The City on a Hill is famous for its brutal winters, but locals know that a Boston summer is no walk in the park, either. High temperatures and even higher humidity levels can make for hot and sticky conditions, the kind of weather that makes air conditioning in Boston sound like a pretty good proposition. If you're in the market for a new air conditioning system in Beantown, or need to replace an older unit, here are some suggestions for finding the best air conditioner for your Greater Boston home.
Boston Air Conditioning Costs
For starters, we'll start with what tops the list of concerns for most Beantown homeowners: cost. ServiceMagic tracks Boston air conditioning installations that originate through contractor referrals on our website, and based on that information, we can provide you with a good idea of what it's going to run to install air conditioning in your Boston home. Our data indicates that an average air conditioning installation in Boston costs about $8,900, though we've recorded jobs that ran as little as $4,000, and others that sit in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. If those numbers sound expensive to you, you're right. Our data indicates that installing central air conditioning in Boston costs more than almost anywhere else in the country. What does that mean for you as a homeowner? It emphasizes how important it is to purchase a high-efficiency unit, and take all necessary steps during installation to improve the energy efficiency of your home, so that once your new A/C is up and running, the high costs associated with your air conditioning system are a thing of the past.
Boston Air Conditioning and Energy Efficiency
One of the most important things to consider when you shop for a new A/C unit is energy efficiency, and when it comes to energy-efficient units, the first thing to pay attention to is the SEER rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). Skipping over the particulars of how SEER ratings are calculated, what you really need to know is that the higher SEER rating, the more efficient the unit. Systems built after January 26, 2006 are required to have a SEER rating of 13 or higher, though there are now units on the market with SEER ratings of 20 or more. To help put that in perspective, a unit with a SEER rating of 13 will reduce energy consumption by 30 percent compared to a unit with a SEER rating of 10. And compared to older models that are 15 to 20 years old, and which often have SEER ratings of 6 or lower, that 13 SEER unit will cut energy costs associated with cooling your home by up to 50 percent.
SEER Isn't Everything: Other Boston Air Conditioning Tips
Achieving high energy efficiency with your air conditioning in Boston isn't limited to purchasing an ENERGY STAR-rated unit with a high SEER rating. In fact, if your new unit isn't properly sized for your home, installed correctly, and if the ductwork isn't sealed and insulated properly, all that money you spend on a high-efficiency unit will probably go to waste. It's why hiring a qualified and experienced HVAC technician to perform the installation is just as important as looking for an ENERGY STAR label. Furthermore, you can increase the energy efficiency of your unit even more by maximizing the energy efficiency of your entire home. Having an energy audit performed on your residence will help to identify areas where heat gets in during the summer, and escapes during winter months, so you can take the necessary steps to reduce your energy costs year round.
Don't Wait for Summer to Install Air Conditioning in Boston
Boston air conditioning is worth its weight in gold when it comes to improving the comfort of your home during the hottest months in Beantown. That being said, if you're ready to install air conditioning in your Boston home, your best bet is to find a quality contractor to do it for you. They'll advise you on which unit is going to be best for your home and budget, and they have the experience to make sure every other facet of your new air conditioning installation goes smoothly, as well.
Waiting to install an air conditioning system until the middle of July is a little like negotiating with a scalper for a good price on Red Sox tickets an hour before game one of the ALCS. Deals and discounts will be very hard to find. By calling a contractor in spring or fall, however, you'll often get substantial discounts on air conditioning systems and installation offered to customers in the off-seasons.
