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Air Conditioners aren’t one size fits all
The unique physical characteristics of your house are part of what makes it a home. They’re also factors that play a big role in what AC system you’ll need to install. Square footage is always at the top of this list, but it’s only the beginning.
Considerations like the number of people living in your home, your home’s layout and the amount of sunlight that your home receives will begin to shape up your AC replacement search and put you on the path to installing a system that’s a perfect match with your home.
What to start thinking about
A great way for you to kick off your AC replacement search is to write down a prioritized list of your cooling priorities.
What exactly are cooling priorities? The big one is your home’s comfort, but some other common priorities are utility savings that come with an energy-efficient system, maintenance requirements, system longevity and upfront installation costs, among others.
This step will simplify your shopping process before getting too far into looking at your options.
The 3 big questions:
1. How much will this cost?
2. What are my options?
3. Am I hiring a quality HVAC company?
We believe in making your AC replacement search an enjoyable experience.
When your air conditioning search gets challenging, the Mattioni team provides understandable answers to your questions.
This guide will give you everything you need to know about new AC systems, so that you can be confident in your purchase. You’ll be up-to-speed with a strong understanding of your options and the decisions you’ll need to make before speaking with installation companies like us.
Taking the time now to learn about air conditioning systems will ensure that you end up with the right one in your home for years to come.
Table of Contents
Click on any chapter to jump to that section
- Chapter 1: Installation Costs
- Chapter 2: System Types
- Chapter 3: Energy Efficiency
- Chapter 4: Heating & Cooling Needs
- Chapter 5: Accessories
- Chapter 6: Thermostats
- Chapter 7: Choose an Installation Company
- Chapter 8: Installation Scheduling
Chapter 1
What Factors Determine the Cost of Your AC Installation?
Budgeting for your air conditioner installation goes hand in hand with your list of home cooling priorities, and much like purchasing a new car, your system selections impact cost.
As you become more familiar with the available AC equipment options and accessories, you’ll start to determine what is, and isn’t, at the top of your wish list.
There are 7 determining factors that will go into calculating the total cost of your AC installation:
1. System Type & Equipment Matching
2. Energy Efficiency of the System
3. Cooling Capacity Needs
4. Installation Complexity
5. HVAC Accessories
6. Your Geography
7. Quality of Your Installation Company
Pricing Factors:
1. System Type
Your air conditioner system options are separated into three classifications: single-stage, two-stage, and variable-speed.
The number of stages, or speeds, that an AC unit has refers to its capability to run at different operating speeds.
While the number of stages you choose is only one variable in the pricing equation, it is among the most significant factors.
Single-stage AC systems typically range between $6,000 and $12,000
Two-stage AC systems typically range between $10,000 and $14,000
Variable-speed AC systems typically range between $14,000 and $20,000
Jump to Chapter 2: Understanding AC System Types
What is Equipment Matching?
Air conditioners borrow the blower motor from your home’s furnace to generate the airflow to your ductwork and vents.
We call this overlap in components equipment matching since you’ll have to consider your furnace type when purchasing a new AC system.
- Single-stage air conditioners are compatible with any type of furnace.
- Two-stage air conditioners are compatible with two-stage or variable-speed furnaces.
- Variable-speed air conditioners are only compatible with variable-speed furnaces.
If you don’t have a furnace, you’ll have to install an air handler, which will add from $5,000 to $8,000 to installation costs, depending on the cooling capacity and functionality of your AC system.
Pricing Factors:
2. Energy Efficiency
Every AC system receives an energy efficiency score called a SEER2 rating.
A higher SEER2 rating will usually lead to higher installation costs. However, moving forward with a high-efficiency system will reduce monthly energy costs and save you money in the long-run.
Your ranked list of priorities will help you determine if you value lower monthly energy costs or lower installation costs more.
Jump to Chapter 3: Understanding AC Efficiencies
Pricing Factors:
3. Your Home’s Cooling Needs
The cooling capacities of AC systems, also referred to as tonnage, typically increase by increments of 0.5 tons, leading to greater abilities to cool your home but also higher installation prices.
