How Much Does a New Central Air Conditioner Cost?

The average unit, with installation, can vary from $4,000 – $6,000 depending on the unique requirements of your home. The size of the unit, type of unit and installation requirements, all play a factor in the cost. Let’s look at some of the factors in more detail to help ensure you’re making the right choice.

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Make Sure You Get the Correct Size Air Conditioner

One of the most important factors to consider is the size of the unit that your home requires. Sizing an air conditioner based on the square footage of your home is not an accurate solution, it may get you in the ballpark, but there are lots of other factors that impact it. Insulation values, windows, number of people, and ductwork size, are just some of the factors that need to be considered. An air conditioner that is too big will turn on and off more frequently, which reduces the efficiency, and will not run long enough to remove the humidity from your home effectively. Leaving you with a cold, damp home and far from comfortable. An undersized unit will run constantly and cannot cool the home effectively, leaving you uncomfortable on those hot days.

Efficiency Matters When it Comes to Central Air Conditioning

Another important factor is the efficiency of the central air conditioner. Remember, the higher the SEER, the more efficient the air conditioner. In other words, the higher the SEER, the lower it will cost you to cool your home. The purchase price of the air conditioners will increase the more efficient you go. The base level efficiency in the market today is 13 SEER and the highest is 20-22 SEER. The 13 SEER models will be getting discontinued soon with the introduction of the new SEER 2 rating system, which will increase the minimum efficiency required. More on this to come in a future blog post.

Don’t Forget the Value of a Warranty

Warranty is another important factor to consider as well. Most homeowners overlook this part until there is a costly air conditioner repair and then regret not investigating warranties a little more thoroughly. Most entry-level central air conditioners come with 5 years of parts and compressor warranty from the manufacturer. Mid-level units will typically come with 10 years of parts and compressor warranty and some units will come with 12 years parts and compressor warranty. Another important warranty factor to consider is the labour warranty, which is provided by the contractor you have chosen to hire. This can range from 1yr labour warranty to 10 years labour warranty. We have a program that provides 15 years of parts, compressor and labour warranty on a new Trane system, there is more on our unbeatable warranties here.

With these just being a few of the factors to consider before purchasing your new central air conditioner, we recommend sitting down with an experienced professional for a free consultation, where they ask several detailed questions to decide the type of system that will best suit your family and your home. This process will guarantee the best results for keeping you comfortable and saving you money. Give us a call today to schedule your free in-home evaluation.