How Much Does A Central Air Unit Cost To Install

Updated February 2, 2022

Reviewed by Dan DiClerico, Smart Home Strategist and Home Expert. Written by HomeAdvisor.

Toll to Install Central Air

Installing primal air conditioning typically costs betwixt $3,799 and $7,558 with an average price of $five,661. The final toll for the projection depends on which brand you lot choose, SEER rating, the cost of installation and size of your abode.

Central Air Installation Cost Calculator

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Where are you located?

National Average	$five,661
Typical Range	$3,799 - $seven,558
Low Cease - High End	$1,500 - $xi,400

Cost information is based on actual project costs as reported past 20,949 HomeAdvisor members.

2. New Air Conditioner Costs

A new Ac organisation costs $v,661 on average simply can vary significanly based on a number of factors, including:

• The blazon of your unit

• Square footage of your habitation

• Number of tons

• SEER rating

• Make

• Local labor rates

3. New Air Conditioner Cost by Type

Type	Cost
Central Air System	$three,900 - $vii,500
Ductless Dissever Organisation	$two,000 - $14,500
Window Unit	$150 - $500
Portable Unit	$150 - $500

Make an informed determination about what kind of Ac organisation yous need before getting a unit of measurement installed or replaced. The type of AC organisation you choose determines a big percent of your overall cost. For example, if you decide to have a dissever or central system installed, you will need to hire an air conditioning professional.

• Central air costs: $3,900-$7,500. This type uses ducts to cool a whole house.

• Ductless mini splits toll $ii,000-$14,500. A mini split uses multiple indoor units without the need for ducts.

• Window air conditioners cost $150-$500 to install. These mountain to your windows and are easy to install on your own.

• Portable air conditioners toll $150-$500. A portable unit can be placed anywhere and uses a hose to send oestrus out of a window.

iv. Cost of Central Air for a 1,200 Square Foot House

The price to install primal air in a 1,200 foursquare foot home sits between $iii,000 and $4,000. Of grade, this price varies based on the SEER rating of the unit of measurement, and whether or not the habitation requires ductwork installation or repair.

On average, you'll need near 18 BTU capacity per square human foot. Just anywhere from 14 to 26 BTU capacity per foursquare foot is acceptable. Follow these steps to see how much Btu capacity you lot'll need:

1. Figure out the square footage of the room. For a square room, multiply length by width. For a triangular room, multiply length by width and split by 2.

2. There'southward a chart you lot can reference in stores that volition tell you what size motorcar you volition need. If you want a arrangement for a whole house, it's a flake more complicated and will require professional person assistance.

five. Ac Unit of measurement Cost past Ton

Air Conditioner BTU Prices Per Foursquare Foot

Tons	Capacity (BTUs per hour)	Typical Cost
1.five	18,000	$2,500 - $iv,500
2	24,000	$3,100 - $5,100
three	36,000	$3,400 - $5,400
4	48,000	$4,200 - $half dozen,200

The larger your house, the more cooling power yous'll need. All the same, bigger isn't better in every scenario. If the organization is too big information technology volition cycle on and off all the time, wasting energy and emitting a loud, disruptive sound. On the other paw, if the system is too small, it will run constantly and absurd your firm inefficiently. Be sure to consult an Air conditioning pro to get the most accurate estimate for this project. Or, endeavour out this AC size calculator below for a rough guess.

a. 14 SEER Air-conditioning Unit Toll

Installing a fourteen SEER Air-conditioning unit of measurement is betwixt $iii,000 and $6,000. Simply the college the SEER rating, the more than energy efficient it is. So, this model could save you coin over time.

Learn more nearly SEER ratings and tax breaks beneath.

b. 16 SEER AC Unit Price

A 16 SEER air conditioner runs from $iii,700 to $ix,000 to install. Though more expensive, this model is more energy efficient than a fourteen SEER unit of measurement. There'due south also an opportunity for a tax break until December 31, 2022.

half-dozen. Key Air Unit Cost by Brand

Brand	Average Cost
Aire-Flo	$1,700
Amana	$2,600
American Standard	$three,200
Armstrong	$ii,000
Bryant	$two,200
Carrier	$iii,200
Coleman	$1,700
Comfortmaker	$1,700
Frigidaire	$ii,900
Gibson	$two,300
Goodman	$ii,100
Heil	$two,600
Lennox	$3,400
Payne	$1,400
Rheem	$2,500
Ruud	$2,400
Tempstar	$1,800
Trane	$3,300
Whirlpool	$1,900
York	$2,800

Get an AC Unit Installed past the Best Pre-Screened Pros in Your Expanse

7. Ac Installation Costs

Labor adds between $500 and $ii,500 to the textile costs. Installing a make new organisation with all new ducts will toll more than replacing an existing organisation with ducts already installed.

