Suppose you found yourself stuck in a room where everyone kept sweating, the chances are high you would ask yourself, How much does it cost to install air conditioning?
Although that is a minor scenario, the question becomes relevant when setting up a new home or a workplace. In places where the climate is warmer during summertime, it is also a query that you will always have to make. So, really, how much does it cost to install air conditioning? Keep reading to learn the answers to this question.
Why Should You Bother with Air Conditioning?
It is natural that, even as you ask for the cost of installing an air conditioner, you also doubt if you really need it. However, considering that there might be other pressing needs you have, skipping some cool air shouldn’t hurt, right?
The cost of installing an air conditioner is actually a negligible one in terms of health implications. Air conditioners are not just a way to be comfortable; they help keep your air free of allergens and other pollutants. It is a way to ensure you have an excellent quality of indoor air as well as maintain a healthy body temperature.
You may find it unnecessary to worry about air conditioning installation prices when you discover that it also keeps you functional. During heat waves, you have such levels of discomfort that it can be quite hard to concentrate. The AC helps with preserving body fluids, avoid inhaling polluted air, and prevent mosquitoes.
How Much Does It Cost to Install an Air Conditioner?
Air conditioning installation price in the United States is set between lower than $1000 and a high of $15,000. The average national price, however, is around $5000. The quotation you get depends on the volume of the work and the AC type you’re installing.
Next we examine the factors that influence the cost of installing an air conditioner below.
Factors that Influence the Cost of Installing an Air Conditioner
As stated above, the price tag you get for your installation will depend primarily on a number of things. The following will help you gain an idea beforehand.
Efficiency of Your Air Conditioner
The cost of installing an air conditioner will, among other things, be determined by how efficient it is. This quality is measured using its SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). A SEER rating tells you how well the AC will be able to cool your home. Today, the rating of ACs lies between 13 to 25 in terms of their energy efficiency. The higher yours is, the higher its cost of installation.
You should not put yourself under unnecessary pressure. If it is only convenient that you go for a lower SEER rating, then you should. Figures between the range of 14 to 16 will give you a high efficiency without draining the life from your wallet. Similarly, your choice of SEER should be framed by the size and condition of your home. It will waste energy if it is too high for you.
The Air Conditioner Manufacturer
Air conditioning installation price is determined by the people who made it. The cost of installing an air conditioner will basically go up if your unit is market royalty. To cut costs, the first thing to know is that you don’t always need the big brands. Minimal differences exist between air conditioners in terms of quality. A product may be more innovative with its filter while another may be a champion with the compressor.
Whatever the case, you can always research for a less expensive but equally efficient brand.
Manual J Calculation of Heat Level
In answering the question of how much it costs to install air conditioning, it is important to be aware of how a calculation influences price. Your contractor uses a Manual J calculation to determine the heat level in your house and the AC size needed to fix it.
Air conditioning installation prices may be affected as contractors search for air leaks, measure size, assess layouts, number the occupants, and check out relevant issues within your home. The calculation can cost you hundreds of dollars in addition to your buying price.
If it gets too high, remember you can always ask for a discount to tone down the bill a little.
Your Contractor’s Cost to Install Air Conditioning
What you get as air conditioning installation price will further be determined by the contractors you employ. Even for the same kind of job, installation prices can vary greatly. This is largely due to each company’s standards and the quality of your installers’ training. At Erica's Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Restoration, our installers possess excellent skills backed by quality experience.
One thing you should note, though, is that a cheap offer is not a guarantee for a great job. It is also important to understand that the installation phase is easily the most important in your AC journey. If done incorrectly, you can encounter problems later on. Thus, to prevent an additional future cost of installing an air conditioner, you should start with the following:
- Do a background check on the track record of the installation company
- See whether they have insurance and relevant licenses
- Compare their prices with companies in the same niche and pick who seems better
The Warranty
How much it costs to install air conditioning is invariably tied to the quality of your warranty as well. Warranties come from the manufacturing company and the contractors who install the unit. Both will affect the price you pay overall.
A manufacturer’s warranty is already pre-attached to the AC unit and can extend from as few as two years to an entire decade. For the installation company, this is pretty relative. The installation company can offer to cover costs for any faults and other issues. Largely, it depends on the company you use. It is best to compare different contractors to inform yourself and make a preferred choice.
Size of Your AC
The size of the AC you need will also influence the cost of installation. How much it costs to install air conditioning is influenced, as the AC size determines the amount of work and time that goes into installation. AC sizes are measured in tonnage and British Thermal Units (BTUs). Both of them essentially refer to the amount of heat your air conditioner can remove from your home in an hour.
For BTUs, the size range is from 12,000 to 60,000 BTUs. Tonnage, on the other hand, is measured from 1 to 5 tons. Again, these only mean much when considering the size that fits your home. The bigger your home size, the higher its requirement in figures.
Structural Changes Within Your House
Also, to understand how much it costs to install air conditioning, you need to be aware that the process does not come in isolation. It is hugely connected to the layout and design of your home. Thus, if you live in a structure that technicians think is not amenable to AC, some refitting works will be necessary.
This can include removing and replacing building materials, setting up AC-friendly channels for air circulation, and several other things. The building department’s responsibilities for your locality may also need to inspect to find out its quality. You should factor this in. Thus, when gunning for a new AC, you should add various costs to the purchase expense.
Helpful Tips to Reduce Air Conditioning Installation Costs
Installation costs can be… well, costly. On top of that, some less than reputable companies may try to take advantage of what you don’t know. Check out these must-knows before you commit to an overly costly installation.
Consider Your Cooling Needs
Before shelling out money to purchase an air conditioner, remember that how much it costs to install air conditioning is affected by what you buy. To help yourself along, you can assess the environment you live in. This can help you land a unit that doesn’t exceed climate demands.
Also, you can look into your daily habits to determine what is appropriate. For instance, if you do not stay home much, you can go for a mini-split air conditioner. This model merges an outdoor compressor with blowers on the inside and can be set up on different exterior walls. Note that it is only useful for cooling small areas, but generally, it does reflect on how much it costs to install air conditioning.
Do It in the Best Season
If you want to reduce the cost of installing air conditioning, you should be watchful for the appropriate season. During summer and winter periods, HVAC companies are likely to be quite engaged. This impacts the price. As such, you may want to wait until seasonally temperate times to get a faster project delivery and a lower price.
See If You Can Get an Incentive
Companies and local administrations sometimes prioritize high-efficiency air conditioners. You can reduce how much it costs to install air conditioning with incentives from any of these.
Some Air Conditioner Tips to Help Save on Costs
Here, we look at air conditioners and how much it might cost to install each type.
Split Air Conditioning System
These can cost less than $2000 in addition to labor. They save more in living spaces that already have a furnace. They are mostly quiet, efficient, and do not cost much to maintain. A split system consists of three parts: an evaporator coil, air handler, and condenser. The first two parts are placed in the interior while the condenser stays in a metal box outside.
Heat Pumps
These have the most efficiency in mild climatic conditions. They perform the dual role of a furnace and air conditioner. A heat pump takes the hot air from within your home and channels it outside, but it sends heat your way from the outside during winter. You should prepare a budget of around $4000, including labor.
Both can be a great way to limit how much it costs to install air conditioning.
Contact Erica's Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Restoration in Boca Raton for Your Installation
How much it costs to install air conditioning in Boca Raton is a question that is answered by many factors. Generally, it is determined by the requirements of your home and that of your environment.
Before purchase and installation, it is essential to get expert advice to help along. It is also important to have experts to see it through. Erica's Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Restoration is the best bet in both regards. Contact us now!
