Central Air Conditioner Prices -- How Much
Does Central Air Cost?

How much do you think central ac cost?

Guess… Ok, I won’t bore you. Central air conditioner prices average for a 13 SEER rating and 3.5 ton are $2,643. This is just air conditioner, NO furnace unit… scaring huh?

The average came from five different brands. It would be great if I could tell you the brand, unfortunately, I can’t. No, man in black suit is not going to come after me.

Read what other have said and express your opinion

As of January 2006, 13 SEER rating is the minimum ac SEER accepted in the Unite State. If you’re planning to buy air conditioners with higher seer rating and more Ton the HVAC price will be higher than this.

Central ac units with 5 tons and 18 seer rating would cost about 3 to 5 grand or even more. This is just air conditioner units. It does not include the heating units.

The central air conditioner prices below are my estimation from different brands. Take it as my opinion not as facts.

Brand Name Air Conditioner Ton Seer Rating Central Air Cost
3.5 13 $2,650.00
3.5 13 $2,502.00
3.5 13 $2,768.00
3.5 13 $2,650.00
3.5 13 $2,645.00
How much does it cost to install central air conditioner unit?

The price to install central air conditioner units with heating unit is between $6,500 and $15,000. The HVAC installation costs are for complete heating and cooling system and labor cost.

To get little more accurate price in your area, check out the links below.

The above prices include:

Furnace unit and the evaporator, it’s inside.

Gas furnace units

The Condenser unit:

Gibson condenser units

Don’t worry your central heating and cooling will be new!

Central air conditioner price without duct work

To replace central air units and furnace unit without distribution system is between $5,000 and $10,000.

If we paid HVAC contractor $5,700.00 to replace central air conditioner units with furnace I would said that good deal.

Central air cost with duct work

To install central air conditioner units with duct work is between $10,000 and $15,000 or more. There are some areas that will charge less.

What determine central air conditioner prices?

There are factors that determined how cheap or expensive the central air conditioner units are. If you’re planning to buy air conditioners it is important to know these factors:

  1. Warranty
  2. Air conditioner brands
  3. Air conditioning efficiency
  4. Central air conditioner size (basis on sq ft of house)

Warranty

Central air conditioner unit with 10 years warranty is more expensive than a central ac unit with 5 year warranty. Some central air conditioner units will have 5 year warranty on parts and other will have 10 years warranty on the air conditioner compressors.

There seems to be little confused above the warranty. Having warranty does not mean the company will pay for labor cost. They will ONLY pay for part that fails. We still pay for labor cost.

Is the central air conditioner brand important?

HVAC brand

The brands name does determine how high or low the central air conditioner prices are. There are ac brand out there that is expensive.

This what you need to consider, what is the difference between brand? Some air conditioner companies market their central air units under different trade name.

Carrier air conditioner owns Payne and Tempstar. The company markets their central air unit under these brand names. Rheem and Ruud are similar ac units and its market under different brand.

Goodman markets their air conditioner units under the brand name GmC, Goodman, Janitrol and Amana. What the difference in major components? Not a lot.

Air conditioning efficiency

13 SEER rating is the least efficiency central air units that could install in the United State. If you prefer higher energy efficient air conditioners you have to pay more. Central air conditioner units with 18 or 19 seer ratings will cost more.

Central air conditioner size

The air conditioner ton is estimate from the size of the house. For example, if you have 2,500 sq ft house, you be look at 4 tons ac unit (don’t quote me on that). You’ll pay hvac contractor more with a bigger house. The central air conditioner prices on a 4 tons central air unit are more expensive than 1.5 ton ac units.

What is the best brand for central air conditioner units?

The most important task homeowners should be concerning with is selecting contractor. It does not matter if you had the top brand air conditioner unit or bought the best central air conditioner with higher seer rating.

It all comes down to contractor. The efficiency of the central air unit is determined from the installation of the central air units. If the installation is poorly done, you might as well have the least efficiency air conditioner units.

If you had done your homework and you pick the best hvac contractor, let’s the contractor selects the best brand. He is the person that will be installing the central air conditioner units.

Why the installation costs and central air cost are so expensive?

The prices to install central air conditioner units are expensive to homeowners. Some people complaint hvac contractor ripping them off or scam. Yes, there are scams out there, but not the contractor that has been in business for 5 or 10 years.

This is the basic guideline contractor follow to install central air conditioner unit. From this basic guideline, you’ll understand why it’s expensive to install central air conditioner units.

Basic contractor installation’s guidelines:

Permit Central air conditioner prices Labor cost Material cost
Subcontractor cost Distribution cost The material need

Permit

You need permit to install central air conditioner units and afterward a person has to inspect the ac units. This is the only way to find out if the central air units have pass local code. Getting permit cost money. Some cities charge different price for permits.

Subcontractor

Hvac contractor has license to install central air conditioner units. Some does not have electrical license, so he has to hire electrician to power central air units.

Central air cost

The average central air conditioner prices to buy minimum SEER rating (13 seers) central air conditioner unit is $2,643. Imagine having to buy 20 seers central ac unit with 5 ton. You probably are look at 4 or 5 grand or even more.

Labor cost

Installing central air conditioner unit is not one man job. You need 2 or 3 people to install it. It costs contractor money to hire hvac technician to work for him.

Material cost

The material cost would be the nitrogen, insulator, recovering machine, tanks, ac Freon and so many others. Air conditioner refrigerant is the most troublesome substance. It’s illegal to release air conditioner Freon, so after using all the ac Freon.

R22 Refrigerant

The remaining small amount of refrigerant gas has to be recovers and pull the refrigerant tank in deep vacuum. After the tank is on deep vacuum, the contractor pays other manufactory to demolish the refrigerant tanks.

