How Much to Install Central Air Conditioning?

Factors

• Labor costs may vary greatly in certain parts of the country. In addition, some installations are more complex than others. A home with 1,500 square feet of living space and an established ductwork system may require much less labor than an older, 5,000-square-foot home without ductwork. Ducts are pipes for delivering cool air throughout the house. Ductwork snakes through attics and closets to deliver air through vents. Installing new ductwork could double the cost of an installation.

Self-Installation

• Home improvement stores sell the equipment necessary for installing central air conditioning. However, nearly all recommend that a licensed heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, specialist perform the actual work. Virtually all aspects of the job are complex, including the installation of ductwork, if needed. Poorly installed ductwork can lead to cool air leaving the system before it reaches the living quarters. That forces the resident to spend more money on electricity to compensate for the poor circulation.

Condenser

• One of the biggest costs in a central air conditioning installation is the outside unit known as a condenser. The condenser is the engine powering the system. Homes larger than 5,000 square feet with multiple floors may have more than one condenser -- another factor in costs. The larger the living area, the greater the expense. Some systems are designed to deliver cool air to basements and lofts in addition to several bedrooms, a den, kitchen, living room and study.

Comparisons

• People seeking estimates on central air conditioning installation should request proposals from three or four contractors. More consideration should be given to contractors who spend time conducting a thorough, room-by-room analysis of your home. A reputable contractor cannot offer an estimate over the phone based on your home’s overall square footage and the number of bedrooms. The complexity of ductwork and the quality of existing home insulation will all affect the overall price of the system. Window quality is an issue as well, because some are more energy efficient than others.

Checklist

• The Air Conditioning Contractors of America lists a printable, detailed checklist on its website for evaluating contractors and their proposals (see Resources). The association acknowledges that some contractors may offer to sell a more powerful unit than you need. People who do that waste money for the entire lifetime of the condenser, which is about 12 to 15 years with good maintenance. A system that is too powerful for the house costs more to install than a properly sized unit, and will cost more in electricity expense.