Your home has a unique tonnage requirement that’s largely out of your control as it’s based on a variety of facts about your house, starting with its square footage and total number of windows and doors.
Jump to Chapter 4: The AC Sizing Needs of Your Home
Pricing Factors:
4. Installation Complexity
While most installations are straightforward, some are more complex than others and have the potential to have additional costs tied to the installation. Things like additional crew members, materials, ductwork modifications, accessibility, and added time are all factors that can increase the price of installation.
Some situations involving added complexity that may or may not apply to your air conditioner installation are:
- Making ductwork modifications to properly match it with your new AC unit, or to physically fit the system into place.
- Hanging the outdoor unit on the side of the house if there is no space for it on the ground.
- Cutting holes through drywall or the exterior of your home to run lines or wiring.
- Making additional modifications to create access to span the distance needed for lines or wiring.
- Attic Installations can require additional manpower during the summer as temperatures range between 125°F and 160°F.
- Ease of access and workability can sometimes cause extra work or added time.
- Additional Materials such as new refrigerant linesets, ductwork or wiring.
Jump to Chapter 7: How to Choose an HVAC Company
Pricing Factors:
5. Accessories
HVAC Accessories can enhance your home’s comfort, health conditions, and the convenience of your heating and cooling systems.
Installing equipment such an air scrubber, air purifier or fresh air intake system will improve your indoor air quality and make your home a more welcoming place to live. Dehumidifiers and humidifiers allow for complete humidity control of your home, which has a suite of benefits. Smart thermostats provide for the greatest and easiest access to control your home’s temperature remotely.
Installing these HVAC accessories at the same time as an air conditioner will be done for a lower price than if installed separately.
- Whole-House Dehumidifiers cost around $3,000 to install.
- Whole-House Humidifiers cost between $900 and $3,500 to install. Actual prices depend on the size of space being treated.
- Whole-House Air Scrubbers cost around $1,400 to install.
- Whole-House Air Purifiers cost around $1,500 to install.
- Fresh Air Intake Systems cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to install. Actual prices depend on the type of system installed.
- Smart Thermostats cost between $700 and $1,200 and may be required for your home if you’re installing a variable-speed system.
Jump to Chapter 5: HVAC Accessories
Pricing Factors:
6. Your Geography
Like many other goods and services, your geographic location is a secondary factor in determining the price of installing a new air conditioning system.
In the suburban Philadelphia area, HVAC prices are considered to be average to above average relative to other regions of the country.
Although this factor is out of our control, staying aware of how your geography influences AC installation prices will give you a better idea of how much yours should cost, and if you’re getting a good quote or not.
Pricing Factors:
7. Your Installation Company’s Quality
Not all HVAC installation companies are created equal. The quality of the company providing your installation services, and how they train their installers, is going to affect the total cost of installing your new air conditioning system.
It’s not uncommon to get a lower quote from a company that’s less professional and more likely to overlook the details of a quality installation.
Jump to Chapter 7: Choosing an HVAC Company
An HVAC installation company that provides trained, licensed, and experienced installers will deliver a quality installation that may come at a higher price but will set your new system up for optimal performance, efficiency, and longevity.
- 4 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Your HVAC Company
- Pros & Cons of Independent Contractors vs. Non-Equity vs. Private Equity HVAC Companies
Let’s Talk About Financing, Rebates, and Tax credits
Most reputable HVAC companies will be able to offer some financing options to help with the affordability of air conditioner installations.
At Mattioni, we’re happy to extend a 12-month, interest-free payment plan on all our new system installations. This payment structure applies to indoor air quality and humidity products as well, giving you total control over how you pay for your HVAC system upgrades.
We also offer additional financing plans through a partner financial company, including terms up to 10 years. You’ll be able to apply for financing at your in-home consultation, or see if you prequalify online.
Some higher efficiency systems may also be eligible for federal tax credits, or rebates, however these financial incentives are made independent from installation companies.
