Cost of new central A/C

[4HOLIDAYS]

Any idea of what this should cost me? I will eventually need 2 units, they are 15 yo and 17 yo. Have been charged again, repairs made again and now 1 def has a leak, slowing leaking out.

I am thinking a Rheem 16 seer 3 ton each. We will be doing both the handler and the outside units. Any thoughts on cost? Ideas on saving?

We are in South Florida so it is a necessity. I just don't want to pay more than I need to. DH also wants the uv light added to units. has anyone else done that?

TIA!

 

[SandyinMonterey]

We have 3 AC units that are about as old as yours and we also know eventually they will be needing replacing. We are just trying to hold on to them as long as possible because we're in the middle of three bathroom remodels. One of ours also has a leak. The Freon alone cost $160 (it's expensive) and then more $ to repair leak, which I know is temporary. I've looked into approximate cost, mostly the brands Lenox and Carrier. About $3000 seems to be what I'm finding...each. I don't know of ideas on saving. Maybe a better chance of that during the winter months than the hot summer months. One question though: what's the uv light you're adding to units? Haven't heard of that. We also live in the Southeast and it gets brutally hot.

 

[adisneyaunt]

About 5k...
trane, 16 seer, 2.5 ton unit, w/uv light, wi fi control access.
I think the price will also go by the area in which you live...typical !

I'd suggest researching the installer ( consumer reports/complaints , google around) good luck!

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

The uv light is like an airpurifier, it kills any mold and the like, supposed to help with air quality in house and help keep mold, bactria from growing on the coils...or at least that is about MY understanding. I am sure DH could give better answer.

 

[Eighty8Keys]

I just got a quote for $4,200 for a Lennox, 13 SEER. My current A/C is 17 years old and I just recently had it repaired. I used a different company because I wasn't really happy with the guy who originally installed it. I knew the new company would try to talk me into replacing it and of course they did. Although to be honest, it is 17 years old. Our current strategy is to keep this one going as long as we can. A co-worker's neighbor just had hers replaced and spent around $3,000 going through Costco so I'll definitely shop around before I make any decisions.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

We added the U/V lights to ours because we were seeing mold out there. There were a couple of options that we could have done. That was the least expensive of the two.

 

[kydisneyfans]

$3100 for a 14 seer Carrier to replace a 13 year old Rheem. Now that we have a Carrier system, I'll never buy a home with a Rheem again. Night and day difference in quality of the cooling.

 

[tvguy]

Amazingly low prices.
My heat pump is 26 years old, I have it serviced twice a year. The service guy says their average charge for a replacement is right around $10,000.
One of the photographers at work is getting estimates to replace his a/c, he has a 2 story house with 2 a/c units. First bid came in at $10,000 to $14,000. Second came in at $15,000-$20,000. But we are in California, and they have to do a pressure/leak test on your duct work. Fixing leaks can add thousands to the cost depending on how accessible your duct work is.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Amazingly low prices.
My heat pump is 26 years old, I have it service twice a year. The service guy says their average charge for a replacement is right arount $10,000.
One of the photographers at work is getting estimates to replace his a/c, he has a 2 story house with 2 a/c units. First bid came in at $10,000 to $14,000. Second came in at $15,000-$20,000. But we are in California, and they have to do a pressure/leak test on your duct work. Fixing leaks can add thousands to the cost depending on how accessible your duct work is.

Ditto to what I've seen in CA... The rest of the country can get an AC & installation for <5K?! I love CA but I swear I'm gonna go broke one of these days

 

[Distinkt]

Found ours was "terminal" yesterday, having a new one and furnace installed Monday. The air conditioner for us is $3,600f for a Trane 14 SEER 3.5 ton unit with 85,000 BTUs and 95% efficiency.

 

[kymom99]

We have a heat pump. it was 7000 five years ago

 

[Bree]

Boca resident here.....

We had two units (inside and outside) replaced March 2015 with Rheem 16 seer 3 ton (we don't have the UV) for a 2800 sq ft house. We paid just under $7k with Air Around the Clock. Our A/C bill was cut in half, but our old units were around the same age as yours.

 

[disneylove69]

I paid $8k in California.

 

[MillauFr]

I was looking at installing central A/C but I am too cheap so I am going without. Many people have heat pumps installed and they can cost upwards of $10k

 

[wendow]

We had a 4 ton 16 seer installed in summer 2015. It was $3,100. We are in CO. It is a high efficiency and our electric bill only went up about $15 a month (we did not have central a/c before in this house).

ETA: Carrier brand. Our house is 2800 sqft with a 1300 sqft finished basement for total of about 4000 sqft.

 

[si-am]

We replaced an old 20+ year A/C unit with a mid-level Trane about 5 years go, and it cost us about $4000. The best thing is that it cut our electric bill in half. Before, we were paying way over $200 in the summer months, and since the replacement I don't think it's gotten over $100, AND we're able to keep the temp way lower, too. (We live in Georgia, 2300sq ft when you include full finished basement,...only 1 AC unit for whole house.)

 

[NinaBella]

Tampa area, two years ago paid $8k. There were a few less expensive units we could have choose. Ours is a Trane and allows us to control the upstairs temp separate from downstairs. It's really large and loud outside our home. Most folks in my neighborhood started replacing the ones that came with the home at 10 years. Homes on my street were built in 2002-2004.

 

[twoplustwins]

Just had to replace our AC. It was just over $4000.

 

[tasha99]

Mine was about $3300. I had it installed with my heater, otherwise it would have been a few hundred dollars more.

 

[tvguy]

My brother just got the bill for his. $9,500. But, we are in California and that includes replacing all the duct work with insulated ducts as required by law. He got 40 years out of his old a/c-furnance.