Buying a New AC Unit: Money Saving Tips & Tricks
Summer’s coming and soon enough the heat and humidity will make you feel uncomfortable. If you have a failing AC unit or are looking for a more efficient system, saving money is important.
If you look at the American Society of Home Inspectors’ website, the range of average prices for a new central AC system starts at $5,000 and goes up to $10,000. It’s impossible to know for sure without talking to an AC expert.
Much of the pricing comes down to the size of your home, how many zones you have or need, whether you have existing ducts or not, and the construction of your walls. If you have a brick home, it’s more work to drill through brick than wood and siding
Other factors include ceiling heights, the number of people living in your home, how open or closed the floor plan is, and your windows. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in a lot more light and heat from the sun than smaller bay windows. How good is your home’s insulation? Do your doors and windows leak a lot of air? That needs to be addressed.
Labor costs and disposal fees, if you’re replacing an older system, add to the total cost. When there’s so much that goes into the total price of a new system and installation, how do you save money? What can you do to ensure you’re getting an affordable system that’s going to last?
Do Your Research
Before you undergo a costly AC replacement, If you have an older system, make sure it’s time to replace it. Arrange a free consultation with several companies to see what they think. If your system needs repairs that aren’t too expensive, it might be better for now to repair rather than replace. If the repairs that are needed are more than half the cost of a new system, it’s better to install a new system.
Generally, an AC system isn’t going to make it more than 15 or 20 years. You might get more life from it if you’ve been meticulous about maintenance. But, in time, newer systems are more efficient, so while it’s an expensive replacement, it pays for itself over time.
Save frustration and work with an expert. Square footage does matter when it comes to properly sizing a central AC system, but there’s so much more to it. You have to consider different factors, and a professional HVAC installer uses a Manual J Load calculation to determine this. Add together:
- The home’s square footage x the ceiling height
- The number of windows x 1,000 BTU
- The number of exterior doors x 1,000 BTU
- The number of residents x 100 BTU
Say your home is 2,000 sq feet, and the ceilings are 8 feet, that’s 16,000 (2,000 x 8). Suppose you have 10 windows, that’s another 10,000 (10 x 1,000), bringing you to 26,000.
You have four exterior doors, so add 4,000 BTU (4 x 1,000), which when added to 26,000 is 30,000 BTU. Finally, you have four residents, so that’s another 400 BTU (4 x 100). You need a system capable of a load of 30,400 BTU.
AC systems are often sized by the ton, and one ton is 12,000 BTU. Divide 30,400 by 12,000 to get a 2.5-ton system.
SEER ratings advanced to SEER 2 ratings in 2023. SEER stands for “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.” The higher the number, the better the energy efficiency, which means lower bills. In the northern U.S., AC systems must be 13.4 SEER 2 or greater. To understand the difference in savings, look at these scenarios.
Your current AC system is 2.5 tons and has a SEER rating of 11. You’re probably using almost $360 in electricity each year. If you upgrade to a 14 SEER 2 rated system, expect to pay for about $260 each year in electricity. Spend more and get an 18 SEER 2 rated system to lower that to $208 per year. Use the SEER energy savings calculator to get quick estimated energy costs as you research your options.
Follow These Tips and Save Money
When you’re shopping for a new system, get quotes from different dealers. Ask about discounts that lower the price. Don’t forget federal tax credits are available to help you recover some of the money you spend on a new system.
When possible, have a new AC installed in the off-season. You can often get steep discounts on the models that didn’t sell that summer. Installers need to make room for the next season’s AC systems, so the deals can be substantial. Don’t be afraid to ask for bigger discounts than you’re seeing. The worst that happens is you’re told that’s the lowest price and the company can’t go lower.
Ask about manufacturer rebates. Sometimes, there are rebate offers on select models. You should also ask if there are any instant rebates with your electricity company.
While you’re spending money on an AC replacement or installation, consider spending extra and improving your home’s insulation. Attic insulation will help keep hot air from coming in from the hot roof and prevent air loss. New door and window weatherstripping or seals also help.
Finally, see if the AC installers have in-house financing or partnerships with programs designed to help homeowners save money on new AC installations. Air Blue Heating and Cooling is a partner for On-Bill Financing, which works with Nicor Gas. The payments for your new AC system are added right to your utility bill.
Don’t Make These Common Mistakes
In a tight economy, it’s tempting to buy an AC system and install it yourself. Head to social media sites like Reddit, and there are dozens of threads where people talk about installing their own mini-split and heat pump systems.
While you will save money, be prepared for the problems that can occur, too. The wrong AC system will end up being oversized or undersized for your home, which will drive up your energy consumption. If your system is constantly cycling on and off, some of the components will wear out quickly. You’ll end up replacing the system much sooner than you would have with a professional installation.
Plus, when you DIY an AC installation, you might find out the hard way that the warranty is void. Many companies only provide warranty coverage if the system is installed by a trained professional.
Instead, work with an HVAC expert who helps you explore all of your options and knows the discounts and rebates that are available to you. With a high-efficiency system, you’ll reduce your electricity bills, and pay less for your cool, comfortable living space this summer.
Air Blue can help you choose the right high-efficiency system that reduces your energy bills and keeps you cool and comfortable all summer. Ask us about our $150 discount on a new AC installation when you call or message us to arrange a free quote.