Chapter 2
Understanding AC System Types
Your air conditioner system options are separated into three classifications: single-stage, two-stage, and variable-speed
Think of this like gears or “speeds” on a bike: if you have more speeds, the ride will be smoother and you’ll use less energy.
Single-Stage AC Systems
- Adequate Cooling at Low Upfront Costs
Two-Stage AC Systems
- Enhanced Cooling Comfort and Efficiency
Variable-Speed AC Systems
- Optimal Cooling Comfort and Efficiency
Single-Stage Air Conditioners: Pros and Cons
- Quickly Achieves Thermostat Temperature
- Lowest Up-front Installation Cost
- May Experience Comfort Short Cycles
- Low Energy Efficiency
- Requires Regular Maintenance
- Shortest Relative Lifespan
Single-stage units can only run at full capacity or turn off completely, i.e. one single stage. You’ll always get a full blast of cool air whenever you turn your AC on, so your home will cool off quickly. However, once the thermostat temperature has been reached the system will turn itself off.
This has two implications to be mindful of when evaluating your options:
1. Short cycling. Although the single-stage system will get your home to a comfortable level quickly, it may struggle to maintain this temperature.
Short cycling is essentially a comfort tug of war between cooler, comfortable temperatures when your AC turns on and higher, uncomfortable temperatures when it turns off.
2. Numerous start-up sequences. The start-up sequence is the moment when your AC unit draws by far the most electricity, and it’s also the moment when it experiences the most wear and tear.
This means that single-stage air conditioners are the least energy-efficient option and can be expected to require the most maintenance and repairs while having the shortest expected lifespan.
Two-Stage Air Conditioners: Pros and Cons
- Quickly Achieves Thermostat Temperature
- Higher Up-front Installation Cost
- Experiences More Consistent Comfort
- Higher Energy Efficiency
- Requires Regular Maintenance
- Longer Relative Lifespan
Two-stage units have the added ability to operate at roughly 65% of its full operating capacity, in addition to full capacity. This allows the system to run more intelligently over the course of a day.
For instance, if your set thermostat temperature is relatively close to the current temperature, then the system can identify that it should utilize the lesser run speed. When this happens, your system will run for a longer period of time, resulting in a few things:
1. Sustained comfort. Two-stage systems can provide a slower, but steadier, influx of cool air to your home, reducing the length of time when the system turns off. The effect of this is that your home will stay closer to your set temperature, keeping you more comfortable.
2. Fewer start-up sequences. This will lead to less wear and tear and a decrease in energy consumed by the system. In the long run, this means the system will run into fewer issues and you’ll see savings in your monthly electric bill.
Variable-Speed Air Conditioners: Pros and Cons
- Quickly Achieves Thermostat Temperature
- Highest Up-front Installation Cost
- Consistent Temperatures For Sustained Comfort
- Highest Energy Efficiency
- Requires Regular Maintenance
- Longest Relative Lifespan
Variable-speed units are the most sophisticated type of AC system, as they can run at virtually any speed as low as 30% and continually look for moments to lower the run speed instead of turning off completely.
This further minimizes the time between the influx of cool airflow into your home, leading to:
1. Optimal comfort. Variable-speed air conditioners will do the best job of keeping your home near your desired temperature.
2. Greatest energy savings. Compared to the energy drawn during a start-up sequence, air conditioners use relatively little to stay running, meaning variable-speed AC systems are the most efficient and give you the most savings on energy bills.
3. Longest potential lifespan. While they have the longest expected lifespan, variable-speed air conditioners are comprised of the most moving parts which makes them the most dependent on regular tune-ups and proper maintenance.
Chapter 3
AC Energy Efficiency: Understanding SEER2 Ratings
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER2, measures how air conditioners perform under specific conditions. It’s a scale from 13 to 26 that represents the total heat removed from the conditioned space during the annual cooling season.
In Pennsylvania, the Department of Energy has set energy regulations that mandate a minimum SEER2 rating of 13.4
SEER2 ratings typically increase as you move from single-stage to two-stage to variable-speed air conditioners.
