Central Air Conditioner Prices - Pros, Cons, and Free Estimates

There’s a reason you never see flat-rate central air conditioner prices advertised in a Sunday paper alongside weed whackers and plasma screen televisions. There are no easy answers when it comes to cost and countless factors can push the price upward or downward by thousands of dollars.

It takes more than a few figures to thoroughly the cost of air conditioning. There are several factors that will directly affect the size of the unit you need, what you’ll be spending up front, and ultimately what you’ll be shelling out from month-to-month. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. These workhorses of home cooling can last two decades, making energy efficiency a key consideration that can save you money long-term. The trouble is, higher efficiency means higher initial cost for the unit, so finding the right balance between initial cost and long-term savings can be a challenge. There are some key considerations, however, that can guide you in your search for the right cost.

SEER’ing Heat: The Guide to Cool

• Efficiency

Simply put, efficiency refers to the amount of energy converted into cool air compared to the amount of energy lost. This is the most important factor when determining central air conditioner prices because it dictates long-term savings. Brand names play a role in cost, but within that are countless internal variables at play and no clear front-runner for best price and reliability. Some central air conditioners, for example, include the ability to adjust temperature from a cell phone. Other air conditioners may have multiple stages, meaning they can operate at 67% capacity or the 100% offered by single-stage air conditioners, which can help reduce humidity. Perks such as these can elevate cost significantly.

Efficiency is expressed as Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER. The higher the seer, the less you’ll pay in utility costs to operate your central air conditioner. SEER ratings range from 13 to 23, but some older models may have SEER ratings below 13 due to a federal energy conservation law passed in 2006 that placed a minimum on any newly manufactured air conditioners (parts to repair units with SEER ratings from 10 to 12 remain on the market, however).

Like most aspects of central air conditioner prices, there are few easy answers as to what the right energy efficiency rating is for your home. It primarily comes down to usage. If you live in a hot climate and frequently use your air conditioner, you’ll probably save more with a high efficiency unit. If your air conditioner will have minimal use, you’ll probably save more money with a low efficiency unit.

Efficiency calculators are the most accurate way to pinpoint the best rating for your needs, but you’ll need to know local electricity costs--in dollars per kilowatt hour--as well as the central air conditioners’ initial price, Btu per hour of the air conditioners you’re considering, and the units’ efficiency rating. Energy Star offers one of the better air conditioning efficiency calculators. The calculator file can be viewed in Microsoft Excel.

• Installation

Installation price can run in the thousands and depends on contractors’ estimates. Some contractors may charge significantly more than others. If you’ve never had central air conditioning in your home, you may need new ductwork, which can push the price up by thousands of dollars.

• Sizing

Sizing, which will be explained in the next paragraphs, comes down to one choice: the exact size you need--no more, no less.

Small House, Round House, Big House: Central Air Conditioner Prices Vary

The size of the area being cooled is an obvious factor when it comes to sizing your potential AC unit. The square footage of your home will directly affect your home cooling needs.

The size and position of windows and whether they have shading contributes to the insulation in your home. If your home is well insulated, you’ll have less need for a larger central air system.

Even the number of occupants changes both heating and cooling needs. A full home will generally be warmer, thanks to natural body heat. A larger house with fewer people might need a little boost to keep things cool. Home appliances and electrical equipment create heat. If your home is filled with heavy appliances and strong lights that are often left on, you may need a stronger central air conditioning system to combat the heat that they create.

Quality contractors will pin down your home cooling needs with a load calculation or heat-gain calculation. This is the most reliable way--and considers nearly every conceivable factor--to pinpoint the right air conditioning sizing needs. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America’s Manual J Residential Load Calculation includes everything from the obviously practical to the commonly overlooked elements of home cooling, so it’s a great rubric for determining prices of central air.

If you’re a brave soul, you can consider delving into an industry standard load calculation manual to find your sizing needs, but be warned that it’s about as dense as granite and as exciting as watching paint dry.

Direct Correlation Between a Homeowner's Central Air Conditioner Prices and their Central Air Unit's Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio

The efficiency rating you’re aiming for will have a drastic effect on your central air conditioning prices, both initially and in the long run. The SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is the most important factor to pay attention to when considering long term central air conditioner cost. The simple breakdown for efficiency ratings, including the cost of installation:

• 16-23 SEER - $2,500 - $7,000 high efficiency, high prices, low month-to-month costs
• 14-17 SEER - $2,200 - $5,500 moderate efficiency
• 13 SEER - $1,750 - $4,000 low efficiency, good for rentals, economical buy

The more energy efficient the central air conditioning system, the higher the central air conditioner prices. The SEER you should aim for depends highly on your regional needs and how much you’re willing to spend up front to save in the future on your central air bills.

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