Central Heat and Air Unit Prices and Features that Affect Cost

Having a new heating and air conditioning system installed in your home is a major expense that leaves many of us very confused! A homeowner without the proper knowledge of central heat and air unit prices, features that may add to the cost, and a good understanding of the quoting and estimating process used by contractors, can easily pay way too much for central heat and air cost.

If you aren’t replacing the complete central air and heating systems, you can skip directly to the central heating replacement cost guide, since it doesn’t consider factors associated with a central air system.

In this Heating System Guide article, we’re going to help you understand more about the HVAC systems that heat and cool your home. You will learn a bit about central heating and air efficiency, sizing, different comfort features that can add to the bottom line central heat and air installation cost.

Wholesale Prices of Central Heat and Air Equipment Units

When your local contractor buys the heating and air units from the distributor like Lennox, Trane or Carrier, they are sold at wholesale pricing.  The contractor then figures that wholesale price into the total price you pay to have the central heat and air unit installed to your home.

Central Heat and Air Unit Prices	Good	Better	Best
Gas Furnace Heat	$450	$1100	$2000
Oil Furnace Heat	$750	$1300	$2400
Electric Heat Air Handler	$300	$900	$1400
Central Air Conditioner	$650	$1600	$2500
Heat Pump Condensing Unit	$950	$1800	$2800
Cased Evaporator Coil	$150	$200	$400
Gas Packaged HVAC System	$1450	$2100	$3600
Packaged Heat Pump Units	$1850	$2600	$4000
Thermostat	$20	$100	$450
Whole House Air Cleaners & Filter Systems	$400	$800	$1200
Humidifers	$50	$100	$250

*All prices shown are estimates based on experience in the industry, and research through online and offline documents.

Good, Better and Best Options, Costs, and Features

In the central heating and air conditioning prices we listed in the table above, we used a reference to Good, Better and Best prices. The differences are:

Good Heat and Air Units

• Lower to Average Brand Ratings and Warranties
• Standard Efficiency Ratings
• No, or Very Few Added Comfort Features

Better Units

• Higher Brand Name Awareness and Better Warranty Ratings
• Standard to Higher Efficiency Ratings
• Better Comfort and Efficiency Features

Best Central Heat and Air Units

• Top Rated Brand Names with Highest Reliability and Best Warranty
• Highest Efficiency Ratings and Long Term Cost Savings
• All Added Comfort Features and Available Options for Highest Indoor Comfort

Heating System Installation and the Effect on Unit Prices

Although it won’t affect the actual price of the heating and air conditioning equipment itself, how and where the central heating and air conditioning system is installed in your home, can affect the price you pay. These factors will affect the price of installation on your central heat and air system:

• Cost of Local Permits & Inspections
• The Installation Contractors Current Workload (If they have 10 jobs lined up, they are going to price yours higher)
• Age of Existing System if Being Replaced (May require duct, venting, electrical, or any number of modifications to bring up to code)
• Location of the Unit within your Home (Attic or roof is always more costly than a basement or utility closet)
• Hazardous Material Removal? (Some older systems used asbestos covering, beware)

Many other factors that only a professional heating system installation contractor can answer by looking at your existing system and explaining what may effect the new central heating installation price.

Importance of Competitive Price Quotes

As we mentioned in the opening paragraph, replacing your home central heat and air is a major home improvement expense! According to website eHow, the average cost is going to run between $3500 and $7 grand! This is one time when you want to be sure you always get at least 3 competitive quotes from area contractors. Not only can it save you thousands of dollars on the central heat and air unit prices, but you will be sure to get a high quality installation from a qualified and professional contractor, designed to deliver 15-20 years of worry free service.

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