This gives you some flexibility to prioritize your home’s comfort, energy savings, or both as you evaluate your options.
- A low-efficiency AC system scores between a 13 – 14 SEER2 rating.
- An average-efficiency AC system scores between a 14.1 – 17 SEER 2 rating
- A high-efficiency AC system scores between a 17.1 – 26 SEER2 rating.
Why Does Efficiency Matter?
The two primary implications of an energy efficient AC unit are:
1. Fewer greenhouse gas emissions and a smaller carbon footprint
2. Greater savings on energy bills
Chapter 4
The AC Sizing Needs of Your Home: What is Tonnage?
The “size” of an air conditioner doesn’t refer to its physically dimensions, but rather its cooling capacity measured in tonnage.
One ton of cooling capacity equates to the removal of 12,000 BTUs of heat per hour.
Finding an AC system with the appropriate tonnage for your home will optimize comfort and reduce energy costs, while also promoting the health and longevity of the system.
AC sizes vary by 0.5 tons, but calculating your home’s specific cooling isn’t a simple calculation.
Bringing a professional to your home to inspect your ductwork and evaluate the qualities of your home’s interior is the best way to find the appropriate size of system for you.
Factors Impacting Tonnage Needs:
- Your home’s square footage
- The size of your existing ductwork
- The insulation rating of your home, windows, and doors
- The number and size of windows and doors
- The number of people living in your home
- The direction your home is facing and the amount of sunlight it receives
- The appliances in your home
- The color of your home’s exterior and roof
Get to Know Your Ductwork
Installing a system that’s too large for your ductwork can cause issues like weakened airflow, hindered energy efficiency, and increased wear and tear on the system. Similar issues arise if your system is too small for your ductwork.
Finding a system with a cooling capacity that matches your home and the size of your ductwork is among the most important stages of your AC replacement search.
Determining the “sweet spot” of tonnage for your home will support adequate airflow and keep the system running smoothly and efficiently.
Chapter 5
HVAC Accessories: Enhancing Your Comfort
Your home’s comfort starts with its temperature but extends to other things like humidity, indoor air quality, and the convenience of your heating and cooling systems. If you’re looking for ways to improve your home’s comfort, there’s a suite of additional accessories to explore.
Plus, you’ll see cost savings on the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) accessories when you install them at the same time as your air conditioning system.
Take Control of Indoor Humidity
In oppressively humid summer weather, it’s inevitable that humidity will find its way indoors.
If left unchecked this can cause a slew of problems like discomfort, musty odors, increased asthma and allergies and mold growth.
Don’t forget about excessively arid weather in the winter, which leads to its own problems: itchy skin, dry eyes, peeling paint or wallpaper, and warping wood.
Installing a whole-home humidifier and dehumidifier will keep your home in the humidity “worry-free zone” of 30-50% all year round.
- Elevate Comfort Levels
- Protect from Respiratory Ailments like Asthma
- Preserve your Home and Belongings
- Increase HVAC Energy Efficiency
- Fight Mold & Mildew
3 Benefits to Controlling Your Home’s Humidity with Humidifiers & Dehumidifiers
Give Your Indoor Air Quality A Boost
Our homes all have some level of indoor pollutants, known as volatile organic compounds or VOCs, that can cause a variety of health problems if left unchecked. Installing an IAQ system will improve your home’s air quality and make it a healthier and more inviting place to live.
Air Purifiers: High-Grade Filtering
Air purifiers are a series of high-grade filters connected directly in your ductwork to facilitate your whole home’s air supply.
This traps many contaminants and VOCs that would otherwise roam free.
Air Scrubbers: Microscopic Space Cleaning
Air scrubbers attack VOCs on a microscopic level with UV-C radiation and by sending out negatively charged molecules to cling to VOCs, which are positively charged.
This forces VOCs to form together and reach a size that can be caught in your air purifier, or land on a surface which can then be sanitized.
