Central air conditioning is the system that distributes cold air equally to each room in your home through air ducts. This is a popular cooling system because many homes already have the basic requirements for an easy installation. Central AC can be adapted to fit with your existing furnace ductwork.
Like any renovation on your home, central air conditioning is an investment. But the costs aren’t the same for every home. In this blog, we’ll look at what affects the price of a new air conditioning system and the benefits of upgrading to central AC.
Our experts at Lee’s Air, Plumbing, & Heating are ready to help homeowners all over Central and Northern California stay cool. Contact our office closest to you for a no cost, obligation-free estimate about a central air conditioning install.
How Much Does Central AC Cost?
Air conditioning units can be lifesavers in the California heat, and there are a few things to consider when shopping around for your central AC unit. Like most appliances and home systems, some factors and options change the final costs of a home cooling system.
Let’s discuss what can affect your total price tag on a central AC replacement or installation.
Types of Central Air Conditioning
A central air conditioning unit is either a split-system unit or a packaged unit.
In a packaged central AC unit, all components are located in one cabinet usually placed outside on a roof or beside the home. Supply and return ducts come from indoors through the home’s roof or foundation to connect with the packaged unit outside.
A split-system unit has an outdoor cabinet that contains the outdoor heat exchanger, fan and compressor. An indoor cabinet houses the indoor heat exchanger and blower. In many split-system setups, the indoor cabinet also contains your home’s furnace. If your home already has a furnace, but no AC unit, a split system may be the most cost-effective way to go.
Size and Power
The price for an air conditioning system has a lot to do with the size of your home. The more rooms that need to be cooled, the larger AC unit you’ll require. And generally the larger the unit the higher the price.
If your unit is too small to heat the square footage of your home, it will have to work longer and harder. This could mean increased utility bills or a hefty repair bill if your unit overheats from the effort. When evaluating the price of central air conditioning, consider the long-term monthly costs as well.
Call Lee’s Air, Plumbing, & Heating today and one of our trained Comfort Advisors will work with you to figure out what size air conditioner makes the most sense for your space and cooling needs. It’s important to know that financing options, with as little as zero money down, are available to make sure you’ve got air conditioning when you need it most.
Air Conditioner Model & Features
A big part of determining what your new central AC will cost is knowing what brand and model of air conditioner you prefer. Just like buying a car, different makes and models can have very different prices when it comes to a central air conditioner.
It’s common for each air conditioner manufacturer to have multiple models and tiers available. So the price of qualified products really depends on what your home’s cooling needs are. Our certified, knowledgeable technicians are familiar with all major brands of air conditioning units and will help steer you in the right direction.
Manufacturer Warranties
Lee’s Air, Plumbing, & Heating guarantees 100% satisfaction on all of our installation work, but the manufacturer’s warranties should also play a part in gauging the cost of a new air conditioner. Longer guarantees protect you against potential repairs in the future.
When you’re calculating the costs of a central AC installation look at how long your prospective AC unit’s warranties are good for. And talk with your air conditioning expert to understand what parts of an air conditioner are covered under warranty.
Benefits of Central Air Conditioning
We all know that keeping your home cool and comfortable is a major benefit of central air conditioning. But there are reasons beyond keeping chill that make central AC worth the investment.
Increased Energy Efficiency
Central AC units are more efficient than room conditioners. When buying a unit, it’s important to look for a high-efficiency model or a model with a good SEER rating.
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating measures the cooling your unit does over a period of time by the energy it uses. Or in other words, your AC unit’s maximum potential and efficiency.
A good SEER rating is typically anything over 13. But in California, the minimum SEER rating required for your home’s unit is 14. If you have an older home, upgrading your central AC unit to a higher SEER will save you both money and energy in the long run.
A central AC unit can also help your home score higher on the HERS test. The HERS testing program provides a clear and unbiased measurement of energy efficiency in your home. It also provides useful information on how to improve your home’s energy efficiency and lower your family’s energy usage.
Quiet Cooling
A central AC system is the way to go if you want peace and quiet while cooling your home. Most systems will make a soft humming noise, a stark contrast from the loud noises emitted by many window units.
It’s also very common for condensers and blowers to be placed in inconspicuous places like a utility room, or corner of your yard. So mechanical noises shouldn’t be an issue if you elect for central air conditioning.
Space Saving AC Comfort
Because central AC units are typically housed in an indoor or outdoor cabinet, this eliminates the need for bulky units in multiple rooms in your home. If you already have furnace ducts in your home, a central air conditioner just needs some space to feed into that system.
Now you can use your windows for what they were designed for, letting in that California sunshine and view!
Can’t Put a Price on Instant Cooling
The cost of installing and operating central air conditioning is dependent on many things. The size and model of your unit, and the features you want, are going to affect the initial price tag. System energy efficiency is going to make a difference in the month-to-month costs of keeping your home cool with central AC.
Central air conditioning is much more affordable if you have existing ductwork in your home. The infrastructure for moving air is already there. Finding a price and product that fits your budget is best done with air conditioning experts who help you find the best value in home cooling.
Lee’s Air, Plumbing, & Heating believes that everyone deserves a comfortable living space. That’s why we partner with several institutions in California to offer affordable financing for air conditioner installations.
Is Central AC right for you? Call us today to schedule an installation before the temperature rises. Give yourself the gift of constant cool air and comfort with central air conditioning.
