How Much a Ductless Air Conditioner Costs

Ductless air conditioning technology is revolutionizing the home comfort systems available to Texas homeowners. Especially for homes with electric heating and no ductwork, replacing old, noisy, inefficient window AC units is a high priority for homeowners. Today’s ductless mini-split air conditioners and heat pumps offer quiet, efficient cooling and even heating for one room or an entire home. From Houston to Dallas and from Fort Worth to San Antonio, homeowners who install these systems are always amazed at how much more comfortable they are and how much they save on their energy bills each summer. Those benefits come at a price, of course. How much will your new system cost? As any representative of an air conditioning contractor will tell you, the total initial cost depends on several factors.

• The Number of Rooms to Be Cooled

  Both single-zone and multi-zone versions are available. Both use a compact outdoor compressor and condenser unit that is connected to one or more indoor modules that deliver cool air. Single-zone systems are always less expensive than systems designed to cool multiple rooms. The more rooms or zones involved, up to eight with some models, the more the total system will cost. For each room, a separate indoor module and additional connections will be needed. In addition, the outdoor unit for multi-zone systems is a higher-capacity system, and also more expensive. Your equipment cost will depend on the number of zones more than anything else.

• Manufacturer and Model Series

  The residential heating and cooling industry is highly competitive, but there are price differences that depend on each manufacturer’s pricing strategy. Your AC company will give you price comparison numbers for the brands they offer. Each manufacturer also offers more than one line of product models. They vary in features, efficiency, warranties, and other characteristics, and also in price. Again, you can rely on information provided in a consultation with a company’s representative to make model comparisons and a final choice. Use your best judgment.

• Heat Pump Upgrade

  Every manufacturer offers heat pump options for most of its single-zone and multi-zone models. Those options can add as much as $1,000 or more to the initial equipment cost. If you’re currently using electrical resistance heating in your home, though, remember that using heat pump technology costs as much as 60% less to heat your home when outdoor temperatures are as low as 30 degrees. In Texas, that can result in energy bill savings that quickly cover the additional cost of the upgrade. Ask about how much you can save during your consultation.

• Installation

  How much it costs to make an installation depends mainly on how many rooms are included. Since each zone will have its own indoor module and will require separate connections to the outdoor unit, it takes more work to install a multi-zone system than for a single-zone. The price quotes from different AC contractors may vary for similar installations, so it’s important to get more than one price quote that includes installation. Evaluate contractors you are considering carefully, too, using our guide to choosing an AC contractor.

• Efficiency Rating

  When thinking about the cost of a new HVAC system, compare the cost of operating it with your current AC units. Ductless technology is far more efficient than any window air conditioning unit. With up to 24 SEER ratings, you can cut your energy bills during the summer months dramatically by replacing bulky, inefficient window units, which typically have SEER ratings of 11 or even lower. Over the long life of a typical ductless unit, you’ll more than recover your costs and enjoy better comfort. Heat pump models can save even more by cutting heating bills up to 66%.

Ductless AC Sales and Installation in Dallas, San Antonio and Houston

If you are considering having a mini-split air conditioner installed, you will find many contractors who specialize in this new equipment across all parts of Texas, from Kingwood, Willowbrook and Bonney to La Porte, Sandy Point and Hockley in the Houston metro, from Grey Forest, Jourdanton and San Marcos to Von Ormy, Leon Valley and Spring Branch in the San Antonio metro, and from Millsap, Peaster and Crowley to Quinlan, Midlothian and Roanoke in the Dallas and Fort Worth metro.

Staying comfortable during Texas summer heat is important for you and your family. Thousands of homeowners near you are making the choice to install ductless AC and heat pump systems every year. They have weighed the cost of these quiet, efficient systems against the improvements in their comfort and big savings on their energy bills and have decided to go ductless. Get a free consultation and price quote, as well as the information you need to make the right decision for your home and your family.