Fresh Air Intake Systems: Breathe Easy 24/7
Fresh air intake systems are air exchange devices that replace stale, indoor air with fresh outdoor air.
They utilize a simple 6” hole in your home’s exterior that draws in outdoor air, which is piped directly to your return ducts. Fresh air intake systems are hooked up to an electric damper to allow in fresh air when turned on.
This produces a constant and subtle flow of fresh air into your home and releases stagnant, indoor air.
A combination of these three systems will give you the most improvement in your indoor air quality as they all support each other by addressing different aspects of remedying VOCs.
How (And Why to Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality with HVAC Systems
Transform Your Home’s Climate Control with Zoning
Zoning refers to the process of segmenting your home into different areas or sections and supplying each with individual levels of cooling.
It’s a great way to ensure that your home is thoroughly cooled, and that you don’t waste energy cooling spaces in your home that you rarely spend time in.
Installing dampers or a second HVAC system are effective ways to zone your home, if planned properly. Be sure to work with a professional when zoning, as it has the potential to backfire and further hinder airflow if done without the proper ductwork considerations.
Is HVAC Zoning Right For My Home? The Pros & Cons of 2 Popular Zoning Methods
Using Dampers to Moderate Airflow
Dampers are essentially valves that segment your ductwork and can then be calibrated to send different levels of airflow to each zone.
Installing dampers can occasionally require duct rerouting to create the zones in the first place, but once installed, dampers are easily adjusted either manually or automatically.
Automatic dampers use temperature feedback to quickly find the best orientation for airflow to each zone, while manual dampers can take some experimenting to do so.
Your home’s existing ductwork will determine the extent of any modifications needed to get set up with dampers.
Benefits of Zoning:
1. Greater control of temperature in every individual room.
2. Enhanced energy efficiency
Chapter 6
What Are Your Thermostat Options?
No matter what your temperature expectations are for your home, your thermostat is going to help you get there.
From bare-bone models to the latest and greatest, you’ll have a handful of options to choose from when considering thermostats.
Tech advancements have improved the convenience thermostats add to our routines and allowed them to become much more integrated into our daily lives.
The three broad categories of thermostat are: basic, programmable and smart thermostats.
Basic Thermostats
- Manually Adjusted Directly at Wall Mount
Programmable Thermostats
- Set an Automatic Temperature Schedule
Smart Thermostats
- WiFi Integrated Remote Access & Additional Features
The Latest Smart Thermostat Bells and Whistles
While the original distinguishing feature of smart thermostats is remote temperature control from your smartphone, they’ve evolved to include a variety of other capabilities.
One of these is a geo-fencing capability which allows it to automatically turn on your heating or cooling when you reach a set distance from your home.
This means that your home will always be comfortable for you when you arrive, even if your schedule changes from day to day. It also means that you won’t waste energy by heating or cooling your home when you aren’t back home when you thought you’d be.
Smart thermostats also track and display the real efficiency data of your system so that you can find new ways to optimize your comfort/cost balance.
You can also allow the system to make minor adjustments on its own to improve efficiency without sacrificing comfort.
Chapter 7
How To Choose An HVAC Company
Hiring an HVAC Installation Company
A word-of-mouth referral from someone you trust will always be a great way to begin working with service providers like an HVAC installation company.
Outside of that, using online resources like Google reviews for your local HVAC companies and other social forums that include customer feedback are good places to start.
When you do reach out to an installation company, be aware of how every team member at that company treats you.
The professionalism of one department of a service-based company is typically an indication of the professionalism of the person you’ll be working with on the installation. Don’t be afraid to talk to a few different companies to get a feel for the people you’ll be working with.
What to Expect During an In-Home Consultation
Mattioni is proud to offer same-day in-home consultations during which we’ll go through the following steps:
1. Review Your Home Cooling Priorities
2. Analyze Your Existing HVAC System
3. Explore Tailored Options
In-home Consultations are Key
An in-home AC consultation takes a total of about one to two hours, and gives you the opportunity to ask all of your questions to a professional face-to-face.
