The average price of an air conditioner ranges from $2,500 to $7,500, depending on the size, type, efficiency rating, and several other factors. We are here to guide you about air conditioner cost factors that can impact the price of this home upgrade.
What is an Air Conditioner?
An air conditioner is an appliance or system that controls the humidity, temperature, and ventilation in a building or a vehicle, normally maintaining a cool temperature in warm conditions. Its other feature includes filtering the air within the home.
The cost of an air conditioner totally depends on the type. If you are thinking of investing in an air conditioner that is too small, it will give you minimal cooling and be a costly purchase. Meanwhile, installing a large air conditioner will cost you more than necessary.
Types of AC
- Portable air conditioning units: These cost about $100 to $500 to buy excluding installation. If you include installation, these cost about $600. These types are good for apartments, condos, and small homes.
- Window air conditioning units: These are usually suitable for keeping small-to-medium-size homes cool during the summers. This type of air conditioner costs about $1,3002 including professional installation, or about $150 to $8002 without the installation costs.
- Central Conditioning: This is another popular choice that may be installed in apartment buildings or condo buildings as well as homes. Central conditioning air conditioner works with the existing HVAC system to direct cool air throughout the home. These types will cost you about $2,500 to $4,500 for the appliance and materials or nearly $6,000 to purchase the appliance and have it professionally installed.
- Ductless Split Systems: This costs a bit less than central air conditioners, ranging from about $2,000 to $3,0002 for the unit. If you add the cost of professional installation, it will cost around $4,000. The prime difference between a ductless split system and a central AC system is that the former doesn’t rely on ductwork. Instead, the outdoor unit connects directly to an indoor, wall-mounted unit to cool the space directly, making them suitable for smaller homes.
- Geothermal air conditioning: This is the most expensive option, mainly because it can be used for both heating and cooling. This system works by absorbing heat from the room or home and releasing it into the ground to cool the home. And when winter comes, it absorbs heat from deep in the ground to help heat the home. The starting price of this air conditioner is $4,200 and can go up to $12,000 without installation costs. When you include the installation cost, the price can be around $24,000.
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Air Conditioner Installation Cost Factors
Size
Do not confuse the size in this context with the actual measurements of the AC. Instead, it denotes the cooling power of the appliance. The cooling power of an AC is measured in tons or British Thermal Units (BTUs), with one ton of cooling capacity equal to about 12,000 BTUs. The more powerful the AC, the higher will be its cost.
Home size (Sq. Ft) Tons BTUs Average Cost
500 to 1,000 1.5 18,000 $2,000 to $5,000
1,000 to 1,500 2 24,000 $2,500 to $5,500
1,500 to 2,000 2.5 30,000 $2,700 to $6,000
2,000 to 2,500 3 36,000 $3,000 to $6,500
2,500 to 3,000 4 48,000 $3,500 to $7,500
3,000 to 3,500 5 60,000 $4,000 to $8,000
Efficiency
The more efficient the unit, the less becomes the operating costs. Having said that, more efficient air conditioners will also typically come with a higher initial cost, so it’s a good idea to shop around to find a model that both fits the budget and efficiency.
ACs have an efficiency rating system that we call SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio). A higher rating shows the greater efficiency of the AC. Remember that new air conditioner units should at least have a minimum SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio). The top-efficiency models can reach SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio), which shows a very high-efficiency output.
- SEER 13 to 14: $3,200
- SEER 15 to 16: $4,600
- SEER 17 to 18: $4,700
- SEER 19 to 21: $6,900
- SEER 22 to 24: $7,700
Air Conditioner Brand
Some common air conditioner brands include Aire-Flo, American Standard, Carrier, Lennox, York, and Frigidaire. While a standard Aire-Flo AC unit will cost about $1,700 on average, a Lennox air conditioner will cost about $3,400. Expect to pay $3,200 for American Standard and Carrier air conditioners on average and $3,300 for Trane AC units. Frigidaire air conditioners cost a bit less, at $2,900. If you want to bargain, choose a Goodman AC unit that costs about $2,100, or invest a little more for a $2,800 York air conditioner.
Ductwork
Note that only central air conditioners and geothermal AC units require ductwork to work properly, so there is a high chance that you may have the proper ductwork for a new air conditioner. If that’s the case, you will be required to pay about $500 to $2,100 to install the necessary ducts and vents for the system. You can get this job done by the air conditioner installers. Some HVAC companies also may have separate workers who will install the ducts.
Labor
If you’re DIYing the air conditioner installation, there is no labor cost attached to it. But, if you decide to hire a professional HVAC company to do this work, then you will need to pay for the unit, installation materials, and labor. In most cases, the labor cost to install a new AC without installing updated ductwork is about $1,250 to $3,000. If you don’t have ductwork at home or your old ones need to be replaced, then the cost of labor increases to about $2,215 to $5,325.
Cost of Related Services
Maintenance and Repairs
Generally, air conditioners will last about 2 decades, so if the air conditioner hasn’t even reached the 10-year mark, then there is a high chance that it will last another 10 years with proper maintenance and repairs. For its inspection and repair, know that you have to spend around $390.
Plumbing and Electrical Work
ACs will typically need some sort of electrical connection to function. Also, some will require plumbing for proper drainage. Be ready to pay about $100 to $150 for a plumber to install or repair the drain lines, while an electrician may charge about $100 to $150 to add a dedicated circuit to the electrical panel for the AC system.
Old Air Conditioner Removal and Disposal
If you have an old air conditioner at home, it needs to be removed before the new one can be installed. The good news, some HVAC companies will do this job for free. However, they may charge a disposal fee. Typically, it will cost between $25 to $2000 to have the old air conditioner professionally removed and disposed of.
Permits and Warranties
Replacing an old AC unit may need a permit as per the local permitting requirements. Normally, the cost for it is about $100 to $250 while a permit to install a new air conditioner and ductwork can cost $250 to $1,500. Considering the amount of money you’re investing in a new AC, it’s safe to pay some more to get an extended warranty for the product. For a reliable extended product warranty, expect to pay between $100 to $500.
FAQs
Q: What size air conditioner will be good for a 2000 sq ft house?
A: For a 2,000-square-foot home, you should invest in an air conditioner that can remove about three tons or about 36,000 BTUs of heat per hour. Just keep in mind that the larger the air conditioner, the higher the cost.
Q: Should I replace my 20-year-old AC?
A: Given that an air conditioner will typically last about 15 to 20 years, there is a high chance that a 20-year-old air conditioner is not working efficiently. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to replace a 20-year-old air conditioner with a more efficient model.
Q: What is the average life of an AC?
A: An AC has an average lifespan of about 15 to 20 years, though the older the system gets, the less efficient it becomes, so once the air conditioner has passed about 10 years of age, it may be time to start shopping around for an upgrade.
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