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Average Costs for Heating and Cooling HVAC Units in Cincinnati


HVAC systems have a long service life of many years, but eventually, your existing system will become inefficient due to a variety of reasons. Reduced energy efficiency plus increased breakdowns mean it’s time to replace an HVAC system. As you shop for a new HVAC unit, you may wish to consider a heat pump, air conditioners, gas or electric furnaces, geothermal heat pump HVAC systems, boilers, or ductless HVAC units.

If you’re on the hunt for a new HVAC system, it’s crucial to understand your options. The new heating and cooling system average cost will vary based on a few different factors. The type of HVAC equipment you choose, installation costs and labor costs, the size HVAC system you need, the SEER rating or other efficiency rating of the HVAC unit, if you are replacing the entire HVAC system and more all impact HVAC replacement costs.

The average HVAC system costs means a new system is a major purchase. The average HVAC replacement cost can be quite expensive, but working with a qualified HVAC contractor will help ensure you find the right new heating or cooling system. Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling & Plumbing performs skilled HVAC system installation for every type of residential HVAC unit. Ask an HVAC professional on our team to provide you with an estimate for the cost to replace your existing system and the HVAC installation cost for a new HVAC system.

Options for New HVAC Systems

Your options for HVAC systems typically include more choices than simply swapping out the existing HVAC system with the same types of HVAC units. Considering differences between the HVAC systems is crucial when planning to buy, and you should also educate yourself on each system’s pros and cons before making a final decision.

In general, a split system central air conditioner, heat pump, or furnace is more popular than packaged HVAC units when it comes to residential HVAC unit preferences. Split systems use an outdoor cabinet  which is the air conditioner or heat pump, that is linked to indoor furnaces or air handlers, depending on the system’s heating and cooling abilities. Packaged units use a single outdoor unit that holds all necessary equipment, such as the air blower, evaporator coil, and more.

  • A furnace heats your home by converting a fuel source into heat. The heat warms the air, then hot air moves through air ducts and is distributed throughout your home. Electric furnaces and natural gas furnaces are most common, but there are furnace heating system types that run on propane or heating oil.

  • Air conditioners work by sending warm air over a cold evaporator coil, extracting heat from the air and blowing it back into your house through the duct system. Waste heat absorbed by the air conditioning unit is released outdoors.

  • A heat pump is a mechanical device that moves heat either into or out of a building to moderate heating and cooling indoors. As a cooling system, it operates similarly to an air conditioning system. While air conditioners are cooling only, a heat pump can reverse operation to heat cold air in the home.

  • A geothermal heat pump can be a very cost-effective form of heating and cooling. The geothermal heat pump relies on a ground loop component and the natural temperature of the ground or water to provide efficient heating or cooling inside. The system is also silent, clean, and uses no fossil fuels to run, requiring only minimal electricity to operate so your HVAC costs stay low.

  • Ductless HVAC systems use indoor air handlers connecting to an outdoor AC unit or heat pump to create a comfort based on a zoning system for your home. Instead of having one central air conditioner or furnace and ductwork that goes throughout the entire house, each room gets air handlers for individual temperature control.

What Factors Impact HVAC System Cost?

The average cost to install HVAC system equipment for HVAC unit replacement is rarely the same and for good reason. HVAC installations are customized for each home by HVAC companies who find the right air conditioners, air handlers, heat pumps, and furnaces that meet the homeowner’s budget for HVAC costs as well as their comfort needs. The cost to replace most HVAC systems will equal into the thousands, and total HVAC installation costs depend on a few key factors.

HVAC Equipment

Choosing the right HVAC system is a big decision, and your choice will affect the average HVAC replacement cost.

  • Electric furnaces are often less expensive than gas HVAC units, but using gas for heating can help cut HVAC costs down the line.

  • Heat pumps may be more expensive than an air conditioning unit or furnace heating system when it comes to the upfront cost to install HVAC system equipment, but they’re more energy efficient than other systems—so your cost savings may outweigh the HVAC installation costs.

  • The cost to install a geothermal heat pump system is more than it will cost you to install HVAC system units of any other kind. This is due to the cost to install the ground loop. However, a geothermal heat pump is more energy efficient than other HVAC systems so you save money on heating and cooling costs.

  • Ductless HVAC systems typically have higher HVAC system costs than a conventional central air conditioner or furnace HVAC units, but are often more affordable if traditional ducts must be placed through ductwork installation for a conventional air conditioning unit or forced air heating system.

  • Replacing the entire existing HVAC system will have a higher average HVAC replacement cost versus the cost to replace only the air conditioner or heater.

HVAC Unit Sizing

HVAC system sizing depends on the heating and cooling load of a home in BTUs (British thermal units) rather than actual square foot space. The heating or cooling requirements of homes can be calculated by determining the heating load or cooling load. A load calculation determines the amount of heat that must be added to or removed from a space to keep it at a comfortable temperature, sharing accurate sizing for new heating and cooling units.

HVAC companies should perform accurate load calculations for customers prior to any installation work. HVAC contractors use Manual J to conduct a load calculation that will indicate the right size for a new HVAC system.

If a new HVAC system isn’t sized properly, there’s a chance it could underperform or overwork themselves, leading to increased breakdowns and costly maintenance. In order to avoid issues like these, always hire an HVAC professional when you need to replace an HVAC system.

Heating and AC Unit Energy Efficiency

When purchasing a new HVAC system, you should look towards the efficiency rating. The higher the AFUE, HSPF, or SEER rating, the more energy efficient the unit will be. However, a higher-efficiency HVAC unit will cost more to purchase and install than a lower-efficiency air conditioner or heater.

  • Air conditioners have SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratings.
  • Furnaces have AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) ratings.
  • Heat pumps have SEER ratings for AC unit efficiency and HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) to measure the efficiency of the heating system.

Fuel Sources

Air conditioners and heat pumps operate using electricity, which is accessible in pretty much all Cincinnati homes. What type of furnace you choose will depend on the fuel source available in your area. Most furnaces run on natural gas and some homes use electric furnaces, propane heating oil HVAC system options are sometimes used. When deciding on a new furnace, it’s smart to consider what is available in your area – upgrades to add a different fuel source can increase HVAC installation cost during HVAC unit replacement.

When You Replace an HVAC System, Should the Indoor and Outdoor Unit Be Upgraded Together?

You can either replace both your furnace and AC unit or heat pump and air handler together or just replace one. The average cost to replace HVAC system units is expensive, but replacing just one part of the HVAC system may not be as practical. If you choose to replace only one of them, you may not realize the energy efficiency and performance that comes with a matched system – an HVAC system where each HVAC unit is replaced together. Having a mismatched HVAC system can hurt the performance of a new HVAC system more than you’d think, resulting in lower energy efficiency.

Homeowners who need to replace HVAC units can save time and money by replacing both units at the same time. This means a single appointment with an HVAC contractor, limiting labor costs by eliminating a second appointment.

Replace an HVAC System with Thomas & Galbraith

Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling & Plumbing helps you replace an HVAC system with heating and cooling systems that are a perfect match for your home. Call us today to request a quote for new HVAC system cost, which will cover HVAC system cost as well as the cost to install the new air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump in your Cincinnati home.

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