begins | Homes with an existing heat pump that is not heating or cooling properly | Heat pumps handle both heating and cooling from a single unit, so a problem in one mode often points to a shared component worth catching early. |
| AC Repair and Service | Diagnostic and troubleshootingRefrigerant leak checkAirflow and controls inspectionSame-day repair when available | Homeowners or businesses with an AC that is not cooling, cycling oddly, or will not start | South Texas cooling seasons are long and hard on equipment; catching a small problem early usually costs less than waiting until the system fails mid-summer. |
| Heating and Furnace Repair | Furnace diagnostic and inspectionIgnition and heat exchanger checkBlower motor and controls serviceEmergency no-heat response | Households dealing with a furnace that blows cold air, short-cycles, or makes unusual sounds or smells | Winters in this area are mild but do arrive; a furnace that has sat idle all year should be checked before the first cold snap hits. |
How do I know if my AC or furnace needs to be replaced rather than repaired?
A few things point toward replacement: the equipment is more than 12 to 15 years old, repairs have been coming up more than once a season, or the cost of the next repair is approaching a significant fraction of what a new system would cost. We give honest repair-versus-replacement guidance based on the actual condition of the equipment, not on what produces the higher ticket. If you are unsure, call us and we will assess the system and walk you through the options.
Why would my system stop heating or cooling even though it appears to be running?
A system that runs but does not condition the air is usually dealing with one of a few issues: a refrigerant problem, a dirty or blocked coil, an airflow restriction from a clogged filter or leaky duct, or a controls failure. In some cases the outdoor unit is running but the indoor air handler is not moving air properly. A proper diagnostic at the unit is the only reliable way to find the cause. Call us and we will get a technician out to trace the problem from the start.
How often should I schedule a maintenance tune-up?
Once a year is the minimum, and twice a year is better if you want to catch problems in both the cooling and heating sides of the system. Spring is the right window for AC service before the long Texas cooling season begins, and fall is the right time to check the heating system before temperatures drop. Regular maintenance extends equipment life and is the most reliable way to avoid emergency calls.
Same-Day and Emergency Availability
We offer same-day scheduling when slots are open and take emergency calls for both no-heat and no-cool situations, including after hours and weekends. System failures do not keep business hours, and we work to get a technician on the way as quickly as possible.
What does a seasonal tune-up actually include?
A tune-up covers a full inspection of the system, cleaning of key components, a refrigerant check, airflow verification, and thermostat calibration. We look for anything that is starting to wear or underperform and flag it before it becomes a failure. We do not push repairs that are not yet necessary; if something can wait, we will tell you that clearly.
Is a heat pump a good choice for a home in this area?
Yes, for most homes in the Universal City area a heat pump is a practical and efficient option. Because winters here are mild, a heat pump handles the heating load without needing the heavy-duty output that colder climates demand. That makes it a solid replacement path for aging central air systems, giving you both heating and cooling from one unit. We assess your home and walk you through sizing and zoning options before recommending anything.
Why is one room in my home always hotter or colder than the rest?
Uneven temperatures are usually caused by duct leaks, an undersized or oversized system, blocked or closed vents, or poor airflow balance in the duct layout. In some cases a thermostat that is not reading accurately is part of the problem. A duct inspection and a look at the overall airflow often turns up the cause quickly. Call us and we will take a look at the system as a whole rather than just the unit.
Transparent Upfront Pricing
We give you a clear estimate before any work begins. Pricing is communicated in plain language, and we explain exactly what we found and what it will cost before we start. No surprise charges after the fact.
What can strange noises from my HVAC unit mean?
Different sounds point to different problems. A rattling or banging sound often means a loose or failing component inside the air handler or outdoor unit. A high-pitched squeal can indicate a blower motor or belt issue. A grinding noise is worth taking seriously and usually means something is wearing in a way that will get worse quickly. If your system is making a sound it did not make before, call us and describe what you are hearing. We can often narrow down the likely cause before the technician arrives.
How do indoor humidity levels affect my AC and my comfort?
High indoor humidity makes the air feel warmer than the thermostat shows, which causes the AC to run longer and work harder to reach the set temperature. Over time that adds wear to the equipment and raises energy costs. In Bexar County, ambient humidity is persistent, and a whole-home dehumidifier integrated with your existing HVAC equipment can make a real difference in both comfort and how hard the system has to work.
Family-Owned and Locally Operated
We are a family-run heating and cooling business serving Universal City and the surrounding Bexar County communities. Hire us and you're hiring a neighbor who knows your home.
Do I need to be home when the technician comes out?
Someone needs to be present to provide access to the equipment and to hear the diagnostic findings and estimate before any work begins. We give you a clear explanation of what we found and what it will cost before we start, so being available for that conversation matters. If scheduling is a challenge, call us and we will work with you to find a window that fits.
How does pricing work, and will I know the cost before anything starts?
Yes. We give you a clear estimate before any work begins, so there are no surprise charges after the fact. Pricing is explained in plain language, and we walk you through what we found and what the repair or installation will cost before we proceed. For larger jobs like a full system replacement, we explain up front if a deposit is required to cover equipment ordering.
What should I check before calling for emergency service?
Start with the thermostat: confirm it is set to the right mode and that the temperature setting is where you expect it. Then check whether the circuit breaker for the air handler or furnace has tripped. A clogged filter can also shut a system down by starving it of airflow. If none of those resolve it, call us. We handle same-day and after-hours emergency calls, and a technician will diagnose the problem properly rather than guessing.
Call (830) 590-9289 and we will talk through your system, answer your questions, and get you scheduled for service.
(830) 590-9289