Duct installation drives up the cost of adding home air conditioning. You may be sweating over what it could cost to add air conditioning to your home. But, depending on the type of system you choose, the price can range widely, and it may even be less than you think. While air conditioning isn't cheap, there's a good chance you can get a suitable unit without blowing your household budget. Central Air Conditioning The average cost to add a central, or whole-house, air conditioning system to a home ranged from about $2,200 to $2,800 in 2012, according to Homewyse data. Central air conditioners move cool air throughout a house through a duct system. Contractors usually link central air conditioners to the ducts of an existing home heating system. Average installation costs could double if a contractor has to add, or redo, duct work before installing a central air conditioner. Mini-Split System Consider a ductless, mini-split system if you want to add air conditioning to an older house that doesn't already have a heating system with duct work.

Mini-split systems also are an option if there's not enough space in a basement or utility room to install ducts inside a house. The average cost of this type of air conditioning system ranged from around $1,600 to $2,800 in 2012, based on Homewyse pricing. Room Air Conditioner A room, or window, air conditioner may be noisier than other models, but it also could save you some cash. Room models sometimes use less energy, because they don’t work to keep several rooms cool at one time the way central air conditioners do. On average, Homewyse pricing shows that room air conditioners ranged from $300 to $400 in 2012. At those prices, you could put a unit in several rooms of a house and still spend less than you would on other air conditioning systems. Cost Calculators The cost of adding any type of air conditioner to a house depends on the price of materials and labor in your area. Online cost calculators can help you estimate local installation costs. Homewyse's cost calculators, for example, require users to enter their zip code to get a summary of average costs for the type of air conditioner they want to install.

The calculators also provide average costs for a variety of price categories, from basic to high-end. : /Getty Images MORE MUST-CLICKS: Description of the Closing Procedure When Purchasing Land How Do I Build a House on a Shoestring Budget? How to Make a Contract for Work to Be Done on Your House How to Make a House More Sellable How to Type Up a Sales Contract for Selling a House A Guide to Building a House on a Budget How Much Does It Cost to Add Air Conditioning to a House? what size ac unit for 2000 square foot houseAdvantages & Disadvantages of Living in a Single Family House The Average Cost to Build a Porch What Is the Difference Between Putting a House in Joint Tenancy and a Trust?car ac repair youtubeUpdated Mar. 31, 2016central ac unit brands

Installing a new central air conditioner can cost between $3,000 to $10,000 or more. to the initial purchase price, you will have ongoing costs in terms of your monthly electric billBecause of these hefty costs, you’ll want to carefully consider your options before purchasing a new central air conditioner. This article presents the issues you should consider in purchasing central air, including; Homeowners have submitted thousands of reviews of central air conditioners to this site. However, many of the reviews cover air conditioners that are no longer sold. the remaining reviews to find the models preferred by most homeowners. The 10 best central air conditioners sold in 2016 are led by the 18 AFUE Goodman DSXC18 and the 17 SEER Coleman LX. 1. I need a new: 2. My zip code is: There are essentially two things that you’re paying for when purchasing and installing a new central air conditioner: equipment costs and labor costs.

Depending on your situation, you may be able to reduce your costs in one or both of these areas. Probably the single-greatest cost-saving solution is to buy your air conditioner from a direct-to-consumer retailer, and then hire a licensedBetween the complexity of the project, the environmental concerns of handling refrigerant and the high-voltage electricity involved, this is not a project for the Do-It-Yourselfer. Buying direct can reduce your upfront equipment costs, but before you buy it pays to consider how your unit of choice can lower your monthly utility bill. An air conditioner’s efficiency is typically provided as a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER). Although a unit with a 13 SEER rating -— the lowest available —- will be less expensive upfront, you will spend more each month on your fuel bill than if you had selected aIf you purchase a high-efficiency central air conditioner, you may also qualify for rebates or other incentives provided by a local goverment or utility.

Consider, too, that the longer your unit runs in peak condition, the more bang you’re getting for your buck. Selecting a unit with a long-term warranty, and maintaining it on a regular basis, is another way to reduce your costs over the long haul. Although selecting the best unit for your home is important, selecting a contractor is equally, if not more, important. You will want to work with a good HVAC contractor when you install a new central air conditioning system. Make sure that you get quotes from at least threeThis will ensure you a low, medium and high bid, and give you a good sense of what it is reasonable to pay. Also, make sure to screen your potential contractors to ensure that they have happy customers and no complaints. is the best way to learn if the contractor with the most reasonable bid will be likely to complete your job to your satisfaction—and still be in business for your future maintenance needs. It is important to have an HVAC Contractor perform a load calculation

before you decide which size air conditioning system to buy. If you install an air conditioner that is too large, it will cycle on and off too often, substantially reducing the efficiency of the system. Too small, and your air conditioner may not be able to meet the demands of a hot, humid day. The industry standard load calculation is called the Manual J calculation. It takes into account the size of your house, the amount of insulation installed, the square footage, and a host of other factors. More Central AC Resources As mentioned above, the most common measure of the efficiency of a consumer central air conditioning system is the Since 2006 the US government has required all new central air conditioners to have a SEER of at least 13. Higher efficiency models have a SEER between 14 and 25.5. Another rating you might see is the EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio), although this method is more commonly used for rating commercial air conditioners.