Central air is a good investment in warm climates but provides less value in regions with mild summer weather. Replacing an existing central air system maintains but does not increase the home's value. An air conditioner lasts 12 to 15 years if correctly sized for the home and properly maintained. An AC unit's lifespan depends on the quality, environment, and usage.
Improperly sized air conditioners or units located in areas with extreme heat typically have a shorter lifespan. An air conditioner warranty lasts 10 to 15 years if the product is registered within 60 days of installation. Coverage timeframes for individual parts vary from 5 to 20 years, depending on the brand. Standard AC warranties cover equipment malfunctions but typically do not cover labor.
Failing to perform regular AC maintenance may void the manufacturer's warranty. Installing a central AC unit takes 1 to 2 days on average if using the existing ductwork. AC installations requiring new ductwork take 3 to 5 days or more, depending on the home's size, age, duct type, and crew size. An air conditioner can cool but cannot heat.
This overall efficiency is part of the total cost of any air conditioning unit. New air conditioners can have a SEER rating of or higher. Usually, as the SEER rating goes up, the initial purchase cost may increase. However, the operating costs will be lower at higher SEER levels, which can reduce the long-term costs of your system.
When you consider an air conditioning replacement, you're probably not thinking about your furnace. This is typically the case if you choose a variable-speed air conditioner and don't have a compatible furnace unit. Variable-speed air conditioners require indoor blower motors that operate at different speeds. Single-stage and two-stage air conditioners without variable-speed features can generally pair with single-stage and two-stage furnaces.
Your current system can limit your options at times. When you replace your air conditioner and furnace at the same time, you can increase efficiency and reduce costs. Ductwork helps circulate conditioned air throughout your home. Your system may require ductwork modifications simply because different air conditioners have different requirements. Failure to correctly modify your ductwork can affect the performance of your system.
Improperly sized ductwork can lead to hot or cold spots in your home, even with a new system. Your HVAC partner should conduct a thorough duct analysis to determine if your existing ductwork is sized properly for your home and your system. The end result should always be a system with freely flowing, properly sized ducts that operate efficiently. A line set is the copper tubing that connects your outside air conditioning unit to your indoor system.
This tubing helps move refrigerant between the two. Since your system cools your home by moving refrigerant, your comfort depends on the integrity of your line set. Without line set protection, your line set is exposed to the elements and other damage.
Until recently, there were only a handful of ways to protect a line set. And many of them were both ineffective and unsightly. However, a line set positive seal system offers a more effective, more aesthetically pleasing alternative to protect your line set.
Because of this, we protect each new air conditioner installation with a line set positive seal system at no cost to our customers. HVAC is one of the few trades that include multiple disciplines, including carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work. Variables associated with these areas can affect the final cost of a product or service. These variables include electrical modifications.
You may not need electrical modifications. But if you do, there are a couple of common areas:. A single-stage cooling system has one operative mode: on or off. Once the temperature is lowered, the system shuts off completely. A two-stage cooling system functions more efficiently by rarely operating at full capacity.
This type of system uses less energy, helping you pay less to stay cool. A variable-stage cooling system is the most energy efficient, but it also carries the largest initial cost. This type of HVAC has multiple cooling levels and will pull the least amount of energy possible to cool your home. The best part is, no work is required on your end.
The unit automatically selects the best cooling variable to keep your space comfortable. Trying to determine how much it costs to run an AC will require a few numbers specific to your HVAC system and location. Most central air systems operate on 3, to 5, watts, or 3 to 5 kilowatts kW.
The average residential electricity customer in the U. On average, a central AC system runs eight hours a day during the cooling season. Your AC may run more or less depending on your climate. If you install a window AC unit to cool a single room, the operational cost will be much lower. For a quick fix to a hot room, a window air conditioner may be the most budget-friendly option.
Here are the average installation cost ranges for air conditioners, gas furnaces and heat pumps. Again, these costs will vary depending on your home and the HVAC unit being installed. For accurate pricing, contact an HVAC professional in your area. Need help? Let HVAC. Find a local dealer Start over. An HVAC system is a big expense.
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