How Much Does it Cost to Install a Central AC in Boise, Idaho?

The cost to install a central AC in Boise, Idaho ranges from $2,200 to $9,800, with an average cost of $5,500.

That’s a pretty big price range, right?

Well, that’s because price can vary based on these 5 main cost factors:

1. The size of the AC
2. AC efficiency
3. Additional AC features you choose
4. Whether you need to replace your furnace too
5. The warranty you choose
6. Other installation factors

Let’s look at these factors in more detail…

Want an honest quote for a new air conditioner? Give us a call, and we’ll quickly send over one of our certified techs to give you an estimate for your home.

The bigger your AC, the more expensive it will be.

But when we talk about AC size, we’re not talking about the actual physical dimensions of the unit, but rather its tonnage.

You see, AC size is measured in tons, which gives you an indication of an air conditioner’s ability to cool your home. Most residential central air conditioners range from 1.5 to 5 tons in size, increasing in half-ton increments (2.5, 3.0, 3.5, etc.).

The bottom line is the higher the tonnage, the more cooling power an AC has. So typically, bigger homes will need an AC unit with higher tonnage.

That said, some homeowners are tempted to select an AC solely based on the square footage of their home. However, square footage alone won’t tell you what size AC you should get. You’ll need to have a professional perform a heat load calculation.

A heat load calculation takes into account other important AC-sizing-factors like:

• Your home’s insulation
• How many windows & doors your home has
• The orientation of the home (i.e., east-facing, north-facing, etc.)
• # of rooms in your home
• # of people living in the home
• Zoning (controlling temperatures in different parts of the home)
• And much more

The higher an air conditioner’s efficiency rating, the more expensive it will be.

Air conditioner efficiency is measured by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). Just like MPG tells you how efficient a car is, SEER tells you how efficient an AC is.

Most air conditioners have a SEER rating ranging from 13 to 26.

A higher SEER rating means greater energy efficiency. Higher SEER units are more expensive, but they can lower your monthly electric bill because they use less energy to cool your home.

A high-SEER unit has greater energy efficiency because of these 2 features:

• Variable speed or 2-stage compressor: “Variable-speed” and “2-stage” are terms that refer to how fast the compressor runs. The AC compressor is responsible for circulating refrigerant (the liquid/gas that cools the air) throughout the system. Variable-speed and 2-stage compressors allow your compressor to run at multiple speeds, which helps your system conserve energy on mild temperature days and provide more even cooling throughout the home.
• Variable speed blower motor: The blower is the part that sucks in warm air from your home to be cooled. Once the air is cooled, the blower then pushes that cold air back into your home. A variable-speed blower can ramp up or down according to the level of cooling your home needs at a certain time. As a result, a variable-speed blower motor is quieter and more energy-efficient than a standard, single-speed blower motor.

You have the option to add additional features to your AC, which raises the price of the unit. However, these features also increase the comfort inside your home.

Common AC advanced features include…

• Air quality features like ventilators, UV air purifiers, high-efficiency filters and humidifiers all improve your home’s air quality, but they also add to the cost of your AC installation.
• Noise-reduction features like dampening strips, compressor insulation/mounts and noise-reducing fan blades make your AC run smoothly and quietly, but they also add more to the total cost.
• Programmable/smart thermostats: These thermostats allow you to make custom cooling schedules to control how often your AC runs during the day, which can save you money on your energy bills. The more advanced the thermostat, the more you’ll pay.

If your furnace is 10+ years old, it’s usually a good idea to replace your furnace at the same time you install a new AC.

Here’s why: According to Energy Star, furnaces have a typical lifespan of 15 years max. So, if yours is over the age of 10, you’re going to need to replace your furnace soon, anyways. And, installing your furnace and AC at the same time instead of installing them separately saves money.

Why? Well, your AC and furnace are connected, which means during a typical AC installation, the tech is already in a position to easily install a furnace too.

You can learn more about furnace installs by visiting our heating installation service page.

Most air conditioners already come with a limited parts warranty from the manufacturer that covers important parts like the compressor and evaporator coil for 5 to 10 years (depending on the manufacturer) from the day the AC was first installed.

However, if you opt to extend the length of the warranty or add more coverage beyond the parts covered in your limited warranty, you’ll end up paying more.

A few other installation factors can also raise the cost of what you’ll pay for an AC install, including:

• The accessibility of your current air handler (if it’s in a difficult location, it will be harder to remove)
• Modifications to your home’s ductwork to accommodate the new AC
• Altering any electrical wiring or upgrading an electrical panel to accommodate the new AC
• The contractor you hire

That last point is particularly important. You see, experienced contractors usually charge more for their installation services. But they also do better work.

So don’t let a higher price scare you. You want to make sure your AC is installed correctly, because if it isn’t, you’ll end up wasting money down the road with lots of repairs.

• Make sure they’ve been in business at least 10 years
• Verify that they’re licensed and insured
• Ask them to give you an upfront estimate in writing (so there are no surprises when you get the bill)
• Check their online cleint service reviews on sites like Better Business Bureau, Facebook, Google and Yelp

We’d be happy to answer any questions and help you schedule an appointment with one of our trusted techs to get a free AC install estimate.

We offer…

• Precise, upfront pricing
• Precise written agreements
• Precise client guarantees

Learn more about our AC installation services and the 8 ways we stay accountable to you.