Your air conditioner is the main component of your comfort system. HVAC maintains your preferred temperature, purifies the air, and controls humidity.
It also keeps you healthy. Your HVAC system kills harmful allergens and other bacteria. Your air conditioner helps you to breathe easier.
Yet most homeowners hold off as long as possible on upgrading their HVAC system because air conditioner replacement is seen as an expense. But, what if I told you that your air conditioner
Upgrading your HVAC system is just as much about your physical well-being as it is about your financial well-being.
This home improvement project has a high return on investment. Revamping your AC system increases resale value and cuts month-to-month energy costs.
Your replacement costs will depend on replacing your entire HVAC system or replacing a piece of equipment. But, we found that replacing an HVAC system ranges from $3000 to $12000.
For an in-depth answer, read the entire blog article. By the end, you’ll know what makes an honest quote.
1. Type of HVAC System
There are three types of HVAC systems more commonly used for residential homes. Each system has a significant and different impact on replacement cost. Below are the three types of air conditioning systems:
Split Systems
The Split System is the most common type of AC system. It’s made up of two main units — one for heating and one for cooling. The equipment for this system is affordable but installation costs run high because it typically necessitates ductwork.
Mini-Split System
The Mini-Split System will have individual units in each room. Another name of this system is ‘Ductless System’ because it does not require ductwork to operate. While this system saves you money on installation, you still have the equipment cost per room.
Packaged Systems
Not many homes have a packaged system. This HVAC system is designed with all its major parts packaged together and is installed outside. It runs on either a heat pump or gas and electricity. Because Packaged Systems are fully assembled by the manufacturer, you save on installation costs.
Ductwork
Duct runs throughout your home’s walls and ceiling to deliver heating and cooling that keeps your indoor environment comfortable.
Faulty ductwork is the leading cause of air conditioner trouble. If you’re having trouble heating or cooling your home, this could be a sign of a faulty duct system.
The cost of ductwork depends on the type of material used and how much of it your home requires. Ultimately, any required ductwork will increase the cost of your air conditioning replacement.
2. The HVAC Unit
While going with the largest air conditioning unit may be tempting, it is important to note that bigger does not mean better. The wrong size central ac unit can drive up your energy costs.
Energy experts should perform an energy audit of your current HVAC system to identify which size unit to provide the cooling your home needs.
Efficiency Rating
The energy expert will determine what SEER rating is the most appropriate for your home.
SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) ratings are key to cutting energy costs. An ac unit with a higher SEER rating uses less energy to regulate your home’s temperature.
Outdated ac units tend to have a SEER rating of 8 or 9. The national standard is 13 SEER, while Florida requires homeowners to have ac units of 14 SEER.
Keep in mind that an ac unit with a higher SEER rating will cost more.
Brand
We look to certain brands for quality and authenticity. HVAC brands can be divided into three groups: budget brands, standard brands, and premium brands. Price differences vary among these three groups, premium brands being the most costly.
Life span is related to price. The less you pay, the lesser the life span of your AC unit. Below are some HVAC company brands of each group and their life spans:
Budget brands (12-16 years): Payne, Goodman, Aire-Flo
Standard brands (16-18 years): York, Rheem, Amana
Premium brands (18 -25 years): Carrier, Lennox, Trane
It would be best if you did not decide on price or size. Instead, your decision should be made based on the size of your home.
Square Footage of Your Home
Most importantly, the size of your central ac unit depends on the size and structure of your home. It should come as no surprise that a smaller home consumes less energy.
For example, the expert running the energy audit on a home 850 square feet might recommend a 1.5-ton A/C. (Note that a “ton” is not about weight, but it is the unit of measurement for an A/C unit cooling capacity.)
Leave the math to us!
To find the size AC unit, you need a “Manual J” to be performed. A Manual J is the calculation used for determining the amount of heating and cooling that your home requires to keep you warm in the winter and cool and dry in the summer.
Square footage is not the only factor that could affect your air conditioner size. Things that affect what size AC unit you need include:
- Sun exposure
- How many people are in a given room at one time
- Where you install the unit
- What type of windows do you have
Square footage is one of the most important factors for an HVAC contractor to quote a price.
3.Labor costs
You’ll be paying your unit cost plus labor. It’s tempting to cut costs by hiring the cheapest joe schmoe to do your AC replacement. But, this is where you should be the pickiest. The HVAC contractors you hire are crucial to a successful AC installation.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star website, an incorrectly installed central air conditioner can decrease up to 30% energy efficiency. Month-to-month energy costs mean hundreds of your hard-earned dollars wasted.
So, What’s the Bottom Line?
Avoiding your ac replacement will cost you much more money in the long run. Every month your energy cost remains the same, or worse, it increases, is a month of financial opportunities wasted.
The return you will make on ac installation will offset the HVAC system costs. Don’t miss out on making this kind of money.
Hire a Pro
A to Z-G.C. energy experts are a hands-on bunch ready that want to make your home more energy-efficient. We encourage those interested in home improvement projects to look us up!
We hold an A+ rating by BBB and have over 100 five-star reviews to read from on Google. Click here to visit our informative website and get an estimate on HVAC replacement.
Upgrade.
An outdated air conditioning unit affects the air your lungs take in. An air conditioning unit that does its job well should purify the air as well as reduce airborne allergens and mold. An outdated air conditioning unit affects your wallet. An air conditioning unit worth having is an economic one. It should cut costs down and maintain your home cool during the warmer months. You can expect to spend a pretty penny on your air conditioning replacement, but hiring the right contractor can help you to save big!
A to Z-G.C. energy experts are a hands-on bunch ready that want to make your home more energy-efficient. We encourage those interested in home improvement projects to do their research on us! We hold an A+ rating by BBB and have over 100 five-star reviews to read from on Google. Click here to visit our informative website and get an estimate on air conditioning replacement.
