This guide will walk you through everything you need to about air conditioning costs including the air conditioner itself, installation costs and air conditioning system maintenance costs. When you're researching the cost of an air conditioner, there are three important factors that will determine the price: Prices can vary a lot by brand, as much as $2000 between the cheapest and most expensive air conditioners. We compared 2.5-ton models (more on that later) and the cheapest air conditioner we found was the Payne at $1400. The most expensive air conditioner in our research was the Lennox at $3410. The question is how important are the brand names? Most experts would say that a mid-range air conditioner like the Gibson at $2265 is more than sufficient for most people. Beyond that, the more expensive air conditioners like the Lennox or the American Standard at $3195 offer nice-to-have, but unnecessary features like quieter running speeds and more accurate climate control.

The more expensive brands tend to also have better efficiency, but we'll talk more about that later. For now, you can use the following to decide which air conditioning brand is right for you. Air conditioner size can greatly affect price and is directly related to its cooling ability. Cooling is described in either tons or BTUs. A ton, believe it or not, refers to the amount of ice melted in a day. screen for ac unitSo a 1.5 ton air conditioning system is the equivalent of melting 1.5 tons of ice for a day. cheap used ac unitsBTUs (or British Thermal Unit) is a measure for cooling that's more common to use nowadays. prices on central ac unitsIf you ever get confused, just remember that 1 ton of cooling is equivalent to 12000 BTU/hour of cooling. Window air conditioners are usually less one ton;

a smaller air conditioner is roughly 2 tons and largest are up to 5 tons. The best size for you depends on the square footage of the space you're trying to keep cool, the insulation of your home and even the number of occupants. Of course, you can opt to get a lower or higher BTU depending on your preference. Here are the rough prices for different air conditioner sizes, including installation: The last factor that you need to consider for your air conditioner is efficiency. Air conditioning efficiency is measured in SEER or the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. SEER measures how much energy (from your home's electricity) is converted into cool air. More expensive brands tend to have higher SEER ratings, so while you might spend more upfront, you could end up saving money in 5 years from your energy bill. Here's the cost of different air conditioners by SEER rating: How much can your SEER rating affect your energy bill? It depends a lot on your local electricity costs (dollars per kW/h) and how often you'll use it.

If you're using your A/C unit on a daily basis and all throughout the year, then you'll likely want a SEER rating above 20. But if you're only using your air condition system for a couple months, then we'd suggest getting 15-18 SEER. This is the general breakdown for choosing a SEER rating: Note: once your air conditioner is installed, a great way to keep your bill down is to lighten the load. Keeping blinds down, shading windows, shutting off appliances and improving insulation can help reduce the amount of air conditioning you need. When doing home renovations, you can also use more high-efficiency products. For example, if you're replacing your roof, a cool roof can save half a ton of cooling over the year. The best step is to get several HVAC contractors to provide you with quotes for your installation, but the range should be between $500 & $1000, assuming you don't need any major ductwork done. Ductwork can increase the installation cost by 1000s of dollars. You might think to skip this step, but duct leakage can reduce cooling by your air conditioner by 20-40%.

So you might save duct work costs upfront, but you'll end up spending more on your monthly energy bill to keep your home cool. You might be able to seal some duct leakage yourself using mastic, but most likely you'll need a professional. Maintenance costs are a bit difficult to predict and can vary a lot depending on usage and the quality of the brand you choose, but we can give you a rough idea of what to expect. To save money on maintenance costs, the best thing you can do is regular self-maintenance: keep the coils clean, replace dirty filters air flow is never blocked by leaves or any other matter that could affect air flow. That said, from time-to-time, you'll need a professional to service your air condition system.At David LeRoy Plumbing, our technicians are trained, licensed, and experienced in all aspects of the HVAC industry. Our installation services are extremely important to our business and we go above and beyond to ensure that the work we do is the best in the area.

Whether you are remodeling your home, replacing a part in your current cooling system, or building a new home, you can count on our Harrisburg air conditioning specialists to make your life easier. David LeRoy Plumbing is available for complete assistance if you are upgrading from an old central air system or installing a brand new central air system. Our air conditioning technicians are experts in all types of AC installations. It’s a difficult decision to decide between investing in air conditioning repair or upgrading your current central air system. Luckily, there are some telltale signs that indicate when it’s time to replace or upgrade your cooling equipment. In fact, replacement will ultimately improve the performance of your air conditioning system. Replace your AC unit when: Some specialty services our installation technicians provide: We are proud to be part of a small group of contractors selected to become EverRest Elite Series Dealers.  Members are selected base on their achievements and are held to a higher standard for service, installations and customer service in the Heating and Cooling Industry. 

Because of this, David LeRoy and EverRest Systems dealers offer homeowners many of the strongest customer performance guarantees. For fast repairs, customized maintenance, and incredible customer service, contact David LeRoy Plumbing today. We are knowledgeable about all HVAC safety codes in the area and we can guarantee that you will be extremely satisfied with our workmanship, our prices, and our employees. Contact our technicians if you experience these or any other air conditioning issue that requires repair: There are many different types of air conditioning systems and the System Specialists at David LeRoy Plumbing are here it help you determine which option is best for your home our business. Central air conditioning systems are usually installed on a furnace and provide cooling only by moving heat out of the home to the outdoor air. Central air conditioning systems come in many sizes and many different efficiency ratings. They can be installed in almost any home that already has a duct system.

As with any forced air system, the duct size and design is critical to ensure the home is comfortable and the system operates efficiently for a long time. Call David LeRoy Plumbing to have your system designed and installed to keep you comfortable for as long as possible. If your home does not have a duct system, the System Specialists at David LeRoy Plumbing have just the answer! Have you been having problems with your current heating or cooling system and are not ready for a major home construction? Or are you considering an upgrade to a more effective, quieter system? Whether this is the case or you are building a new home or commercial building, ductless split heating and cooling systems may be right for you! With the help from David LeRoy Plumbing, after a simple installation you will have control over your home’s temperature and you can even adjust the temperature in different areas, or “zones,” to fulfill diverse comfort needs in various areas of your home. You won’t have to worry about unnecessary construction and will be increasing the efficiency of your HVAC system which will save you money and energy.

Whether you need a ductless split air conditioner or air conditioning system are looking to heat your home over the fall and winter months with a ductless heat pump system, call us today. We’d love to discuss our ductless split systems with you today! High Velocity Air Conditioning systems are a central air conditioning system that makes it possible to add air conditioning to a home without running large air ducts. These systems are great for older homes that do not have air conditioning and have little room for large bulky air ducts. These systems use small ducts, as small as 2” diameter round flex duct, and operate under higher air pressures. Because of the higher pressure these systems use special air ducts that must be installed correctly to ensure no air leaks. Systems must be customized for every home and equipment chosen carefully. If you have an old home that you just don’t think central air conditioning can be added to call us today. Our System Specialist will come to your home and find a way to keep you cool.