1,263 posts, read 1,785,300 times 4,600 posts, read 17,582,644 times 8,293 posts, read 19,165,217 times Originally Posted by lamontnow I had a new Payne (made by Carrier) central AC installed on a 3-bedroom rental house this spring. 2.5 ton unit, with a 10-year warranty. It replaced an older unit, so this was not an all new installation. It cost me approximately $2,300 (tax included). 27,825 posts, read 28,080,635 times 5,286 posts, read 15,274,119 times 697 posts, read 2,420,276 times 605 posts, read 3,884,357 times 1,501 posts, read 9,430,638 times 2 posts, read 414,668 times 7,386 posts, read 9,716,788 timesFactor inspection and installation fees into the cost of replacing your central air conditioning. Noisy equipment, excessive humidity within the home and a unit older than 10 years are among the top reasons to replace your central air conditioning, according to Energy Star, a U.S. government program promoting energy efficiency.

The cost to replace your central air depends greatly on home specifications and can vary by thousands of dollars. Manufacturing, efficiency, installation fees, size of your home and whether you purchase an extended warranty all influence the cost. Month-to-month energy bills and special requirements of your family, such as a need for allergy filtration, should also be factored into the final price tag. An accredited contractor can work with you to determine the best central air conditioning system for your home. Check with the Air Conditioning Contractors of America for an accredited contractor near you. Specifications Perhaps the first step to determining the cost of replacing a central air conditioning unit is evaluating the specifications necessary for the size and dimensions of your home. Decide if your current unit adequately cools your entire home or if you require a larger unit. Your air conditioning unit should be sized according to the square footage and layout of your home. For example, at the time of publication, the Central Air Conditioning Prices website rates a 1.5-ton, 18,000 Btu air conditioning unit and coil at $710, while a 5-ton, 60,000 Btu unit and coil is listed at $1,640, excluding installation.

A unit that is too small will run constantly to keep a home cool, thus increasing your monthly energy bill. Northern AC provides a free central air conditioning conversion calculator on its website to help you determine the central air conditioning unit that best meets your needs. Manufacturer Central air conditioners range from the most basic to high-efficiency units, which have a higher price tag. A basic central air conditioner may be less expensive upfront, but you could pay more in the long run through higher monthly energy bills, whereas an energy-efficient unit may cost more on the outset, but your monthly bills will be lower. Research brands, get several estimates and work with a contractor to make an informed decision on a purchase. Installation and labor Most states require that central air conditioning units be installed by licensed contractors, meaning the cost to replace your unit may include installation and labor fees. If installation and labor fees are included in the price, expect to pay anywhere from $2,650 to $15,600 for installation of a central air conditioning system as of 2013.

Warranty Most central air conditioning units come with two- to five-year warranties. Extended warranties can be purchased for an additional price -- usually for several hundred dollars -- and the longer the warranty, the higher the price. pricing for ac units for homesAsk your contractor how long you have to make a decision on purchasing an extended warranty. split ac parts nameSome manufacturers sell extended warranties within 30 to 90 days of installation, and then the option expires. no cold air coming out of car acEfficiency The U.S. government encourages homeowners to install high-efficiency central air conditioning systems and offers incentives that include rebates and tax credits for the purchase of qualified products. Americans can cut their monthly energy bills by a third by installing energy efficient appliances, including central air conditioning units.

References Energy Star: When is it time to replace?Central Air Conditioner Prices: Average AC Unit Prices by Size or CapacityPopular Mechanics: Buying a Central Air Conditioning SystemFixr: Central Air Conditioning Installation CostEnergy Star: About Energy Star Photo Credits Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionHeating & Air Conditioning Services We back our air conditioning installation and furnace replacements with a one-year warranty and our repairs and unit services 100% with a 90-day guarantee. $1600 off via online rebate. Offer valid only on in-home sales contracts signed from 9/1/16 - 11/23/16. We offer a wide range of flexible financing options to kick-start your HVAC services including Home Depot’s Consumer Credit Card and Project Loan, plus one competitive price on any heater or air conditioner replacement and installation. Installing Leading Heating & Air Conditioning Brands We install industry leading brands of furnaces, air conditioners, mini-splits, heat pumps, air handlers, and boilers.

Awesome install of ac unit The J & S company affiliated with Home Depot did an excellent job! They were punctual and completed the job as stated. The rep went inside attic to verify what type unit would best suit my home, despite the 100 degree temperature. Hats off to them. Fast, easy, reasonable, and quality job start to finish. Even the city inspector gave the installation a very good review. No waiting, no messing around. Installation started within a few hours of placing the order on a complete A/C system. Both times we have needed help it has been on the weekend. This company does not have an air conditioning technician available on the weekends. Also, the second call was made because we had water leaking onto the carpet and they were going to put us off for days. When I suggested that they might need to pay to have my carpet cleaned, they scheduled us the same day. This company has become very frustrating. The technician that has come each time is a very nice young man but his company is less than stellar.

