Replacing an air conditioner can cost thousands of dollars. Here are some average costs, along with ways to prevent and address breakdowns more effectively.
$5,850: The Average Air Conditioner Replacement Cost
A brand-new centralized air conditioner replacement costs $5,850 on average, according to Costimates.
However, those costs could range between $3,700 and $7,275, depending on a few different factors:
- Your location
- Air conditioner efficiency (SEER rating)
- Brand and quality of the air conditioner
- Permitting
Additionally, you may also end up replacing your entire HVAC system, rather than just the air conditioner. This can raise the costs by another few thousand dollars.
How Much to Repair an Air Conditioner?
If you’re looking at that replacement cost and thinking, “OK, maybe let’s just repair the thing,” you’re not alone.
The average cost to repair an air conditioner is between $150 and $650.
Repair costs are a little trickier though. Factors like parts, labor, and the component that needs fixing all affect the overall repair price. And sometimes, when one component breaks down, it can cause damage to other components, which increases the costs.
And of course, there’s the big challenge of refrigerants. The EPA has banned the use of common refrigerants like Freon, with more bans on the way. That could make it even more expensive to repair an older air conditioning unit.
For example, say your air conditioner uses a banned refrigerant like Freon and springs a leak. Your HVAC technician may need to charge extra to address the problem because the only Freon they’d be able to recharge with would be from whatever supply they have in reserve, which may not be much.
In fact, they may need to retrofit your entire unit to take a different kind of refrigerant in this case!
(If your unit uses banned refrigerants, don’t worry about whether you’re breaking the law—you’re not. It’s just illegal to make or import these refrigerants, not to use them with a system you already have. So, as long as you aren’t acting like this guy, you’ll be in good shape . . . at least until you have a refrigerant leak.)
Is There a Less Expensive Option Than Repair or Replace?
You could just get rid of your air conditioner and sweat it out. (We’re kidding. Summers keep getting hotter. No way you’re not having an air conditioner.)
But if that doesn’t sound like a good idea (it doesn’t), there’s a better solution: a Home Service Plan from 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty (2-10).
A 2-10 Home Service Plan can vastly reduce the cost of an air conditioner repair or replacement. And you can even access unlimited refrigerant recapture and recharge, along with SEER matching, with certain plans and options.
How Much Less Would I Pay With a 2-10 Home Service Plan?
Depending on the plan you have and the limits that come with it, you could pay as little as a Service Fee, which is usually less than $150.
And even if you exceed your limits—2-10 would obviously tell you that this is happening before we approved any work—a 2-10 Home Service Plan can still save you thousands.
How Do I Know 2-10 Covers My A/C Breakdown?
Your 2-10 Home Service Plan includes all the details about what’s covered and what isn’t, and you can always access it through your Homeowner Portal account.
But generally, here are some guidelines about what’s covered:
- The air conditioner must be in good working order at the time the Home Service Plan goes into effect.
- The breakdown must be caused by routine wear and tear—not weather, lack of maintenance, or hitting it with a bat over and over because it’s not making the house cool enough quickly enough.
- You must properly maintain your air conditioner.
How Do I Maintain My Air Conditioner?
Proper maintenance is an important part of using your 2-10 Home Service Plan. For an air conditioner, there are a few things you need to do to maintain it.
- Change the air filter regularly
- Keep the outdoor unit free of debris
- Check for obvious leaks
- Keep windows and exterior doors closed while it’s running
These simple tasks can keep your air conditioner in good working order. They also allow you to use your 2-10 Home Service Plan when your air conditioner breaks down from normal wear and tear.
