Carrier air conditioner prices: pros, cons and quotes
Your complete guide to Carrier air conditioner prices | Costs, pros and cons of Carrier air conditioning
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Carrier is to air conditioning what Sony is to television, Ford is to cars, and Coca-Cola is to soda: the long established name in its field that usually delivers a high quality product. Taking its namesake from Willis Carrier, who invented the air conditioner in 1902, Carrier was the first company to successfully market air conditioning as a cooling solution for the average home. Today, it remains the flagship name in the air conditioning world. Carrier air conditioner prices are competitive considering its reputation although generally higher than most other manufacturers. But like the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Carrier does not list the cost of its air conditioners on its website or in any other company materials, similar to nearly every other HVAC manufacturer. The Carrier air conditioner price you pay, as the end consumer, is a total consisting of the wholesale air conditioner price and the installation cost.
The following Carrier air conditioner prices are recent estimates to give you an idea of what you’ll likely pay. Note that prices can vary depending on location, your installation needs, and more. For Carrier air conditioner prices specific to your needs, click here to compare free estimates from local reputable contractors.
SEER ratings describe how efficiently an air conditioner turns energy into heat. Therefore, it’s the main aspect you should look at when pinpointing how much you should spend. Systems with higher SEER ratings tend to be more expensive up front, but can save you hundreds — sometimes thousands — over the long haul. Unlike furnaces, which offer a handy percentage rating to determine efficiency, SEER is a bit more convoluted. To calculate how a higher SEER can help you, Energy Star has a helpful efficiency calculator that we recommend.
Carrier air conditioner prices
Carrier Infinity Series Air Conditioner
About: The Infinity Series is not just Carrier’s flagship system, it may be the consumer air conditioning industry’s flagship system. With an extremely high SEER rating of up to 21 and every top-of-the-line amenity available, this is the ultimate in air conditioning luxury. Of course, with those benefits comes one of the most priciest air conditioners on the market.
Carrier Infinity Series
Key aspects:
- SEER up to 21.
- Two-stage cooling for operation at 100% and 67% to improve humidity.
- Infinity Control: a loaded-with-options temperature control including remote access.
- Silencer System II technology for quiet operation (as low as decibels).
- 10-year parts limited warranty.
Cost including installation:
- About $3,750 to $8,000.
Contractors' wholesale purchase cost:
- 2-ton: about $2,750.
- 3-ton: about $3,000.
- 4-ton: about $3,400.
- 5-ton: about $3,750.
Carrier Performance/Comfort Series Air Conditioner
About: There’s a noticeable drop in efficiency and perks from the Infinity Series to the Performance/Comfort Series, but Carrier air conditioner prices for this line take a significant dip as well. Despite few amenities, there’s still plenty of savings to be found on your monthly electric bills with the Performance/Comfort Series due to a SEER rating of up to 18. Unfortunately, you lose out on the multiple stage cooling, which can further reduce your cooling bills while helping to remove humidity and improve overall comfort.
Carrier Performance/Comfort Series
Key aspects:
- SEER up to 18.
- Single-stage cooling (less effectively reduces humidity and energy use than multiple stages).
- Operates as low as 66 decibels.
- 10-year parts limited warranty.
Cost including installation:
- About $3,200 to $7,000.
Contractors' wholesale purchase cost (18 SEER):
- 2-ton: about $2,500.
- 3-ton: about $2,650.
- 4-ton: about $2,800.
- 5-ton: about $3,000.
Contractors' wholesale purchase cost (16.5 SEER):
- 2-ton: about $2,300.
- 3-ton: about $2,500.
- 4-ton: about $2,650.
- 5-ton: about $2,800.
Carrier Performance Series Compact Air Conditioner
About: This small-of-stature air conditioner is ideal for condos or homes with little outdoor space. It’s Carrier’s least efficient system, but the SEER rating of up to 15 still offers decent efficiency — far more efficient than most air conditioners manufactured more than several years ago.
Carrier Performance Compact Series
Key aspects:
- 15 SEER.
- Small size allows installation on roofs, decks, or as close as 6 feet from the outside of your home.
- Silencer System II for quiet operation (as low as 66 decibels).
- Single-stage cooling (less effectively reduces humidity and energy use than multiple stages).
- 10-year parts limited warranty.
Cost including installation:
- About $2,700 to $6,500.
Contractors' wholesale purchase cost (15 SEER):
- 2-ton: about 1,900.
- 3-ton: about $2,000.
- 4-ton: about $2,150.
- 5-ton: about $2,300.
Carrier Comfort/Base Series Air Conditioner
About: The Comfort/Base Series is Carrier’s low-end line. That said, the higher end of the line still offers a better SEER rating than many other companies’ middle-of-the-road products. And it still offers the same warranty as the higher end models, a suggestion of a quality product. Best of all, up-front Carrier air conditioner prices for the Comfort/Base line are low.
Carrier Comfort/Base Series
Key aspects:
- SEER up to 16.5.
- Operates as quietly as 72 decibels (roughly the equivalent of a dishwasher).
- 10-year parts limited warranty.
Cost including installation:
- About $2,000 to $6,000.
Contractors' wholesale purchase cost (16.5 SEER):
- 2-ton: about $1,750.
- 3-ton: about $2,000.
- 4-ton: about $2,400.
- 5-ton: about $2,600.
Contractors' wholesale purchase cost (13 SEER):
- 2-ton: about $1,400.
- 3-ton: about $1,600.
- 4-ton: about $1,800.
- 5-ton: about $2,000.
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