How much does central air conditioning cost to install

$3,876

(central A/C cool only for 1,000 sq.ft. - upgraded)

Table of Contents Show

Central Air Conditioning Costs
Other considerations and costs
DIY considerations
How much does it cost to install central air in a 2000 square
How much does it cost to add central air to an old house?
How much does it cost to install central air in a 1500 square
Is installing central air worth it?

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Central Air Conditioning Costs

Central air conditioning (A/C) units have their hot air output exterior to the building, and their cooling air ducted to interior climate zones. Refrigeration tubing and electrical circuitry will pass through the building envelope.

You will find that the cost of average central A/C varies by type of unit, its cooling capacity and efficiency rating, preparation and special needs, and the labor rate.

In the following tables the Labor Cost figure is what the able DIY person should expect to save by performing the corresponding tasks.

Central A/C: central unit added to existing furnace ducts to cool 1,000 sq.ft.; include delivery, all material, equipment, and waste.

Item	Unit Cost	Quantity	Line Cost
1. A/C unit: 24000 BTU (2 ton) cooling only, 230 VAC, pad mount; include plenum, piping, pad, and connections; with all trim, weather stripping, hardware, and touch-up.	$2,990	each	1	$2,990
2. Upgrade: install new circuit; 30 feet of #10/3 wire in EMT exterior conduit; 30 amp breaker into existing space; wired into unit box.	$2.16	per foot	32	$68
Material Cost	$3,058	each	1	$3,058
3. + Labor Cost (install AC unit)	$38	per hour	16	$608
4. + Labor Cost (upgrade circuit)	$42	per hour	5	$210
Total Cost	$3,876	each	1	$3,876

Central A/C: central unit added to existing furnace ducts to cool more than 2,000 sq.ft.; include delivery, all material, equipment, and waste.

Item	Unit Cost	Quantity	Line Cost
1. A/C unit: 60000 BTU (5 ton) cooling only, 230 VAC, pad mount; include plenum, piping, pad, and connections; with all trim, weather stripping, hardware, and touch-up.	$5,647	each	1	$5,647
2. Upgrade: install new circuit; 30 feet of #10/3 wire in EMT exterior conduit; 30 amp breaker into existing space; wired into unit box.	$3.07	per foot	32	$97
Material Cost	$5,744	each	1	$5,744
3. + Labor Cost (install AC unit)	$38	per hour	12	$456
4. + Labor Cost (upgrade circuit)	$42	per hour	3	$126
Total Cost	$6,326	each	1	$6,326

Other considerations and costs

Taxes and permit fees are not included.
Energy efficient A/C will save money, and in some cases rebates may be available.
For A/C units of greater than 12,000 BTU’s per hour (or 3.5 kilowatts) a multi-phase electrical circuit is generally required.
For a sunny room, add 10% more A/C capacity than required for room size.
Add 600 BTU/h’s per person if usually occupied by more than two persons.
For the kitchen, add 4,000 more BTU/h’s than required for room size.
During the initial inspection the contractor should inform the homeowner of any and all necessary modification or upgrade on electrical circuits or building structure.
Labor cost will rise with a “hidden” circuit installation in a finished environment.

Check out our guide if you need a loan for your home improvement project.

DIY considerations

This project is not highly suitable for DIY requiring special tools and skills.

References

Craftsman Estimator Costbook, complete series year 2015.
Latest prices found on Home Depot and other vendor Web sites.
Literature review of DIY Web sites.

How much does it cost to install central air conditioning in your city?
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Cost by city

(central A/C cool only for 1,000 sq.ft. - upgraded)

New York, NY$6,226
Bronx, NY$5,116
Brooklyn, NY$4,264
Philadelphia, PA$5,320
Washington, DC$4,616
Atlanta, GA$4,176
Miami, FL$3,799
Fort Lauderdale, FL$3,979
Minneapolis, MN$4,668
Chicago, IL$5,439
Houston, TX$5,610
San Antonio, TX$3,766
Austin, TX$4,264
Denver, CO$3,602
Phoenix, AZ$3,801
Las Vegas, NV$4,172
Los Angeles, CA$4,700
San Diego, CA$4,265
San Jose, CA$5,152
Seattle, WA$3,772

Local costs have been calculated by accounting for labor and material cost differences across different cities. To get accurate cost estimates, indicate yours:

How much does it cost to install central air in a 2000 square

For a 2,000 square ft home you would want a 4 to 5 ton AC unit and the average installation cost would be around $5,100 with the unit alone costing around $1,980. Read more about these cost factors below. Find the best HVAC contractors in your area. Cost by Home Sq.

How much does it cost to add central air to an old house?

Now, the question is: how much does it cost to install a central air conditioning system in an old home? Based on research, the standard market price ranges between $3,000 to $15,000. However, the actual cost depends on when you want the system installed, the area you live in, and the complexity of the installation.

How much does it cost to install central air in a 1500 square

Cost of central air for 1500 sq ft house? $4,650 – $9,900, according to the Cost of AC per House Size Table above. This is an installed cost. Most homeowners pay around $7,900 for an average-quality, 16 to 18 SEER AC.

Is installing central air worth it?

Central air conditioning gives you the comfort of temperature control more efficiently than a window unit. A window unit can cool a single room fairly well, but if you need a few throughout the house, the energy costs can stack up fast. Central air also provides you with improved air quality in every room.