8. Central AC Cost Considerations

Depending on your domicile and current Ac organization, you lot may too run across these additional cost factors:

• Installing ducts and vents costs $500-$2,100. If y'all're installing new ducts, this is likewise a good fourth dimension to explore upgrading your heating arrangement, equally it volition exist cheaper to do both together.

• If your AC is fairly new, yous may rather pay the cost to repair your ac unit. Most homeowners spend about $375 on repairs.

• Any newly installed air conditioning unit volition come with a manufacturer's warranty. Warranties generally last from 5 to fifteen years and may save yous money if you lot're still covered.

• Revenue enhancement credits are offered for purchases placed in service through December 31, 2022 to incentivize homeowners to purchase energy efficient abode products. Bank check this Energy Star page for the most recent news on tax breaks for AC installation.

• If you accept a well built and well insulated home, your heating and cooling systems volition work more efficiently and save you coin. Explore the costs of new insulation or upgrading your quondam insulation as information technology might save y'all money in the long run.

a. Adding Central Air to Forced Air Rut

Many central air conditioning systems apply the furnace blower to distribute cool air through the home. If you do non have a central heating arrangement installed, information technology is worth it to install a price-effective heating and air conditioning organization at the same time. If you already accept key oestrus, y'all can utilise the existing fans and duct system for the cardinal air system.

9. Ac Replacement Cost

The price to replace a central air conditioner is about $v,000. However, this toll varies depending on the size of your home and the difficulty of the project. It can cost equally much as $12,500 to replace an Air conditioning unit of measurement. The labor required to remove and dispose of the old system adds to the cost. The size of your home, brand of AC unit of measurement and ductwork complexity tin can all raise the price likewise.

10. FAQs

a. How big of one do I need?

The general rule is that every 500 or 600 square feet requires one ton of cooling. All the same, this adding varies depending on your home and contractor.

Your contractor will do a load calculation to make up one's mind the proper central air workout unit for your domicile. This calculation accounts for the climate, size, shape and orientation of your home, likewise as its foursquare footage. A professional person volition also look at the insulation, windows, walls, floors and other materials that compose your home. He/she will then examine any leaks, seals and existing ducts or vents. Many refer to load calculating as the Transmission J methodology.

b. How exercise I know if my ac unit is quality?

Enquire these questions during your primal air installation to ensure its quality and optimum performance for years to come:

• Is information technology sized correctly? The equipment must be the right size to provide the best operation for your home. That'southward why professionals measure your home and practice load calculations.

• Is the duct system right for the Ac unit? Ducts that are damaged, leaking or missing in spots will affect operation. Your contractor will repair and install more ducts if needed, and then everything works at its highest caliber.

• How is the airflow? Airflow must be just right; otherwise, you could see an increase in your neb or hot spots in rooms of your home. A contractor can measure the book and adjust ducts or vents for optimal airflow.

c. What are SEER and EER Ratings?

SEER Ratings

An air conditioning system's SEER is specially important if you alive in a climate that changes temperature dramatically. The SEER is determined by the cooling output during the winter divided by its electric input during the winter. The higher the rating, the more efficient information technology will be. In January of 2006, the U.Southward. put standards in place for cooling units which are still in effect today. They must have a minimum SEER of 13. So, if yous alive in a habitation with a system installed earlier the new standards went into effect, consider having it replaced. SEER 13 units increase home efficiency past xxx%.

EER Ratings

An EER certifies the cooling efficiency of HVAC units. It's calculated by the rate of the cooling in British thermal units (Btus) per hr and divided by the rate of energy input in watts at a specific temperature. The calculation goes as BtuH/WATT at dry out bulb (db) versus wet bulb (wb) temperatures. The optimal rating for a cooling unit of measurement is about 80db/67wb within and 95db/75wb outside.

d. Is central air worth the cost?

Deciding if central air is worth the cost depends on your needs and local housing market. If you live in a hotter climate, information technology can definitely be worth the cost. Non only can it keep your domicile at a comfortable temperature, merely ac can even save lives during extreme heat waves. Just in a milder zone without severe temperatures, window units, fans or the breeze from an open window could be acceptable.

You probably won't compensate the entire toll for the installation when you lot sell your home, equally information technology is an expensive projection that isn't as flashy every bit something like a new deck. But this invisible upgrade can help you sell your domicile faster if you lot alive in a hot climate. And many buyers are willing to pay a bit more than for a working AC.

e. How long practise Air conditioning units last?

Nigh Air conditioning units concluding up to 15 years. But if you use it oftentimes and don't maintain it, the system could require replacing much sooner. You should replace your ac in one case it is out of date or stops working properly.

f. How long does it take to install primal air conditioning?

Depending on the project, it tin can take 1 to 5 or more days for a pro to install central air workout. AC replacements accept more time, as do projects with extensive ductwork repairs or installations. This extra time can range anywhere from an additional day to some other week!

Have More than Questions? Ask a Local Air conditioning Installer

Source: https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/heating-and-cooling/install-an-ac-unit/

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