It costs hvac contractor money to buy air conditioner refrigerant, but it also cost money to demolish the deep vacuum tank.

Distribution cost

Some hvac contract has a duct shop and other have to hire subcontractor to put the duct system together. Installing new duct system increase central air conditioner prices in thousand or more.

HVAC ductwork

The material need

This is the tool needed to install central air conditioner units. The hvac tools are not cheap. Once it damages, it’s expensive to buy. Hvac tool costs in hundred or even thousand of dollar. Most hvac tools require license to buy it.

HVAC tool bag

This is the entire tool we need – to repair and replace. Just joking :) sorry - can’t help myself.

I hope these basic guidelines explain why it’s expensive to installing central air conditioner. Installing central air conditioning units are not easy for contractor. Everything, he installs has to follow local code and is safe for homeowners.

This is the entire tool we need – to repair and replace. Just joking :) sorry - can’t help myself.

I hope these basic guidelines explain why it’s expensive to installing central air conditioner. Installing central air conditioning units are not easy for contractor. Everything, he installs has to follow local code and is safe for homeowners.

There are links below if you have other central air conditioner prices concern, Good luck shopping

What Is The Cost To Replace Your Central Air Conditioner Units?

How much did it cost to put heating and central air conditioner units in your home? What the central air conditioner prices range in your area? Share it with us!

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see some prices range for central air conditioner units and heating units in your area.

Central Air Conditioner Repair Cost in Texas 
For Homeowner in Texas How much does it cost to repair central air conditioner in Texas? To determine the repair and replace part cost, you …

New installation for $1900; Michigan, 750sqft house 
I had Absolute Heating & Ventilation install central air for my 750sqft house. Total cost was $1900, and I'm quite pleased with it. They installed a Heil …

AC-Furnace Cost Chicago Suburbs 
$11,000 quote for a Bryant Plus90i three-stage furnace, 120,000 BTU and a 21 SEER two-stage Bryant AC, 4 tons. Replacing an existing furnace and AC. …

Lennox XC14 
We have 15 years old Lennox central ac unit replace with a new Lennox XC14 unit (2.5 ton/30,000btu/16 SEER), the total Cost for this central ac unit …

Heating and Air Conditioning in Michigan 
Needed new furnace for 1600 sf split level home in Michigan. Winters are very cold and snowy; summers are very hot and humid. Had a Goodman 95% high …

It Does Not Have To Cost That Much 
$1640.00 to install less than a week. May 2011 1. do your research 2. find system online, even with shipping you will pay half of what a 'contract' …

Replacement 18.2SEER AC-Heat Pump, coil, blower,thermostat $13k 
$12,933 for top of the line Carrier 18.2 SEER Puron AC - Heat pump. Installed Oct. 2009. This Hvac unit replaced a 15 year old central ac unit that …

Mobile Central Ac In Alabama 
The cost of the central ac unit and install it was $7300. With no duct work included. The duct work was there. It is a Rheem 16 seer heating and central …

Central Air Conditioning Units Cost in Mississippi 
Central air conditioner repair cost in Mississippi State? - It’s a estimation! How much does it cost to fix central air unit? To determine …

Home Air Conditioning Troubleshooting Price for Virginia 
How much does it cost to fix central air unit in Virginia? - It’s an estimation! To determine the exact amount, you need - Diagnostic fee + Part …

Central Air Conditioner Prices in South Carolina  
Estimate Repair Cost In South Carolina Central air conditioner repair cost in South Carolina? To determine the repair cost, you will need …

Reasonable Air Conditioner Prices in North Carolina  
For Homeowner in North Carolina Here is a repair cost for central air conditioner unit and Heat Pump in NC. This is not an exact cost; it is estimation …

My Central Air Conditioner Cost 
Our old central air conditioner with natural gas furnace wasn’t doing well. It was leaking refrigerant, and we needed to add refrigerant every years. …

HELP I'VE BEEN ROBBED 
Just needing to know how much is it to get a replacement AC system since my 3.5 ton was stolen. I do not have a picture to load. Just want air conditioner. …

Installed central air conditioner in our vacation home 
I bought a 5 ton, 15 seer rating central air conditioner about a year ago and kept my old furnace unit (one year old). The central air conditioner units …

Reasonable Air Conditioner Cost in Georgia 
Hello, homeowner in Georgia State! Homeowner in the United State asks me how much it costs to repair fan, electrical parts, and other parts in their …

This is how you have to do it 
I had an estimate for 2300 for just the outside unit so i said i'll think about it mean while i went online to get my epa certification. It only cost …

Hvac guys replace my air conditioner for 900 dollar!  
I somehow could only upload one picture and I upload the outside system. I had my old carrier central air conditioner replaced with new carrier central …

Air Conditioner Repair Costs In Kentucky Not rated yet
Our previous central air unit lasted 25+ years with no problems, regular cleaning and maintenance was all. When it went out I guess it was just worn out. …

Central Ac Units Prices in New Jersey Not rated yet
Central air conditioner repair price in New Jersey State? - It’s a estimation! How much does it cost to fix central air units? To determine …

Amana 18 SEER for $8,100! Not rated yet
I recently purchased a high efficiency two stage heat pump, TXV, 1600cfm blower and ComfortNet thermostat for $8,100. It also included replacing 50% …

Can you give an estimated cost for this size house? Not rated yet
We just moved into a 1950 square foot home and have a Carrier furnace that was installed about 3-5 years ago as well as the duct work. We are over …

Central Air Conditioner Prices in New York  Not rated yet
Estimation of central air conditioner repair cost in New York? To determine the repair cost, you will need Diagnostic fee + Part fee + Labor …

Click here to write your own.


Return to Central Air Conditioner and Refrigeration Cycle