Because of year-round cold temperatures in Canada, many residents tend to downplay how hot things can get during the summer days. However, the average summer daytime temperature in popular areas like Alberta usually ranges between 20 to 25 degrees celsius. While that may sound cool to some people, 25 degrees may be uncomfortable to an average Canadian.
Interestingly, Canada often experiences periods of sudden temperature surges. The daytime temperature at these points can go as high as 35-38 degrees celsius. Of course, anyone will appreciate having an AC unit when the temperatures are that high. But, most people let the costs of residential air conditioners discourage them from making the hot days more bearable.
Again, residential air conditioners will help make your apartments comfortable during hot days. The costs attached to them will be the price for your convenience. It doesn’t matter if your city experiences high temperatures only once through the year or if you live in high-humidity areas. An investment in a cooling system will always pay dividends in comfortability.
So, how much would you need to invest to gain access to the said convenience?
Pricing Range for Residential Air Conditioners
Unfortunately, many people let their ‘assumed’ cost of residential air conditioners discourage them without ascertaining the actual value. They just assume it’ll be expensive, so they don’t bother to check it out.
But more often than not, air conditioner units are cheaper than expected, or at least they offer good value for their price tags. Let’s examine the pricing model for residential air conditioners across Canada.
Residential air cons costs typically range between $2,500 and $7,000 across major areas in Canada. However, the actual price of a unit will depend on various factors and considerations. These aspects are also responsible for the price variations between different AC models. Let’s quickly examine those factors and how they influence the cost.
Type of AC unit
The term ‘residential AC’ is a broad categorization of AC units suited to use in residential apartments. The models that qualify under this group all have mid-range workload capacity. I.e., the units are big and efficient enough to influence the temperature of a medium-sized living room. That said, different types and examples of AC systems qualify under this category. Some of them are;
Central Air Conditioning
Central air conditioning models are the most common types in residential areas. These AC models work by extracting air from inside the apartment into an outdoor condensing component. Then, passing the air through a series of chambers in the unit, it compresses the air into liquid. It finally evaporates the fluid and ejects the remaining cold air into the room.
A central AC unit distributes air using fans, ductwork, and vents throughout a house. So, most times, these types of AC double as furnace systems. That said, central air conditioners typically cost between $2,500 and $7,000, including the installation fees.
Window AC Unit
These residential air conditioner models have a similar working principle to central air conditioners, and they cost less. The primary difference between them is that window AC systems are smaller and have lower coverage. Primarily, manufacturers designed window ACs to cater to single rooms. So, you should only expect one window AC unit to provide enough coverage for the space you installed it in.
Window air conditioners also feature a fan system that sucks in hot air from inside the room. It compresses and condenses the air before sending it back as cold vapour. Fortunately, these units are some of the cheapest in the market. The price range depends primarily on their power levels in British Thermal Units and their coverage area in square feet. You’ll typically find these AC units in the following classifications
- 5,000–8,000 BTU with a coverage of 150-350 square feet
- 8,000–12,000 BTU with a coverage of 350-550 square feet
- 12,000– 18,500 BTU with a coverage of 550-1,050 square feet
- 18,500–25,000 BTU with a coverage of 1,050-1,600 square feet
You can get any of these units for an amount between $150–$750
Ductless Mini-Split
These air conditioner models are suitable for homes without ductworks. These AC units feature a split system with the air handler inside and the condenser outside. So, they’re ideal for retrofitting homes with all forms of non-ducted air conditioning or heating. They’re also perfect for regulating the temperature in multiple rooms simultaneously.
However, mini-split air conditioners are some of the most expensive units on the market. These residential air conditioner models typically cost between $1,500 to $8,000. Nevertheless, it’s the fee of getting multiple air handlers that often raise the overall price of the unit. So, the fewer the air handlers you get, you’ll spend.
Dual Fuel AC units
Dual fuel systems also use the indoor furnace unit coils like central air conditioners. However, they work more efficiently by using heat pump technology to lower the energy they consume. So, they effectively help to reduce your energy bill.
