If your air conditioner is broken, or if you need to install an air conditioner in a home for the first time, it may seem like a daunting task and a huge upcoming expense. Air conditioners can be expensive, but most people don’t know how much they can really cost.
Luckily, we’re here to explain all the relevant costs of purchasing and installing a new air conditioner.
How Much Does It Cost to Install an Air Conditioner?
Air conditioner installation cost has a wide range. You’re looking at between $2,800 and $7,800 to install an air conditioner. But why is this range so big?
The cost of installing an air conditioner will highly depend on the type of system you install. You are going to want to install the right system for your home. Here are some factors you’re going to want to take into consideration.
- Size of your home (sq. ft)
- Climate zone
- Whether your home has ductwork installed
- Whether your home is a new build
The most popular brands of air conditioner you’ll find are Trane, Carrier, Amana, Ameristar, Comfortmaker, Rheem, Lennox, and Goodman. Generally, you’ll find that Trane and Carrier units are more expensive but more powerful, whereas Amana and Rheem focus on affordable and highly efficient units. Ask your HVAC professional which brand they recommend for your home.
Cost of central air conditioner installation
It’s more expensive to install central cooling in a home. The average cost of installing a central air conditioner is about $3,900 before taxes.
The biggest variances in central air conditioner installation cost are the cost of the air conditioning unit and the cost of the labor to install the unit. These costs highly depend on how powerful the unit is and how much it costs to install the ductwork and hook it up to the unit.
A central AC unit requires ductwork to be installed. Without existing ductwork, central AC cannot function. Therefore, a new central AC installation will generally be done in a new home build.
More powerful units need to be installed in larger homes. Therefore, larger homes can expect a higher cost to install central AC.
Cost of ductless air conditioner installation
Ductless air conditioner installation is somewhat less expensive to install than central AC. You’re looking at a $3,500 average cost of installation before taxes.
So what does ductless air conditioning look like? It generally has an outdoor unit that is hooked up to a unit indoors, blowing the air throughout the rooms of the home. Ductless systems generally serve very small homes like apartments, mobile homes, and small ranch or bungalow style homes.
As the name implies, ductless does not require any ductwork installed. For a home with no ductwork, this is generally the least expensive option by far.
Just like with central AC, the biggest variances in cost are the AC unit and the labor.
Find the Best AC Installation Provider for Your Home
After figuring out which type of air conditioner you need, you’re going to want to hire a professional HVAC company to install the system for you. Central air conditioning systems require the installation of ductwork, or if you have existing ductwork, the central air conditioning system needs to be hooked up to it. Even ductless systems will require someone to install the unit for you.
