Air Conditioning Installation: What You Need to Know

Purchasing or replacing a whole house forced air conditioning unit is a major expense for most homeowners. If you are facing such a prospect and you're looking for information about how to select the right air-conditioning unit for your home, then you're in luck because we have what you're looking for right here.


In this article we are going to discuss how to select the right air-conditioning unit that you need, how to find the right HVAC contractor to install it, and what you can expect to pay. After your done reading this article you'll have a good idea about where to start in your quest to purchase or replace the air-conditioning system for your home.

Choosing a Contractor

Finding the right company for your AC installation is just as important as finding the right equipment. You want a company that will do the work correctly the first time and not half to hassle with a lot of follow-up visits.

You start by talking to your neighbors and asking who they use to service and repair the air-conditioning units on their own homes. Are they satisfied with the service and quality of their work? If so, you may want to contact those referrals and ask them to bid on your job.

When it comes time to get bids, make sure you get a FREE estimate along with a complete and detailed written bid/proposal from the contractor. Also make sure they give you a written warranty outlining both the equipment coverage and the labor coverage. You want everything in writing so that there are no misunderstandings down the road.

In addition, make sure that the company only uses skilled, licensed technicians and not trainees. Before committing to the purchase, make sure the company itself is licensed in your state. They should be able to provide you with their state license number. Also check out the company on the BBB.

Selecting a Unit

The first thing you want to do is decide on the brand of equipment you want to purchase. For example, Trane AC equipment is considered one of the best brands on the market. Other comparable brands include Amana and Carrier.

The next thing you want to do when selecting an air-conditioning unit is to make sure that it's properly sized for your home. Your contractor will need to do a heat gain calculation to determine the correct tonnage unit that can heat and cool your home in the most efficient manner possible before doing your air conditioning installation.

For example, a one ton unit is has the capacity to produce 12,000 BTU's. As a rule of thumb you need 12,000 BTU's per ton of air conditioning. Your home may need a unit that's sized from one ton to five tons depending on the size of your home. An undersize unit will not be capable of cooling down your home sufficiently on hot and humid summer day and it will actually cost you more to operate because they have to run longer in order to do the job. Plus, the longer it runs the shorter the life of the unit.

What does it cost?

Central air-conditioning systems come in a variety of sizes and costs. A lot depends on the size, construction, and even the shape of your home. Some will need ductwork, some won't. But to give you an idea of the wide range in prices air-conditioning systems can range anywhere from $3,000 all the way up to $15,000.