Find an Air Conditioning Installer near you
The average rating for Bark Air Conditioning Installers is 4.7, based on 18,660 reviews
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based on 18,660 reviews
Is your property hot and humid? Read our handy guide to find out how much your air conditioning installers will charge for their services.
The average price of air conditioning installation is $5,900 in the United States. This depends on the size and quality of the AC unit, the installation process, and your location in the country.
It’s no secret that air conditioning is popular with homeowners all across America. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) found that around 88% of properties have air conditioning units in them. Yet with new homes being built around the USA every day, installation of AC units is still in very high demand.
Although air conditioning might be a necessity for your home, that doesn’t mean that you want to hand over tens of thousands to pay for it. It’s thus useful to be well-informed about all the factors that impact the price of AC installation. Take a look at this webpage to see all the guideline prices you need, and advice on whether you should get AC put into your home.
Keep in mind that these figures are based on our data and research, but the best way to get a personalized quote is to get in touch with an air conditioning installer near you.
When the time arrives to install air conditioning, you have several options to choose from. Each one is installed in a different way, and this impacts the price you can expect to pay.
One of the least expensive is a portable air conditioning unit. These are equipped with wheels for easy mobility, and can be stationed in whichever room you’re sitting in.
Anything costing below $300 is on the low end of the price range, while you can pay up to $1,000 (or even higher) for a more sophisticated unit. The average price comes in at around $600.
As the name suggests, this type of air conditioning unit is fitted on or close to your floor. It has two separate units: one inside, and one outside. It’s ideal if you have limited space in your room to install an air conditioning system.
A wall air conditioner attaches high on the wall. It usually has two air pipes routed from the back directly through the wall. This type of air conditioner is often part of a ductless mini-split system.
A window air conditioning unit is mounted onto a window in your room, and typically plugs into an electrical outlet. It comes in various strengths, with some models marketed as being ideal for a 150 square foot room, and others designed for 350 square feet and above.
Last but not least, is a ceiling air conditioning unit. You’ll find this mounted to the ceiling of your room, often in the far corners as it tends to be a bit unattractive to look at. This is one of the most common methods of installing an air conditioning unit.
Your air conditioning installation price varies based on several factors. You should consider all of these before you jump into the project. Some of the main elements include:
AC unit size
Quality of air conditioning unit
Features
Installer
Location
Noise levels
A few of these factors are more impactful than others. Speak to an air conditioning expert near you for more guidance, or read our section on each one below.
Residential AC units tend to have a cooling capacity up to 5 tons (60,000 BTUs). Any more than this, and you might’ve stumbled upon a commercial AC solution, which is probably unsuitable unless your house is very large!
On the smaller end of the scale, you can fit a 1.5 ton unit for a small one-bedroom flat. You’ll struggle to find models smaller than this that have a noticeable impact on your room.
A 1.5 ton unit costs around $3,000 on average. A 3 ton unit costs approximately $4,250, and a 5 ton air conditioning system can cost up to $6,000. See our table further below for a guideline price on every AC unit size.
Some air conditioning units are higher quality than others. You should do your research and speak to an expert for guidance on the best manufacturers and models. The leading AC units will retain your heat more effectively, and use energy more efficiently.
Air conditioning units can come with many different features. This could include:
Setting a timer
Remote control
App access
Sleep mode
Dehumidifier and air filtering
Products with greater functionality are more expensive. Remote control access, or changing settings through a phone application, are newer features that you’ll need to pay for. Factor this into your budget.
Your choice of installer is extremely important. Lots of professionals charge by the hour, meaning that whether they take a few hours or a few days to complete the work is extremely important.
It’s worth comparing price quotations from several different installers to decide on the best route forwards. You should ask for evidence of their past air conditioning installations, so you know exactly what you receive for each price range.
Your location will affect the price of having air conditioning installed. This is because of the difference in material costs, and varying needs for air conditioning depending on the state you live.
Typically, the cheapest place across the US to have air conditioning installed is Wisconsin. Not only does it have very low cost of living, but it experiences harsher winters, making the demand for air conditioning less intense all year round.
Meanwhile, California is unsurprisingly the most expensive place, along with New York and Texas. The latter two states have humid climates throughout the summer months, and California is often hot all year round.
Demand for air con varies in each state too. The Energy Information Association found that 93% of homes in the deep south had air conditioning installed, compared to 73% in Oregon and Washington state.
You should consider what noise levels you can put up with, before buying an air conditioner. Some of them produce lots of noise when working, which can distract you and make it difficult to sleep at night.
