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Pricing New Air Conditioner - We get emails on a regular basis asking us about prices. Prices for a new air conditioner, heat pump system, boilers, and other types of HVAC systems. This article addresses those questions and why it is nearly impossible to give anyone an estimate.
Estimates for new systems are nearly impossible through email or forum. Someone needs to first look at the house and other factors involved with giving someone a price.
Pricing New Air Conditioner
It’s easy for someone to give you a price on an air conditioner, gas furnace, or heat pump system. This is especially true when you are simply seeking the price of the equipment. That’s the easy part. Now you want to know the cost of having your old system replaced. Factors from the tear-out to the new installation must be considered.
This is more difficult because there are many factors involved when you want to rip out the old system and install the new system. That is if you want it done properly. Additionally, following all the codes and laws involved in installing a new air conditioning and heating system.
This is why many HVAC forums discourage HVAC pricing in the threads of those HVAC forums. The fact is giving someone a price on a new air conditioning system or a heating system without first looking at the old system and the steps necessary to complete the job properly nobody can give you an accurate price on a new air conditioning or heat pump system.
Some of the factors involved in taking a good objective look into giving you a price on a new air conditioner and heater for your home are:
Pricing New Air Conditioner - Cost Factors
- Has the house been changed in structure since the old air conditioner system or heating system was installed? For example: was there an addition made to the home and if so was the system upgraded to meet the demand for the additional space? This can affect the price of a new air conditioner or heating system install as it will require more tonnage and maybe even new ductwork. Maybe some energy-efficient windows and doors have been installed since the old system was installed. All these variables will change the size of the new system installed.
- Is the duct system adequate for the new system if you are upgrading in size if necessary? Is the old ductwork bad or in need of major repair or replacement? If you need new Pricing new air conditioners and heating systems are not so easy or cut and dry and this is why it is impossible to give a price without first looking at the old system first. ductwork the price will rise on the price or cost of installing the new air conditioner or heating system. If the ductwork is not adequate or old and leaking the new air conditioner and heating system will not perform as designed and rated.
Additional Cost Factors – Pricing New Air Conditioner
- Will the old line-set have to be replaced? This is becoming more and more common as old R-22 systems are upgraded to R-410A systems. If this is the case then a price of a new air conditioner or heating system will rise according to what it will take to run the new line-set. Pricing new air conditioners and heating systems are not so easy or cut and dry and this is why it is impossible to give a price without first looking at the old system first.
- Newer code requirements may be applicable to the new installation and sometimes meeting or exceeding the new code requirements can be costly. For example, if you live in a floodplain or a place that is prone to flooding you may have to install the new condenser at least 1 foot above the floodplain and make the ductwork reasonably watertight.
Old HVAC Duct Work
Pricing New Air Conditioner
These are some of the things that affect HVAC pricing and this is why it is impossible to give someone a price for a new air conditioner and heating system over the internet or telephone without first looking at it. The best way to get an accurate price for a new system is to call a professional HVAC contractor and get an estimate.
Always make sure the contractor does a load calculation for your home in its current state. Do not rely on the old load calculation if one was done with the old system as things change as noted above.
Conclusion - Cost factors
Lastly, of course, I got an email from someone telling me there are no prices in this article. It would be impossible for anyone to quote you prices on a new air conditioner or heating system without knowing all the variables of what you truly need based on many factors described above. The only way I (or anyone for that matter) could give you a price for a new system for your home would have to come to your home and collect some data.
Then return to the office and make the calculations, get my price list together, figure up labor costs, and make the calculation. Labor rates and material costs are different from region to region so that must also be considered.
Pricing New Air Conditioner