Another perk of dual fuel systems is that they are equally efficient as furnaces. So, they remain useful during the cold months. You can use them as gas furnaces to heat your apartment when the temperatures drop in winter.
Due to their dual functionality, they’re expectedly quite pricey. Dual fuel air conditioners for residences typically cost $4,000 and $8,000 to purchase. However, they’re excellent investments as they help save on energy bills, and you won’t need to get a separate heating unit for winter.
Geothermal Air Conditioners
By design, geothermal conditioners are not suited for cooling the environment. Manufacturers designed them to do the exact opposite. Nonetheless, they do a great job making a space cool and cozy. We can rightly describe geothermal heat pumps as temperature swap mechanisms.
These systems transfer heat from the ground into a room during the cold seasons. You can install them to do the opposite during the hot season. You simply need to tweak the settings so that they’ll take the hot air out of the room and into the earth. It’s already a common practice, so you don’t need to worry about anything going wrong.
However, these units have a higher upfront cost than most other AC units. You can buy a new geothermal air conditioner between $12,000 to #30,000. That’s a pricey amount, but they have a lower lifetime cost than other residential air conditioner units.
Energy Efficiency of the Unit
An air conditioner’s seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) also significantly influences its price. Primarily, the SEER determines how effectively the unit works throughout a season in terms of its energy consumption. Therefore, higher SEER translates to better efficiency and cost savings.
Needless to say, a higher SEER rating will also translate into a higher price tag. However, they’re more effective, so they’ll attract lesser running and maintenance costs. Then again, only traditional AC systems have a SEER rating. Heat pumps and evaporative coolers don’t use SEER as most of them generally consume less energy than conventional air conditioners.
By comparison, swamp coolers use only about 25% of the total energy a traditional air conditioner of the same size will consume. Geothermal heat pumps also consume minimal amounts of energy. However, standard AC units may cost less than the secondary multifunctional models.
That said, a residential air conditioner with low SEER can cost between $1,500 and $3,000. But, systems with high SEER ratings cost between $5,000 and $7,000.
Size of the Unit
You can also determine the cost of a residential air conditioner based on its size and the expanse of the room you intend to put it in. Generally, the larger the unit, the more it’ll cost. Furthermore, a bigger space will require a larger AC for better coverage. Sizeable rooms may require systems with an average cost of $200 to $1,000.
Brand of the Air Conditioner
Aside from the SEER and the air conditioner type, the brand of the design also has a significant influence on the unit’s cost. Usually, different brands attach different values to their products. Some brands are more affordable than others, even without sacrificing functionality. Others prioritize efficiency and more features but at a higher cost.
Then again, the popularity and demand for a brand’s products may also determine how costly it’ll be. Many popular brands with high demand are relatively affordable.
Also, the location where the AC manufacturers are assembling the systems may influence the cost. For example, locally produced units should cost less than imported air conditioners. Then again, some brands may be more prevalent in your region than others making them more readily available and affordable than others.
Related Article: 10 Common Furnace Problems and How to Fix Them
Installation Cost of Residential Air Conditioners
Purchasing air conditioners for your apartment is one thing; it’s a different thing to install them. Some units have straightforward installation procedures, and you can DIY their setup. Others are more complex and require technical knowledge. When dealing with such systems, you’ll need to contact professionals to help you out.
Needless to say, employing a professional to take care of the air conditioner setup will cost you money. But how much will it cost you to install air conditioner unit in Vaughan?
The cost for fixing AC units in Toronto has a surprisingly wide range. Several aspects are responsible for this variation, and they determine how much you’ll spend to install a new air conditioner in your home. You can set up your air conditioners for as low as $200 or as high as $30,000, depending on various factors, as we’ll discuss below.
The Type Of AC set
The primary determining factor for an AC’s installation cost is its model. However, as we said earlier, some AC systems are straightforward, and you can DIY the setup. Window AC and swamp coolers both belong to this category of Air conditioners. Below is a list of different AC types and the price range for their installation.