If you want zero noise from a high quality model, you’ll have to pay more. The noisiest ones, meanwhile, tend to be on the lower end of the price spectrum.
It’s also important to note that the noise levels of the air conditioner are likely to increase with time as the system ages. You should keep this in mind, as just because a system is silent when you first buy it, that doesn’t mean it’ll always be that way. Ask an expert for guidance.
| AC unit size | Average price |
| 1.5 tons | $3,000 |
| 2 tons | $3,400 |
| 2.5 tons | $3,750 |
| 3 tons | $4,250 |
| 3.5 tons | $4,650 |
| 4 tons | $5,000 |
| 5 tons | $6,000 |
An uncomfortably warm room often feels impossible to relax in. It can disrupt your sleep, especially in the summer months. Air conditioning units remove warm air from a room and transfer it outside. In exchange, cold air will be pumped into your room, keeping it cool and thus pleasant to be in.
Your location will have a huge impact on whether air conditioning is worthwhile. If your state gets very hot for several months of the year, air conditioning is often essential to allow you to function. Densely populated areas also have competitive prices since lots of professionals will operate in the area.
You should consider your budget, and the extent to which hot temperatures are disrupting your life. Also decide whether you have an alternative method of cooling your house, such as a portable fan.
On the plus side, there’s no doubt that installing air conditioning with improve the value of your home. This percentage increase will be proportionally large in hot parts of the USA.
The National Association of Realtors estimates a 12% boost to your home's value, when you add a new central AC system in a very hot area. Meanwhile, the national average seems to be closer to 6%. Speak to an expert for advice that’s personalized to your house, location and situation.
| Approximate house value without air con | Approximate house value with air con |
| $200,000 | $212,000 |
| $400,000 | $424,000 |
| $600,000 | $636,000 |
| $750,000 | $795,000 |
| $1 million | $1.06 million |
| $1.5 million | $1.59 million |
| $2 million | $2.12 million |
You should think about the pros and cons of installing air conditioning, when you decide whether to make the investment.
To start with, air conditioning can provide better air quality. The best models will trap dust and particles in the air duct. This means that you aren’t breathing in unwanted elements.
Your house will be undoubtedly more relaxing to live in during the warmer months. This is especially important if you live in a hot part of the US. You can enjoy these months without constantly sweating, or feeling tired and grouchy.
Air conditioning increases the value of your property. This especially applies if you invest in a highly effective system. Potential buyers of your house will be pleased that they don’t have to do this installation process themselves.
On the other hand, air conditioning systems require regular maintenance. Otherwise they can be faulty or break down altogether. You’ll also need to clear out any dust or particles that build up in the unit.
You should factor in the up-front cost of installing it. As outlined throughout this page, air conditioning installation is not inexpensive. You’ll often need to save up several thousands of dollars.
Air conditioning will usually increase your energy bill. This is because they consume lots of energy to cool the air. This will have a particularly noticeable effect if you're switching from no air conditioning to a central air conditioning system.
There’re two important components to getting value for money: the air conditioning system itself, and the expert installing it. You need to get both of these elements right.
You should speak to past customers of the installer and see if were satisfied with the service. Which system did they get, and does it provide value for money?
Your friends and family will undoubtedly have experience with air conditioning units too. They can advise on products and installers. It’s best to get the opinion of someone with a similar house size to you, whose needs are the same.
Once you’ve set your budget at the start of the project, you should change this. Less trustworthy professionals will try to upsell you features you don’t need. It’s important to do your research before setting a budget, so you know what’s realistic – and from that point onwards, stick to your guns!
Air conditioning units are fixed to the inside of your property and require professional installation in order to work, as well as regular maintenance. They can be controlled to activate while you’re out of the house so that a cool temperature is maintained for when you return home.
You can find high-quality air conditioners that will heat up a room, as well as cool it down. These models are designed to work as a heat pump, making it ideal for the colder months. Research products that meet this criteria and then get in touch with an expert to confirm which model is best.
This means that your entire home is connected to the same air conditioning system. Temperatures can sometimes be customized in certain rooms, so it’s cooler in some places than in others, but nevertheless, there will be a large network of supply and return ducts controlling the entire thing.
Almost all experts don’t recommend this. It’s possible – and probable – that you’ll make a mistake which compromizes your safety or the functionality of the product. It’s best to leave it to a qualified, experienced professional.
The average rating for Bark Air Conditioning Installers is 4.7, based on 18,660 reviews
5/5
based on 18,660 reviews
