If you're looking to install an A/C unit to improve your home, it can be a costly process. Since temperature control is a necessity, however, you may qualify for a government rebate. If you purchase an Energy Star air conditioner, you may qualify for a tax credit from the federal government that could be worth as much as $500. To determine the cost of the actual unit, you need to measure its strength. This will hinge on the size of the space you need to cool. Once you are ready to install, ImproveNet can connect you with an A/C professional in your area for free! Install an A/C Unit Costs Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by ImproveNet members. We are still gathering data for this location.Try changing location below or Most homeowners spent between:$2,866To$4,885 Number of Cost Profiles Most homeowners spent between: We are still gathering data for this location.   See specific cost in your area Enter your zip code to get started

Air conditioner strength is measured in "tons," a measurement that refers to the amount of heat your A/C unit can remove in an hour. Each ton corresponds to 12,000 British thermal units (BTUs). Be careful when calculating this, because bigger isn't necessarily better. If your unit is too large for the space of your home, it will switch on and off repeatedly, wasting energy and costing you money. If your home is 1,600 square feet, a 2.5 ton air conditioner will cool it well. This will cost between $3,000 and $5,000. There are platinum models that could potentially cost $10,000, but these are rarely necessary. If you're looking to install central air rather than a window unit, it may be cost effective to install central heating at the same time, as both usually utilize the blower from the furnace. If you already have central heat, you can use the existing fans and duct system when installing central air. Another factor that will affect the cost of central air installation is whether your home needs duct work.

Older homes don't possess the ducts and vents that go along with a newer heating system. They have convection heating systems or baseboard heat, and all the ducts and vents will need to be installed. This is costly, so think about window units or a ductless split system instead. Most people who install an air conditioner agree that spending between $300 and $400 on labor to hire a contractor is worth the extra expense just to make sure that the unit is installed properly. You'll want to hire a licensed contractor that you can trust if you truly want to improve your home. The cost of materials, supplies and equipment allowance will run you another $50 to $100. Altogether, expect to spend between $3,350 and $5,500 to install an air conditioning unit, possibly as much as $8,000-$10,000 if you need duct work. Last updated on Jul 22, 2016 Top Articles on Install an A/C Unit 5 Air Conditioning Tips To Beat The Heat This Summer Air conditioners that are not serviced properly contribute to high energy costs and less efficient home cooling.

To stay cool indoors this summer, maintain your air conditioner with these tips. Video: How To Change A Furnace Filter Furnace filters ensure that your furnace is running as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Unfortunately, you have to replace your furnace filter every few months, but even more so in the winter.ac units on roof How To Install A Heat Pumphow to replace home ac compressor motor Heat pump installation is no easy task, but some homeowners are up for the challenge. portable ac units smallBelow, I will show you all the steps and tools needed to install a heat pump without a professional.Nothing in your house affects your comfort more than your heating and cooling systems. Yet unless the heater conks out during a blizzard or the air-conditioning goes on the fritz in the middle of a heat wave, most of us pretty much ignore our heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment.

When not kept in shape, even the best heating/cooling system can cost you by wasting energy. Depending on how you heat and cool your home and the climate of the area you live in, clogged filters, dirty thermostats, sooty flues, leaky ductwork, and unlubricated fan motors can reduce heating and cooling efficiency by up to 25 percent! Some of these maintenance tasks are simple, while others require a trained pro. You’ll also need an HVAC contractor if your system is at the end of its useful life. Here are some tips for dealing with your HVAC equipment and the pros that service it. The good news is that most systems don’t require much attention. A heat pump only needs a yearly service call by a HVAC technician who will: A gas-fired, forced-air heating system has simple requirements, too. Furnace filter should be changed every month or two during heating season, and the circulating fan oiled once a year. Call in a pro every other year to check the: An oil-fired boiler requires annual maintenance by a HVAC pro to:

Air conditioning units are a little less maintenance intensive. At the beginning and end of each cooling season, you should: Arrange for service calls before the start of heating or cooling season. You’ll get better attention and have more flexibility when scheduling the appointment. When hunting for a company to maintain your system, look for one that designs, installs, and services the type of system you have. Full service companies also tend to be up to date on the latest advances in the field. Besides checking that liability insurance and workers’ compensation policies are in force, ask for recommendations or check with neighbors, friends, and family who have used the company over several years. A quality provider will have an emergency number that’s staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week and enough technicians to respond when the weather is awful and the calls pile up. Heating and cooling equipment is designed to last at least 15 to 20 years. If your system is older than this, you might want to have its condition assessed.

Although replacing HVAC equipment is a major expense, modern systems operate much more efficiently than the older units they replace. Most HVAC contractors specialize in designing and installing the systems of a few manufacturers, so no one shop is going to carry every major brand. But before you worry about the equipment, it makes sense to find contractors in your area that are knowledgeable and service-oriented. Start your search by asking neighbors, friends and family what companies they hired to replace a furnace or air-conditioning system. If they were happy with the installation, ask their contractor to come over and talk to you about heating or cooling your house. You should meet with at least two contractors, and hire someone who installs products from at least two manufacturers. Don’t forget to consider your service company, if you have one. You’re under no obligation to hire the firm for the new system, but its technicians do have a good understanding of the conditions in your home.

When picking a contractor, remember that sizing an HVAC unit by matching it to the home and existing ducting requires skill and experience. A poor design typically results in a system that doesn’t deliver a consistent temperature from room to room and costs more to operate. But it can be even more serious than that. In very tight houses served by ductwork, poor design can lead to backdrafting, a dangerous situation where flue gases are sucked back into the house. Most HVAC shops are small, so the owner should be involved with the system design and either participate actively in the installation or inspect it when it’s done. You don’t want your system designed by a salesman with no field experience. Any contractor you’re considering also should offer these products and services: This process estimates the BTU capacity needed to heat or cool your home. The calculation should include: This data is combined with your regional climatic conditions to determine the size unit you need.

Software has made these calculations relatively easy. HVAC technicians who don’t perform them often specify oversize equipment to be safe. That’s dollars out of your pocket now and each time you get an utility bill. When sizing an HVAC unit, a good contractor will advise you of energy upgrades, such as adding another layer of insulation to the attic. These may allow you to buy a smaller HVAC unit. Although it may not be cost effective to buy the most energy efficient unit on the market, there are minimums you should shoot for. Here’s what a contractor should offer: A programmable or setback thermostat (around $40), which contains a timer, should be used regulate all HVAC systems. A quality HVAC contractor will show you payback calculations for the various units he offers, and those calculations should give you estimates of seasonal operating costs. Variables the contractor will use in his calculations should include: Once you receive itemized estimates, compare the costs, and do some research on equipment.

Start by visiting U.S. Dept. of Energy and Consumer Reports websites, or contact your utility company for comparative lists. Look at operating efficiency and costs as well as consumer-rated reliability. Then compare your knowledge of the contractors involved and make your decision. Confused by HVAC lingo? Believe it or not, it’s meant to make understanding and buying the equipment easier. These terms allows you to compare apples to apples among units in the same fuel category. Knowing what the terms listed here mean will come in handy: The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rates how many BTUs an air conditioning unit will remove for each watt of electricity consumed. The higher the SEER, the less you spend on operating costs. Federal law mandates a minimum SEER of 13 for all new air conditioning units. An air conditioning ton equals 12,000 BTUs per hour. That means a three-ton air conditioner can remove about 36,000 BTUs of heat per hour from your home. The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency estimates how much heat a unit delivers for every dollar spent on fuel.