Our experts know all about central air and have shared their insights to help make your decision a breeze.<\/p>\n
Real Estate Agent Joe Bourland<\/a>, who has over 20 years of experience, knows the value of central air and is currently ranked in the top 1% of agents in Peoria<\/a>, Arizona. Along with Willy Rodriguez, who has over 19 years of experience and is currently the Operations Manager for Day and Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing<\/a>, which serves the greater Phoenix, Arizona area.<\/p>\n When deciding whether to put a new unit in your home, sellers should remember that climate<\/a> is not the only factor buyers will take into account when shopping for their next home, according to Bourland.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a requirement here in Phoenix to have air conditioning,\u201d Bourland explains, adding that temperatures can reach 115 degrees or more in Arizona. \u201cBut, it is comfort, and it is savings. And it is peace of mind knowing that the unit should last another decade and you don’t have to worry about it as a homeowner, and that means a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n In order to accurately estimate the overall costs of your central air options, you\u2019ll have to first determine the type of system you want to install and also consider its capacity, energy efficiency and brand.<\/p>\n The system you choose will depend on many factors, including what type of ductwork you already have (if any) for your heating system, the space you have available to physically add a unit, ductwork, and what system will function the best in your climate.<\/p>\n Split system<\/b>: There are two pieces of equipment that form a split system<\/a> consisting of both an inside and outside unit. The inside unit is usually attached to your furnace and uses your existing heating ductwork to move cool air through your house using an air handler which is attached to your outside compressor unit.<\/p>\n Heat pump: <\/b>A heat pump<\/a> can both heat and cool from the same unit by efficiently transferring energy taken from the outdoor air and pumping it through refrigerant-filled coils. Heat pumps work the best in climates that are more moderate<\/a>, such as the South where temperatures usually stay above 25 degrees in the winter months.<\/p>\n Ductless mini split system: <\/b>This system consists of one outdoor air-conditioning unit that connects to several mini indoor air handlers (usually between four to eight units) by using smaller refrigerant pipes and electrical wiring. Installing a mini split ductless system<\/a> is a good alternative for homes that don\u2019t have existing ductwork or the space to install it. It\u2019s also a way to customize temperatures in different rooms.<\/p>\n HVAC packaged system: <\/b>When space is limited inside your house to add HVAC equipment, a HVAC packaged system<\/a> houses all the components in the same unit that is placed outside and typically connected to your rooms with smaller sized ductwork.<\/p>\n High-velocity HVAC system: <\/b>This functions similarly to the HVAC packaged system with the main difference being that high-velocity HVAC systems<\/a> use smaller tubes (about two inches in diameter) in place of ductwork and are also more flexible to place in each room. This choice tends to be used in older homes where space is not available.<\/p>\n \n\n\n\n\n If you’re selling a house without central air, consulting with a top agent who knows what buyers want in your market can help ensure that the improvements you make are worth the investment.<\/p>\n \n When thinking about the capacity of your new system, you\u2019ll want to choose a system that\u2019s neither too small for your square footage or excessive to adequately maintain a comfortable temperature.<\/p>\n When you are comparing the different capacities of power for your central air system, look for the BTU<\/a> (British Thermal Units) rating for your size<\/a> home.<\/p>\n The rating on average is 12,000 BTU per hour to cool down a small area. When you multiply 20 BTUs by your home\u2019s square footage this will tell how many total BTUs (power) you\u2019ll need to cool down your space. For example, a one-ton air conditioning unit (12,000 BTU) could possibly pull the heat out of a 600-square-foot home within an hour.<\/p>\n Other factors you have to consider are the height of your ceilings, the number of windows you have, your sun exposure and how well your rooms are insulated. All of these factors will determine how well your house can keep things cool inside.<\/p>\n According to Rodriguez, a site visit<\/a> by a HVAC technician is a great way to find out the central air options for your home. Typically, the technician will discuss existing electrical and ductwork systems as well as the comfort level in various rooms, noise considerations, pricing options, and air purification<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause your air conditioner is the number one thing that moves the most amount of air in the house,\u201d says Rodriguez.<\/p>\n A SEER<\/a> (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is the rating of an air conditioner\u2019s energy efficiency over the course of a year. This rating indicates the potential money that you could save choosing a unit with a certain SEER rating.<\/p>\n The typical range of SEER ratings is 13 through 25. The higher the SEER number, the more efficient the unit is, which translates to lower utility bills. Although Rodriguez says that most consumers opt for a 16 SEER unit since it has a mid-range rating that can balance expense with savings.<\/p>\n \u201cSixteen SEER is kind of that sweet point. After that if you are going up to 18 SEER, those systems have different features and benefits, that make it very efficient, but also make it very quiet, also make it very comfortable in your home, says Rodriguez.