What changes the price of a new cooling system

How much is a new air conditioner for a 2000 sq ft house?

We don't publish a price for a 2,000 square foot house, because square footage is only where the number starts. Two houses that size can get quotes far apart once you account for capacity, the ducts, the electrical, where the equipment sits and the tier you pick.

We get to a number by sizing from the house and inspecting the ducts and the panel, and then we give you a free written price. If you're comparing quotes, check that each one is for the same size and explains why.

How much does it cost to replace an AC in a 2000 sq ft house?

Replacing a system that's already there adds its own lines to the price. The old equipment comes out, its refrigerant gets recovered, and the indoor coil is replaced along with the outdoor unit as a matched set.

• Removing and disposing of the old condenser and coil
• Whether the existing refrigerant lines can be reused or need replacing
• A new pad or mounting for the outdoor unit
• The disconnect and the breaker, if the new unit needs different electrical
• The mechanical permit
• Start-up with readings, so you know it was charged correctly

Each of those belongs on the written quote. A quote that leaves them off only looks cheaper until they get added back. The figure for your house comes from the free estimate.

Capacity, which is set by the house

Capacity comes from the square footage, the insulation, the window area, which way the house faces and how many floors the system serves. Buying more than the house needs makes it less comfortable, because the short cycles leave the humidity behind.

The ductwork you already have

If the ducts are leaking, undersized or missing their insulation up in the attic, new equipment underperforms from the first day. Sometimes the honest quote includes duct work and the cheap one doesn't, and that's the whole gap between them.

Electrical and placement

A new system may need a different breaker, a disconnect or a whip. Equipment in an attic or on a roof costs more to work on than equipment in a basement. None of that is padding, and all of it should be itemized.

Equipment tier

Single stage, two stage and variable speed equipment all cool the house, at different levels of comfort and different prices. Around here the humidity makes longer run times at lower capacity worth real money, so it pays to understand staging before you choose on price alone.

Comparing two quotes

• Both list the same capacity, and each one explains it
• You know whether either includes ductwork, and why the other doesn't
• The indoor coil is replaced as a matched set
• The electrical work is spelled out
• The warranty is named, along with who registers it