With the rising cost of energy, you may be considering switching out your old conventional cooling system for a more energy efficient air conditioner. While the upfront costs of air conditioning installation can seem high, the long term savings and positive environmental impacts of installing a modern air conditioning unit simply cannot be denied. But before committing to the decision to install an air conditioner in your home, it’s best to be aware of the various factors that can affect installation costs. This article will go over the most important factors that can affect the cost of installing an air conditioner.
Unit Size
The size of the unit you choose to install can have a big impact on the overall costs of air conditioning installation. Units that are more complex or simply require more than one person to install due to their size and weight will invariably require the homeowner to pay more for the installation. However, unit size can have far reaching implications even after installation is complete. Bigger does not necessarily mean better. Installing a system that’s bigger than needed for the space will simply use more energy to produce an inferior result. Likewise, a unit that’s too small to cool a space effectively will also use more energy than necessary.
Size of Your Home
The overall size of your home can either increase or cut the costs of air conditioning installation. Technicians may advise homeowners with large homes to opt for a ducted cooling system, as a split system air conditioner simply won’t be able to cool the space effectively. Those who live in apartments or smaller dwellings can save money on installation costs, as they can get away with installing smaller units such as mini split systems.
Energy Efficiency Rating
While systems with higher energy efficiency will cost less to operate in the long term, they’ll usually come with a higher upfront cost for purchase of the unit, which will increase the air conditioning installation cost. Due to premium components, design and engineering, units that have a higher energy efficiency rating simply cost more than their lower rated counterparts. While justifying the higher installation costs of an energy efficient unit can be challenging if you’re on a budget, the long-term cost savings in the form of lower monthly energy bills may make the purchase worth it over a number of years.
Installation Company
The technician or HVAC company you choose to complete the job may have the biggest influence on the final cost for air conditioning installation. The cost of installing an air conditioner will understandably vary between different companies. For this reason, it’s important to get multiple quotes from different companies in your local area so you can compare prices and quickly filter out installation companies that quote an unreasonable amount to complete the work. However, don’t just go for the cheapest quote. Look through each quote carefully and scrutinise each individual charge. The most accurate quote, even if it’s not the cheapest quote, will actually save you money on the installation, as there won’t be any surprise charges or charges for things the quoting installer simply forgot to list during the initial consultation.