<\/p>\n Generally speaking, 18 SEER systems can cost a few thousand dollars more than a 16 SEER unit, and if a consumer is trying to save money, they probably won\u2019t see the return they want on that investment, according to Rodriguez.<\/p>\n Extensive marketing makes some brands more well known than others. Bourland says only in rare cases would a buyer make a purchasing decision based on the brand name of a particular air conditioning unit that has been installed in a home. Instead, most buyers would rather know when it was installed, the efficiency and the warranty included with the unit.<\/p>\n \u201cUsually registered contractors<\/a> workmanship is two years, materials could be a year, but oftentimes, you get a longer warranty that\u2019s covered by the company that installed it,” says Bourland.<\/p>\n According to HomeAdvisor<\/a>, the following brands for new HVAC units range from about $1,000 to $10,000. The final cost will be determined by the model you choose, its features, rating, and capacity.<\/p>\n The total cost of the installation is typically going to be included with any equipment and related supplies that you purchase with your system. Overall, this will ultimately depend on the size and extent of the project. Sometimes the existing heating ductwork can also be used for air conditioning<\/a>, but if that is not possible or available, then new ductwork would also need to be installed.<\/p>\n Putting it all together, the price of the new unit and ductwork, combined with installation and labor, will give you an estimate of how much it might cost for you to install central air in your home.<\/p>\n For example, if you purchased a $6,000 Trane A\/C unit, and received a contractor bid for ductwork materials, installation, and labor of $3,570, you might expect to pay $9,570 for the entire job. Now you must weigh the value of making such an investment.<\/p>\n Current market conditions in your area as well as the climate will determine if installing a central air system will pay off if you decide to sell.<\/p>\n Bourland gives a hypothetical example of two identical houses where one home has air conditioning and the other house doesn\u2019t have it. If you\u2019re living in a warmer climate where the majority of the homes already have air conditioning, not only will the cost of adding a central air upgrade<\/a> be deducted from the list price, but it\u2019s likely an additional inconvenience cost will be added for the buyer having to install it themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cPut yourself in the shoes of a buyer. That says it\u2019s going to cost me $20,000 to do this. Why didn\u2019t the seller do this? Because it\u2019s going to cost $20,000, that\u2019s why,\u201d says Bourland.<\/p>\n He continued to explain the inconvenience factor could add another 50% of the upgrade amount which means in this example $30,000 could be reduced from list price if the seller decided not to put in central air themselves.<\/p>\n Bourland highly recommends that if a seller wants to put in central air before they sell their house to get multiple bids, consider an authorized dealer for promotional offers and to consider a less expensive model because you’re going to advertise that it\u2019s new air conditioning, not the model.<\/p>\n The average total cost of installing central air is between $5,000 – $12,000<\/a> (unit, ductwork, labor and installation). However, this price can be higher depending on the unit cost, the SEER rating, size of home and additional labor costs or equipment needed.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re considering upgrading your home with central air, be sure to have a HVAC technician do a site visit to access your home, and review the BTUs you\u2019ll need, compare models, promotions, and any additional costs related to the installation.<\/p>\n Whether you decide to sell or stay to enjoy a cooler lifestyle, knowing your options can help you improve the quality of life for you and your family. Use HomeLight\u2019s free Agent Match tool<\/a> to get matched with a top-rated agent near you who can help navigate your central air dilemma.<\/p>\n\n
It’s a requirement here in Phoenix to have air conditioning. But, it is comfort, and it is savings. And it is peace of mind knowing that the unit should last another decade and you don’t have to worry about it as a homeowner, and that means a lot.<\/q>\n
\n
![\"Joe](\"https:\/\/media.homelight.com\/uploads\/agent\/picture\/2677990\/e3c71d57-0fab-4ff1-9338-a3e71b4eda2e.jpeg?width=121\")
\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n
![\"star\"](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ccprototypev5\/images\/star-solid.svg\")
\n <\/li>\n \n <\/li>\n \n <\/li>\n \n <\/li>\n \n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n Currently accepting new clients<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
What factors determine the cost of installing central air?<\/h2>\n
Types of AC systems<\/h3>\n
![\"homelight](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ccprototypev5\/images\/logo-small-cta.png\"){kind=logo}
\n <\/div>\n \n Partner With a Top Local Agent Who Knows What Buyers Want<\/h3>\n
How large should your system be?<\/h2>\n
Capacity<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/cost-to-install-central-air-1-666x381.png\")
<\/a>How does the energy rating affect the costs?<\/h2>\n
Energy efficiency<\/h3>\n
Will having a particular brand installed in your home affect the value?<\/h2>\n
Brand and quality<\/h3>\n
\n
What are the estimated installation and labor costs?<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/cost-to-install-central-air-2-666x381.png\")
<\/a>How much value does central air add to your home?<\/h2>\n
Bottom line: Don\u2019t sweat the housing market alone<\/h2>\n