You’ll get answers and evaluate all of your options, if you haven’t already chosen an AC model.
Most importantly, your HVAC professional will be able to take measurements in your home to ensure that you install a properly sized system.
Chapter 8
AC Installation Scheduling: Timing, Seasonality and Logistics
What to Expect On the Day of an AC Installation With Mattioni
Meet The Team
On the day of your new air conditioner installation, you’ll have the chance to meet the whole install team, which is usually a crew of 2-3 HVAC professionals.
Review
Our team will review all of the job notes and the job site, ensuring that the install plan set forward by our HVAC expert can be executed successfully.
Verify
At this time, our installers will walk you through the coming install and verify that everything planned for your home fits your wants and needs. They will also walk you through anything they need to do that may affect the rest of the home, such as shutting off any power, gas, or water for a short time.
Do The Work
We will get to work! Our installers will take out any old equipment that is being replaced, and carefully place and install your new equipment.
Check with any Changes
If there are any changes from the initial plan as your new installation progresses, our installers will check with you so that you are aware and so that we can make sure they fit your needs.
Walk-Through
Finally, when the job is complete, we will walk you through the new install of your system, showing you everything that was done and everything that you need to know to run and maintain your new system.
At Mattioni, we always strive for five-star service, so if you have any questions or concerns throughout the process of the install, please let us know and we will be sure to address them to meet your five-star expectations.
AC Installation Scheduling Logistics: FAQ
1. Do I need to be home when service technicians are in my house?
While some homeowners may want to be home while the HVAC installation crew is working, it’s not necessary.
2. What day and time can I schedule my installation for?
Depending on availability, you can schedule your installation for as early as 8AM the next business day.
3. Do I need to clean up before my AC installation?
As long as there is access to the installation work site and any other areas that your HVAC installation team may need to operate in, there is no need to clean up beforehand.
4. How long does an AC installation take?
While the amount of time needed to install your new air conditioner depends on the complexity of the job, it will most likely be done within four to six hours.
5. Are there any short-term cooling options to get you to your installation date?
Most of the year, a quality HVAC company will be able to install your new air conditioner within 24 hours. However, for those high-demand situations during the peak of summer, the Mattioni team has a supply of window AC units to lend to anyone experiencing a cooling emergency.
6. What should I do about my pets during installation?
If you have a friendly dog or cat, there is no need to put them in a crate or close them off in a room if, unless you normally do so. We love saying hello to our customer’s pets!
Support After Installation
If you have any questions about your new system or if you need further support to understand how to use it, our team would be glad to assist!
You also receive a complimentary VIP Membership with installation which includes maintenance on your system to ensure it continues to operate at peak performance.
Mattioni Plumbing, Heating and Cooling
Family Owned for Over 75 Years
“We’ve switched over to Mattioni the past year and can’t say enough about how pleased we are with this company. Great to deal with, on time, professional, knowledgeable and honest. I highly recommend this company for HVAC & Plumbing.” – Mark S.
“Mattioni has been exceptional for installing a new HVAC at my place. From Kevin’s proposal to Andrew and his crew’s installation process, I could not ask for a better consumer journey. Andrew took the time to explain the new unit and also provided tips for more comfort inside the home. Thank you for the great work. Definitely highly recommended.” – Bora G.
“The Mattioni team has been fantastic in every instance, providing honest, competitive pricing and a high standard of professionalism. We are extremely thankful that we chose to be a VIP member with them!” – Mike C.
The Mattioni family has seen many changes throughout our history, but one thing remains the same: our dedication to our customers.
Now in its third generation of family ownership, Mattioni continues to hold our values above all else.
All of our HVAC service technicians go through a rigorous training and apprenticeship program led by certified trainers, and participate in continued trainings, so that we can bring our customers a 5-star experience.
We proudly serve homeowners in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and parts of Bucks counties.
Our goal remains simple: provide high quality HVAC installations and service, so that everyone has a comfortable home to live in. Simply put, our services are guaranteed to go swimmingly.
