Upgrading or replacing your old air conditioner is a major and necessary home improvement project that may require significant investment. Air Conditioner installation cost is a major factor in that decision. Deciding to replace an older air conditioner is a wise choice since older models run a higher risk of needing frequent repairs, which make them a burden on your yearly renovation budget as well as the monthly electricity bills.
However, the threat of a breakdown is not the only reason why you should consider installing a new air-conditioner. The most important consideration, however, lies in the factors that contribute to air conditioner installation costs.
Factors that affect air conditioner installation cost
Many aspects like type of upgrade, quality of installation, system type, and time taken for the installation procedure all contribute to the overall cost in the following ways:
Correct Sizing
Many homeowners do not have any idea about air-conditioner size and capacity, and make the mistake of replacing their current model with one with similar properties. If you are looking forward to upgrading your AC, it's important that you perform a calculation of cooling load that takes into account the total area of your home, its layout, window placement, heat generating appliances, etc. The average cost of installing a central AC or a heating system in Los Angeles can range between $4,500 - $12,000.
Energy efficiency
When upgrading your AC, consider Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio also known as SEER. The SEER value is used for measuring cooling efficiency over the span of a season where a higher rating denotes more efficiency. The current minimum SEER level accepted today is 14. However, you can go for even more efficient air conditioners that are at SEER 16 and above. However, the trade-off for getting more energy efficiency is the upfront cost of purchase. A professional HVAC contractor can help you better determine optimal SEER rating that would be suitable for your home.
Air quality upgrades
Installing components that are supposed to upgrade air quality will cost you extra, but they are indeed worth the price. Basic air filters using HEPA of high efficiency particulate air filters can range between $200-$550 or more depending on size. Central or whole house cleaners can cost you something between $1000-$5000. These components help in trapping pollen, dust, smoke, and other harmful substances.
Indoor and outdoor components
A split AC comes with two parts, one that is placed inside of your home and another outside, usually in the rooftop or something similar. When you are upgrading your air conditioner, it may seem tempting just to repair the failing component to save money, but that is a decision that may backfire if the age of your system is more than four or five years. Air conditioning and heating systems work best when both the inside and outside components are efficiently matched.
The Best AC Installation Contractor
Apart from the factors mentioned above, the quality and reputation of the contractor and the extent of modification of your home's existing layout to accommodate the new and upgraded air conditioner will also determine the overall air conditioner installation cost. Having your ac installation done the right way usually means getting permits. If you are getting estimates and multiple opinions from different hvac contractors, make sure to ask if they pull permits for their jobs. Just because somebody does not pull permits for their ac installation job doesn't necessarily mean they are not going to do a good job, but getting a permit causes them to have accountability by a city inspector in the future.
If a contractor wants to get a permit approved they have to go through an inspection by an independent city inspector that will come and verify that everything is done properly and up to code. That is the reason why getting permits is so important because it causes the contractor to be accountable for all work they complete in relation to that ac installation.
We at LA Heating and Air pride ourselves in serving our clients with honesty and a job well done, that is why we pull permits on every air conditioner replacement and ac installation. We do the work correctly and are ready for an inspector to come and check the quality of our work.
We specialize in new installation and replacement of HVAC systems for homes and businesses and would be glad to schedule a free no obligation consultation. Please don't hesitate to give us a call or contact us online and we will be happy to share our expertise to help you choose the best system for you, after all - your comfort is our business! To learn more about services our company offers, please visit our homepage.