Window AC
Window ACs typically cost between $200 to $1000 to set up. Even though you can DIY the process and save money on labour expenses, you’ll still need to purchase some items for the installation. If you decide to hire a handyperson to do it for you, you’ll need to factor in labour fees with the overall price.
Labour costs for window AC installation typically range between $50 to $150. The handyman may charge you on an hourly basis or based on other parameters as determined by his terms of service.
Ductless Mini-split ACs
Expectedly, the mini-split has a substantial installation cost. The setup price for these units typically ranges between $3,000 and $9,000, including labour costs. However, the price variation is mostly a factor of the number of air handlers you need. Fortunately, you can install mini-splits in multiple configurations; you can put them on walls or ceilings. Plus, the placement of your air handlers will primarily determine how well the AC will cool the area.
Central AC
As some of the most expansive systems, Central air conditioners usually attract substantial installation costs in residential areas. So it’s not surprising that technicians charge between $1,400 to $3,500 as labour fees for these units. Then, if you account for the miscellaneous expenses attached to the installation process, the overall cost can go up to $12,000. The larger the system, the higher it’ll cost to install.
Geothermal Air Conditioning
Geothermal air conditioners are not only expensive to purchase, but they also cost a lot to install for residential use. Geothermal systems work with earth or water, and they function by means of heat transfer through these mediums. Rather than cooling the air, they remove the heat from an area into the earth or water. The unit cools your apartment without consuming a noticeable amount of electricity.
However, it’s not as effective for cooling as actual air conditioners. So, it’s more suited to homes in areas with moderate to cold climates.
The Type of Apartment You Want to Install the AC in.
The size and layout of your home will also influence your choice of air conditioning. While central air conditioning is suitable for all types of apartments, it may be too expensive for you. So, you may want to go for a cheaper option that’s equally suited to your home setting. Below are some examples of homes and how much you may spend on installing air conditioning.
Apartment
Apartments often don’t allow structural changes. So, you can’t cut holes in the walls or other parts of the building. That means you can only go with portable air cons or window units which may cost between $300 to $1500 to install.
Condos and Townhouses
Your condo is probably your property, so you can make any structural changes you like to it subject to environmental and association regulations. Nonetheless, you’ll typically spend between $300 and $3,500 to set up the air conditioning in your condo. The same also applies to Townhouses, given their similarities with condos.
SIze of the Unit
The size is a recurring factor with a significant influence on the installation cost of home appliances. Most times, the larger devices cost more to install, and that’s also applicable to air conditioning units. The higher fees are usually because larger units generally take more effort, time and resources.
Sometimes, larger ACs may even require multiple technicians working together to install them. Unfortunately, that means you’ll have to pay multiple workers or double the usual labour cost.
The Installation Company you Contract
The level, proficiency and track record of the AC company you employ for your installation will also determine how they’ll charge you. For example, established companies with solid track records may charge a significant amount for guaranteed quality service. On the other hand, a company that’s still finding its foot in the business may be willing to charge less as they aim to build its portfolio.
Accessibility
Installing AC in easily accessible areas doesn’t cost as much as in hard-to-reach areas. For example, window units don’t cost much because the windows are easy to get to. However, installing systems in attics or crawlspaces will undoubtedly cost more.
Permits
Depending on your area, contractors may have to obtain permits before installing a new AC in your residence. Typically, permit costs range between $250 and $1,500. Therefore, the service providers will include the permit fees into the overall estimate for the installation procedure.
Related Article: How Long Does a Furnace Last?
In the End
Residential air conditioners can cost up to $7,000 depending on all the factors discussed above. While the prices may seem daunting, you may also want to consider the benefits of residential air conditioners. Then again, you shouldn’t break the bank to get a new AC set if it’s above your budget.
If you decide to get a new AC, try to get some of the new 2022 models, they are cost-effective and offer good value for money. ALP Heating also offers top-quality air conditioner installation and maintenance services at fantastic prices. Call us today to hire our professional air-con technicians.
