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: How to Make a House More Sellable Things to Consider When Renting a House What Is the Difference Between Putting a House in Joint Tenancy and a Trust? The Average Cost to Build a Porch Can a Seller Have Two Contracts on the Same House? how do ac window units workBathtubs vs. Shower Stalls in the Sale of Houses Asset Building & Low-Income Families How Does Price Elasticity Affect the Housing Industry? ac unit for a carHow Do I Build a House on a Shoestring Budget? how much to charge a home ac unitHow to Type Up a Sales Contract for Selling a House You are hereHome » Blogs » ckmapawatt's blog blogHow much electricity does my AC consume?

RV utilities costs are always a question mark for people who are thinking of moving into motor homes or trailers on a full time basis. People naturally assume that because a recreational vehicle is smaller than a house, the fees for using its utilities will be less. In many cases this is true, but not always. Much depends on your location, how many amenities your coach has, its size and how carefully you use your water, electric and sewer. These services can be more than you might think, so it pays to learn what you can about them before you decide to move into a motor home or camper on a permanent basis. How Much Will Your Full Time RV Living Utilities Cost?If you assume that moving into a motor home or camper will automatically save you money over and above the amount you might pay for utilities when living in a house, you might be mistaken because many things factor into these expenses. How carefully you use your services as well as your home’s size, location and level of energy efficiency all play a part in determining its utility rates.

The same can be said of recreational vehicles. Because of this, it would be possible for a person who owns a small home in an area that charges very little for electricity to pay less than one who owns a fully decked out motor home located where those same fees are high. Prices Can Vary Significantly from One Location To AnotherMost people do not realize that there can be a vast difference in them. For example, basic electric use in Central Florida runs about $70 per1000 KWH, whereas in Northwestern Nevada people pay approximately $124. (These prices exclude other fees). You should always take these difference in pricing into consideration when deciding where to locate your unit if one of your goals is to live for less. The good news is that since you will be on wheels, you can choose to move to areas that are more "fee friendly" if you become unhappy in your current spot. Water and SewerAn important expense for homeowners is what they pay for water and sewer. As with electric costs, these prices can vary significantly from one place to another.

If you own a home in Central Florida, the average you will pay for combined water and sewer is around $87 per month. In Northwestern Nevada you will pay approximately the same. However, if you are living in an RV these services are included in your lot rent. This helps you to budget because the camping fee is usually the same from month to month in any given year. ElectricWhen you live in a campground, your main utility charge will be for electricity because unlike overnight camping, regular spots for full timers are metered. How much you pay obviously will depend on your location, the size of your unit, its amenities and how you use them. A 45 foot long luxury motor home with three air conditioners and four slide rooms that is located in Southern Arizona is going to be much more to run than a 30 foot pull trailer with no slides and only one air conditioner that is located in a milder climate. No matter your situation, however, you can still save money by avoiding wasteful habits and using energy efficient appliances, vent covers and protective materials that cover or seal air leaks on windows and doors.

In a reasonably sized unit that is well located and whose owner practices energy efficient behaviors, electric should run less than $100 per month. In the opposite situation, it could be as high a $300. 8 Tips for Lowering Propane ExpensesAll recreational vehicles have propane tanks. These are used to fuel furnaces, refrigerators, ovens, cook tops and sometimes generators. Propane used to be cheap, but that is no longer the case. These days you will pay the same or more for it as you do for gasoline. This is why it is prudent for you to find ways to use the least amount possible. You can do this in several ways. If you keep two small, electric cube heaters on board, you will never have to use your furnace. If your RV is equipped with an inverter use it whenever possible instead of using your Propane generator. Learn how to cook without using your stovetop or oven. I have a good article about this called "How Hard Is It To Cook In An RV?" that can help you.

One way is to use a portable electric stove top burner. Check your Propane tank and it's accompanying plumbing to make sure there are no leaks. Do continual "sniff tests" for gas. Keep your stovetop flame off unless you need to use it. Make sure your propane gas detector works.You can actually pay nothing for services if you are willing to move often from place to place because when you stay in campgrounds, your fee covers everything you use when you stay in a free campground, your utilities are also free and/or when you volunteer or work in a park, these charges are often covered. If you want to know more about these options, you need to read How to Cut Your Camping Costs In Half and Live Rent Free in Your RV. What You Pay Is Up to YouAs I have discussed many times, the RV lifestyle is undoubtedly the most flexible way of living anybody could ever desire. This flexibility extends to utility charges because what you pay is up to you. Do you think RV utilities would cost less than what you now pay?