AC Installation Cost in Charlotte, NC

AC installation in Charlotte typically costs $5,800-$10,000 for most homes. The exact price depends on system size (1.5-5 tons), efficiency rating (14-21+ SEER), brand, and any additional work needed. A 3-ton, 16 SEER system—the most common in Charlotte—costs around $8,000-$8,500 installed.

Generally, Charlotte homes need 1 ton of cooling per 500-600 square feet. A 2,000 sq ft home typically needs a 3-3.5 ton system. However, factors like ceiling height, insulation, windows, and sun exposure affect sizing. We perform a Manual J load calculation to determine the exact right size—not guesswork.

For Charlotte's hot summers, we recommend 16-17 SEER for the best balance of efficiency and value. This provides 10-15% energy savings over baseline (14 SEER) without the premium cost of 20+ SEER systems. If you plan to stay in your home 10+ years, higher efficiency may be worth it.

Most AC installations take 4-8 hours (one day). Simple replacements where everything lines up take 4-5 hours. Installations requiring ductwork modifications, electrical upgrades, or moving the outdoor unit can take a full day or occasionally extend to two days.

Not necessarily. If your furnace is under 10 years old and working well, you can often keep it. However, if your furnace is older or you're changing system size significantly, replacing both together saves money vs. two separate installations. We'll give you honest advice on what makes sense.

We install Trane, Goodman, and RunTru. Trane is our premium option with the best warranties and features. Goodman offers excellent value with solid reliability. RunTru (by Trane) provides Trane quality at a lower price point. We recommend based on your needs and budget, not commission.

Yes! We offer 0% APR financing available through Wells Fargo with approved credit for purchases over $800. This makes AC installation affordable with payments as low as From $45/month. No hidden fees or gotchas.

Yes! High-efficiency systems (16+ SEER) may qualify for federal tax credits up to $600 and Duke Energy rebates of $200-$400. Manufacturer rebates add another $100-$500 seasonally. We help you identify all available incentives during your free estimate.

We're typically 30-50% less than the big franchise companies. Why? No sales commissions (our techs give honest recommendations, not upsells), lower overhead (family-owned, not corporate), and efficient operations from our Union County HQ. Same quality, better price.

A properly installed and maintained AC in Charlotte should last 12-18 years. With annual maintenance (our Care Club is $19.95/mo), you can extend this to 18-20+ years. Cheap installations or wrong sizing can shorten lifespan to 8-10 years—another reason quality installation matters.

You get two warranties: the manufacturer warranty (typically 5-10 years on parts, sometimes lifetime on compressor for registered products) and our workmanship warranty (covers installation issues). We register your warranty for you to ensure full coverage.

If your AC is under 10 years old and repairs are under $500, repair usually makes sense. If it's over 15 years old or facing a major repair (like compressor at $1,500-$3,500), replacement is usually smarter. Our $89 diagnostic (waived with repair) helps you decide.