An HVAC system's life depends upon proper maintenance and repair. A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system heats and cools a home by drawing air from the outside. The National Association of Home Builders says that, on average, units last 15 to 25 years. According to the Home Improvement Guide, they cost about $3,000 to $5,000 if your ducts function well, or $6,000 to $10,000 if you need new ones. Getting credit or a loan helps you meet the significant financial committment that HVAC installation brings. You can find financing through dealers and retailers, your home's value, government loan programs and your power company. Step 1Get financing from the HVAC manufacturer or seller. Manufacturers, such as Lennox, Carrier and Trane, arrange with credit card companies to let you charge the purchase price. You can apply online with the manufacturer or dealer or in person at the dealer's office or store. Big-box home improvement retailers, such as Sears, Lowes and Home Depot, offer their own credit cards.

With many of these cards, you are not limited to just the HVAC, but may make other purchases and get cash advances. These cards generally don't rely on your home to guarantee repayment. As a result, interest rates can run as high as 28 percent on some cards. Step 2Use your home equity to finance the HVAC. You can borrow against the difference between your home's value and what you owe on it with a home equity loan or home equity line of credit. A home equity loan is a one-time draw, while a home equity line of credit works like a credit card. Your loan is limited to 75 percent to 80 percent of the equity. If you have $10,000 in the home, you can use up to $7,500 to $8,000 to buy the system. You pay less interest with loans against your home than dealer or store-connected credit cards. Borrowing against your home makes your HVAC purchase tax deductible, but you can lose your home and the HVAC if you fall behind. Step 3Consider a home improvement loan backed by the Federal Housing Administration.

According to Energy Star, your HVAC replacement is a home improvement for which you can get FHA financing. The federal government has rolled out a pilot PowerSaver program targeting those who choose energy-efficient HVAC units, typically those with the Energy Star label. Both the traditional Federal Housing Administration and the pilot programs let you borrow up to $7,500 without putting up your home as collateral, but you must have home equity to participate in the PowerSaver program. gas heating units for apartmentsStep 4Check with your power company or local agencies for options and help. air handling unit jobProviders, such as PSNC Energy in North Carolina, connect with participating dealers to let you pay for your HVAC through your monthy electric bill. how to fix a leak in your ac unit

According to Energy Star, power companies and energy loan programs will help you with low interest rates if you opt for energy-efficient systems and products; Austin Energy, community owned and run by the City of Austin, has interest rates from zero percent to 6.5 percent depending on the loan amount. Tips References The Home Improvement Guide: HVAC Prices and Average Costs for Residential InstallationsNational Associaiton of Home Builders/Bank of America Home Equity: Study of Life Expectancy of Home ComponentsLennox: HVAC Financing: Go GE CapitalCarrier: Carrier Credit CardEnergy Star: Financing Guidebook for Energy Efficient Program Sponsors; December 2007Indiana Department of Financial Institutions: Home Equity Loans & Lines of CreditUnited States Department of Housing and Urban Development: Property Improvement Loan Insurance (Title I)Lawrence Berkley Naitonal Laboratory: Environmental Energy Technologies Division: Clean Energy Financing Policy Brief: HUD PowerSaver Pilot Loan Program;

Dec. 10, 2010Federal Register: Federal Housing Administration: Notice of FHA PowerSaver Home Energy Retrofit Loan Pilot ProgramPSNC Energy: Do You Offer HVAC Financing? Photo Credits Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty ImagesHow much will it cost you to have a full HVAC system installed this year? What about just a single component such as a gas furnace, central air conditioner or heat pump? These 2016 HVAC installation costs will help you plan for the project. We gather heating and cooling installation costs from national polls, HVAC professionals and our readers. Note: With an improving economy, most HVAC contractors are expecting an increase in business in 2016 over both 2014 and 2015. This might lead to higher prices than listed here due to higher demand. These HVAC costs are for installation only. See our HVAC reviews and 2016 Buyers Guides for the cost of HVAC equipment including components and entire systems. When you replace just one HVAC component, here are the price ranges you can expect to see in HVAC estimates for installation.

These prices do not cover the cost of the new equipment or of removing or disposing of the old components. When you get estimates for HVAC installation, the prices will be impacted by several factors. The cost to remove existing equipment: The cost for this step can be 10% to 15% of the entire job, so doing it yourself can save money. Be sure you know what you’re doing when working with gas and/or electricity. Otherwise, leave it to the pros, and save money with the tips offered below. Sheet metal changes: It’s rare that one of today’s compact furnaces will fit the plenum connection that the old one was disconnected from. This will mean being charged for sheet metal and the cost of hooking up the new furnace or air handler. Electrical or gas lines: Furnaces in new construction settings cost more to install because a power line and gas line must be run. These can add $1,000 or more to the cost of installation. Difficult placement: Carrying a gas furnace down steps is dangerous and time-consuming.

So is installing a package unit on the roof. Crawl spaces and attics are tough places to install equipment. When there are extenuating circumstances, your installation cost will be 15% to 50% higher. Time of year: When HVAC contractors are very busy, they aren’t very willing to give you a break on price. However, when business is slow, they’ll make better deals in order to keep their crews busy. There are good ways to find a qualified contractor with competitive pricing. These tips for saving money on HVAC installation will help. There’s a fast, convenient way to get competitive estimates from some of the best HVAC contractors where you live. Select the Free Estimates option on this page, and fill out the simple form. When you do, you’ll receive written estimates from top HVAC contractors in your neighborhood. This will give you the opportunity to learn about each one’s experience, so you can select the company with the right combination of good experience and fair price.