Cost to Install a Split System Air ConditionerUpdated: June 2016 Split System Air Conditioner Installation Cost CalculatorZip Code Units Split Ac Unit Cost Split Ac Unit Labor - Basic Split Ac Unit Materials and Supplies Totals - Cost to Install Split System Air Conditioner - Get an INSTANT, detailed estimate of the cost to Install a Split System Air Conditioner! Our free calculator uses up-to-date, trusted data to estimate typical subcontractor costs for a Split System Air Conditioner Installation project. For a basic 1 unit project in zip code 47474, the benchmark cost to Install a Split System Air Conditioner ranges between $2,668.49 - $3,457.76 per unit. Cost to Install a Split System Air Conditioner - Notes and General InformationExplore the full range of mini split air conditioning system new installation labor options and material prices here. Costs to prepare the worksite for Split System Air Conditioner Installation, including costs to protect existing structure(s), finishes, materials and components.

Labor setup time, mobilization time and minimum hourly charges that are commonly included for small Split System Air Conditioner Installation jobs. General contractor overhead and markup for organizing and supervising the Split System Air Conditioner Installation. Cost to Install a Split System Air Conditioner - References Split System Air Conditioner Installation - Average Cost Per UnitTo lower Split System Air Conditioner Installation costs: combine related projects, minimize options/extras and be flexible about project scheduling. Over the past few years we have all observed the U.S. HVAC industry’s fascination with ductless “mini-split” AC systems. Recent HVAC trade shows have been crowded with OEM’s promoting this “new” way of providing home comfort. National TV ad campaigns along with modern media PR tactics would make us think it is just a matter of time before we all rip out our central AC systems and get with the rest of the world (i.e. Japan, China and Europe) in the way we keep our homes and businesses cool and comfortable.

The AC & Heating Connect staff did some research on the facts about ductless systems which might be of interest to contractors and distributors as they plan for the future growth of this segment. Myth #1 – The sales of ductless mini-spit systems continue to grow and will dominate the U.S. market in a few years. Industry statistics would not support this statement. While the ductless segment has posted impressive growth rates in the U.S. since 2005, the growth rates have been slowing recently and the largest ductless segment (small, single evaporator systems) have not grown at all since 2010. These sales remain stable at about 260,000 units per year, or only about 4% of total unitary AC shipments. Some larger VRF-style commercial systems continue to grow at higher rates, but their numbers in the U.S. remain small at only 28,000 units per year. Myth #2 – Ductless mini-splits are ideal whole-home HVAC solutions in the U.S. The current economic facts about ductless simply do not support this claim.

The installed costs associated with using mini-splits to cool and heat an average 2,000 square foot home with ductless mini-splits would cost almost three times the cost of simply replacing your central AC system with another ducted system. Even in a home where you had to provide new ductwork for the central system, you could still expect to spend about 50% less on a typical central AC system installation versus the more expensive ductless options. Myth #3 – Ductless mini-splits are more energy efficient because there are no air leaks in the duct work. air conditioning unit no cold airWhat people who make this claim fail to mention is that in ducted homes which have poorly installed and leaking air ducts, the conditioned air is probably leaking out of the ductwork but it is going into the conditioned space somewhere and helping to keep the house cool. the best air conditioner split unit

In those cases the cooling energy is really not lost to the homeowner. While mini-splits don’t have duct losses, they do have other losses. Instead of distributing conditioned air throughout the home, mini-splits distribute refrigerant. In many cases these refrigerant lines are run outside the conditioned space and in these cases there are thermal losses associated with energy transferring from those lines to the space outside the home. A legitimate energy loss occurs when you are heating or cooling your backyard with mini-split refrigerant lines (see photo below). best wall mounted air conditioner unitsDuct leaks that leak into the conditioned space are not really losses at all unless they escape to an unconditioned space. The other claim made by mini-split advocates is that they provide energy saving due to “zoning” or shutting off energy use in unoccupied rooms. What they fail to mention is there are other modern methods to zone off rooms besides using ductless methods.

There are many ways to achieve zoning. Myth #4 – Ductless mini-splits provide superior comfort and quality of life. The problems with ductless cooling are not well understood by many U.S. consumers since they are relatively new to this region. The typical comfort experience with mini-split systems could provide a real challenge for American consumers who are used to central AC systems with good air flow exchange, filtration and humidity control. Cold and hot spots are also common with ductless systems due to the spacing of the indoor units. In addition, there are concerns about US homeowners’ reaction to the aesthetic and architectural impact of having air conditioning systems hanging on several interior walls and having refrigerant lines running to various rooms on the sides of their homes. Before installing a ductless system with multiple evaporating units it might be good to show your customer some photographs of some of your previous mini-split installations so they have proper expectations.

Ductless mini-split systems are ideal for spot cooling situations in homes and businesses where ductwork is either not available or difficult to install. It is important for contractors to have these systems in their portfolio of HVAC solutions for certain situations and learning where and when to recommend them is essential. Knowing the facts associated with these new systems is also essential to avoiding problems when customers are surprised by the many “myths” about this technology. Q.  What is the average sales growth rate for ductless mini-splits in the U.S. since 2010? A.  The overall growth rate has been under 3 percent since 2010, mostly driven by the growth of large multi-evap VRF style systems which grew from a very small base of 17,000 systems shipped.  The most popular, smaller, single evap systems have not grown since 2010. Q.   What percentage of total unitary air conditioners sold in the U.S. are mini-splits? A.  Ductless mini-splits represent about six (6%) percent of U.S. unitary AC shipments