As a leading real estate data company, Kukun has detailed data on virtually every home in America. We use this data about your home’s size, bedrooms, bathrooms, location, value, and more, to create a highly accurate cost estimate of the renovations you want to do.
Plus, we show you the ROI on your renovation and options for saving money or making more luxurious selections.
Confidential Address-Based
Kukun's air conditioning replacement cost estimator is a one-stop solution for calculating the cost of replacing your old AC instantly. This useful tool calculates on the basis of your area zip code, labor costs and other relevant parameters that affect the total replacement cost.
Simply enter your specifications and the result will give you a realistic estimate for your AC replacement cost.
Getting an estimate through Kukun’s air conditioner replacement cost estimator is easy. Just follow the steps below to get your confidential address-based estimate total cost!
Enter your full address to get the ROI/recoup value for your house or just your zip code to get only the renovation cost estimate.
And there you go – your air conditioner replacement cost estimate is ready!
With this estimate, you can analyze your finance options or hire a professional to get started on the work right away.
The average cost to replace an air conditioner is about $4,600. The total cost varies depending on the size and type of AC or HVAC unit you choose and the condition of the existing ductwork.
Apart from the varying costs of the AC or HVAC unit itself, you will have to consider the complexity of the work and then add labor costs and material costs to the price of the replacement.
As mentioned, you will also have to factor in any additional ductwork. For repairing existing ductwork, expect to add about $1,000 to $3,000 to the total cost. For ductwork replacement, an air conditioner installation cost can go as high as $9,000.
An inspection – where an HVAC contractor performs a load calculation and tells you the right size of AC for your house – will add to the replacement cost. Here’s a chart for your reference:
| Total square footage to be cooled | Capacity (BTUs per hour) |
|---|---|
| 700 to 1,000 | 18,000 |
| 1,000 to 1,200 | 21,000 |
| 1,200 to 1,400 | 23,000 |
| 1,400 to 1,500 | 24,000 |
| 1,500 to 2,000 | 30,000 |
| 2,000 to 2,500 | 34,000 |
Tips for choosing the most cost-effective air-conditioning units
If your existing air conditioning system is getting older, its efficiency has drastically decreased, and if it’s getting noisier or needs frequent repair work – it’s time to replace your HVAC system.
Today, newer and better AC units are quieter and more energy efficient, and they have more power than older models.
What’s more, new air conditioners must meet a minimum standard of 13 SEER. Apart from the increased cooling efficiency, a high SEER rating also saves you money on your energy bills.
Moreover, the government offers tax credits to incentivize homeowners to buy energy-efficient home products, including ENERGY STAR-rated air conditioners.
So, once you decide to replace the air conditioner in your home, you need to know how much of an investment you need for this home improvement.
It’s also the best way to ensure that you don’t stumble across any unwelcome surprises during the execution of your project.
Acquiring a free estimate for your heating and cooling unit will help you create a realistic budget for the replacement.
This compact unit is placed in a window and is a good choice if you want cooling in just one room. The appliance pushes the warm air out of a room and blows cool air into it. An adjustable louver controls the direction of airflow for increased comfort.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Popular AC option | Permanently blocks a window and outside view |
| Easily available in the market | Bulky design |
| Makes relatively little noise while working | Replacement is tricky without exterior support |
| Has medium-range energy efficiency | Removing the AC can be a hassle |
| Water drains out easily; no extra piping required | Requires a trained professional for replacement |
| Can adequately cool a room up to 650 sq ft | May pose a security risk |
This type of air conditioner is placed flush with a wall and has a streamlined appearance. It has a higher cooling capacity and weighs slightly more compared to window ACs.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Very difficult to remove once replaced |
| Does not block a window or view | Tedious replacement and insulation requires a lot of work |
| Better cooling capacity than window ACs with more BTUs | Replacement cannot be ill-fitted or wind will blow into house |
| No installation of ducts and joints required |
A portable air conditioner cools the air inside a room by venting out any warm air through an exhaust hose installed in a window. It needs no installation and is perfect for a smaller living area.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No installation required | Noisier cooling option |
| Easily moved from one room to another | Cooling a room may take more time |
| Budget-friendly option | Water tanks need regular cleaning |
| May be inadequate for a large room |
These split systems have high energy efficiency. Moreover, they look neat, are flexible and quieter, and offer heating as well as cooling.
Both the outdoor compressor or condenser and the indoor handling unit are connected through an insulated conduit.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Technically advanced, high energy-efficiency | Not a DIY project |
| Relatively easy installation or replacement | May cost 30% more to run than central air conditioning |
| Less prone to air leakage and security problems | High maintenance and repair costs |
| Neat, quieter and less visible | |
| Provides both cooling and heating |
A central air system is ideal for larger homes. It cools any living space efficiently and quietly. It works by circulating cool air through supply and return ducts.
However, keep in mind that replacing a central air conditioning system requires a lot of planning. Or else you may end up with lower efficiency and higher utility bills.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Best option to cool an entire house | High cost to install |
| Generally come with smart thermostats | Results in higher energy bills |
| Known to improve the air quality inside a house | Requires regular duct maintenance |
| Provides both cooling and heating | Keeping uniform temperature can be difficult |
A heat pump works by pulling heat from the outside air or ground to warm your home, or by pulling heat out of your house to cool it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lower running costs | Difficult installation |
| Requires less maintenance | High upfront cost |
| Reduces carbon emissions | Requires special planning permissions and permits |
| Long lifespan | Not suitable for extreme climates |
The evaporator, condenser and compressor come in a single, compact unit. It works simply – ducts that run through exterior walls or the roof draw air from inside the house and return cooled air indoors.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Neat and compact | More suitable for commercial buildings |
| Ideal for homes with limited indoor space | Has to be kept outside the house |
| Pre-assembled parts | Prone to leakages |
| Easy installation and replacement | May deteriorate over time due to exposure to rain and wind |
For any home improvement project, it’s best to take care of a few things – for your own peace of mind. Here are some steps to ensuring a seamless AC replacement:
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