The unfortunate thing is we have to use this company because of our warranty. Doesn't look good for Home Depot. Although through Home Depot a third party comes out, but I have to say they were the best! I had three other companies come out and I had people who were charging me for the incorrect sized unit and not being installed per code. These guys were honest Honestly, I couldn't be happier about my A/C installation. After doing considerable research and getting a couple of quotes and the runaround from a couple of fly-by-nights, I decided to get at least a quote from Home Depot's service. I figured it would be more expensive, but a central A/C installation isn't the kind of thing where you go with the lowest bidder. So I called early in the morning -- 6:30 am -- got an appointment for the guy to come out betw 9 and 10. We stepped through the entire scope of the service, discussed the legal and code requirements, the quality of the unit, the followup service, every aspect of the installation including the crane service.

No high pressure, just information that conformed in full with my research and my expectations. The quote was higher than my other legitimate quote. But they matched that quote, even with a better unit (a Carrier) and a year's worth of PM, folllowup services like taking care of the warrenty registration and the code inspection. Even the choice of a new thermostat. And they could do it that afternoon! In the middle of a heat wave! By six pm, they were walking out the door having walked me through the new large-number thermostat. And we were cool and air-conditioned again. This was the Las Vegas area. Can't speak for other HD in other places. As I said, I couldn't be more satisfied if they had baked me a cake. What is the average life expectancy of an air conditioning unit? Most systems have a lifetime of 10 to 20 years. As your equipment gets older, its efficiency can decrease dramatically. You may notice that it gets noisier and needs repairs more often. When a unit begins to show its age, you have two choices, overhaul the system or replace it.

Because heating and air conditioning technology improve over time, a unit designed with newer, more energy-efficient equipment makes sense, especially if your system is 7 or more years old. Our authorized air conditioning and heating contractors can provide a FREE in-home estimate on the cost of a new system as well as a payback schedule that will show you how much money your newer, more efficient system will save you in utility bills. Try our HVAC Savings Calculator to see how much you can save with a higher efficiency unit. Will a bigger HVAC unit perform better? No, you don't want your air conditioning unit to be too large. Air conditioners control the comfort level in your home by cooling the air and by removing humidity. An oversized air conditioner can cool your home faster, but it will use more energy and will not remove humidity adequately. In addition, your existing ductwork may not be able to support the airflow of a larger system. A unit that is too big for your home will have short run cycles.

It can take only a short time to cool the air, but the unit shuts off before enough air blows across the indoor coil where moisture condenses into water and drains from your system. Too much moisture left in the air can lead to mold and mildew problems. These short run cycles also mean your system starts and stops more often, which uses more energy and causes a lot of wear and tear. An air conditioner operates more efficiently during long run cycles. The same holds true with heating systems. An oversized furnace can warm the house quicker, but it uses more fuel and causes greater temperature swings in the home. How can I reduce my energy costs? Here are some ideas to reduce your energy costs: upgrade to a high-efficiency air conditioning or heating system, install ceiling fans, schedule annual maintenance check ups, don't block vents in well-used rooms, close vents in unused rooms, and install a programmable thermostat. Can I just replace the outdoor unit on an older air conditioning system to save money?

While it may cost less initially to replace the outdoor unit on an older system, over time utility expenses will add up and may even cost you more. Replacing only the outdoor unit will lower the efficiency of the unit. Even worse, your system may fail sooner than normal and most manufacturers' warranties will be voided. You should always replace the indoor cooling coil with the outdoor HVAC unit. Do I need to have my ductwork replaced? Industry experts estimate that as many as 70% of all homes with central air have poorly installed ductwork. Ducts that are not properly sealed or insulated fail to get the hot or cool air where you want it efficiently, therefore costing you money. Before you invest in a new system, make sure an HVAC contractor checks your ducts and includes specific recommendations in their proposal to you. This can normally be done for FREE as part of your in-home estimate. Don’t spend the money on a new, super-efficient system unless you are sure those efficiency gains won't be lost by poor ductwork.

Air Conditioner & Furnace Replacement As your air conditioning unit gets older, its efficiency can decrease dramatically, causing it to become noisier and require repairs more often. If you’re currently spending money on frequent repairs for a heating and air conditioning unit that’s 7 or more years old, replacing it with a new, more energy efficient HVAC unit might make more sense and will definitely lower the cost of your utility bill. If you think it may be time to replace your air conditioner or furnace, schedule a FREE in-home consultation and we’ll send out one of our authorized HVAC installers to give you an estimate on the cost of installing a new furnace or air conditioning unit. Our team of hand-picked, professional HVAC installers are local, licensed and insured, and will get the job done right. The Home Depot screens and performs background checks on all of our contractors before we send them out on any air conditioning or furnace replacement and installation job.