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How much does HVAC installation cost?

March 26, 2019

If you’re thinking you’ll have to buy a new heating and cooling system soon, you may be looking at your budget and trying to figure out how much an HVAC installation will cost. This is the number one question we get from customers who are shopping around for a new air conditioning system.

The short answer is: it depends. A number of factors will influence the cost of your HVAC, such as type of system and who you hire. As a homeowner making a big investment, it’s critical that you understand these factors if you are price shopping. Two quotes may look similar, but contain totally different HVAC systems. So, it’s important to understand what goes into a quoted price for HVAC installations. Here are the three main factors that will definitely change your AC replacement pricing.

1. Equipment Size and Features

All air conditioners are not built equally! The first and most important factor in your HVAC system cost will be the size of your unit. HVAC systems are sized by a unit called tons – with most homes ranging in size between 2 Tons to 5 Tons. You might think your new HVAC unit needs to be the same size as your old unit. Before you go down that road, ask yourself some questions. Have your AC reliably been cooling your space to your desired temperature? If not, you may need a larger size. Are you expecting to do any add-ons or other renovations that may require more spaces in your home to be heated or cooled? If so, you may consider up sizing. Have you noticed your AC turning on and off repeatedly, only running for a few minutes at a time? In this case, your HVAC may be too large for your space – and this short cycling can run up your energy bills and shorten the life span of your unit! So, having a professional help you choose the right system size is important.

With the advancement of HVAC product development, you can install a very feature-rich heating and air conditioning system in your home. Before speaking with a contractor to get a quote, you might consider what is most important to you in an air conditioning system. Do you want technology features such as high-tech controllers, or setting temperature with a smartphone app? Or, are you looking for an energy-efficient system, something that will reduce your monthly energy bills. Zoning systems such as ductless technology can add next-level comfort to your home allowing for a different setpoint in every room. Or perhaps you are looking for the most affordable system on the market. Different air conditioning systems offer a variety of different features. As recognized experts in HVAC, we can help you narrow down the systems available and provide you with a recommendation that meets your needs.

2. Difficulty Level of Project

The project difficulty of an HVAC installation will also impact how much your total cost. For example, you may need to replace old or leaky ductwork, which would make the project much more challenging than a standard equipment replacement. The result? Your project cost will be significantly more than if you’re just getting a new A/C installed.

Something else that impacts project difficulty is your home’s age. Many beautiful, historic homes will require an HVAC replacement at one point or another, especially if you’re thinking about selling your home. The cost of these HVAC projects may be higher, because getting a modern system installed around a historic home’s features can be a very time and labor intensive project. Newer homes are built with heating and air conditioning systems in mind, and that will be reflected in the quoted price.

Most homeowners won’t be familiar with how difficult of a project their HVAC replacement may be. That’s where an experienced HVAC contractor comes in. You will want to consult with a respected Los Angeles HVAC company to understand the requirements of your project and the costs. After performing a walk-through of your house and getting to know more about your needs and preferences, they will be able to give you an accurate quote on the project costs.

3. Quality of HVAC Contractor

This installation cost of an HVAC will also depend on the HVAC company you decide to work with. Before choosing the company that offers the lowest price, do your research on what to look for in an HVAC contractor. Working with a less than reputable company can have major consequences that will cost you more in the long run.

It is important that your HVAC is properly installed, because if it not then you will not realize the promised performance of the system. Longer term, a poor installation may result in more maintenance and repairs as well as higher energy bills. In short: you’ll wind up with higher costs than if you had just hired a well regarded and experienced HVAC contractor in the first place.

At Brody Pennell, we receive calls all the time from customers with installations gone poorly seeking our help and guidance. We know the additional costs and frustrations that an improper installation can lead to. If you want the best installation quality possible, work with a reputable HVAC company that has years of experience installing new heating and cooling systems in the Southern California area.

Ready for a Quote?

Our trained professionals at Brody Pennell are ready to meet with you to discuss your new HVAC system. Since we opened our doors in 1945, we have worked hard to provide quality HVAC services for our customers. Call us anytime, 24/7: (310) 810-2721


About The Author

Brody Pennell

Since 1945, Brody Pennell Heating & Air Conditioning is the committed to helping homeowners in the greater Los Angeles area experience total home comfort. In 2021, the readers of the Los Angeles Times voted Brody Pennell the Best HVAC Company in the area.

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Anthony was a Pro!
Definitely recommend him!
Showed up on time and was very friendly!
Great costumer service!
10 stars!!!
Response from the owner:Your satisfaction is our reward. Thank you for the 5-star review!
Kevin was fantastic! We have an old system and Kevin took the time to explain every piece of equipment in the HVAC. Appreciate the attention to detail and will be definitely using them in the future. Thanks!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.
Both Justin’s that came to repair our unit were on time, very polite and explained what needed to be done in order for our unit to function. They took their time and were very thorough. Greatly appreciated. We are still deciding on the project .
Response from the owner:Your 5-star review made our day! Thanks for choosing us.
Hamachi’s Acosta and Allen Urquidez did a great job and now I have great air flow on “fan” function. I could not do it on my own.
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Had a great experience with today with the team from Brody Pennel. Punctual, professional, and effective. Would definitely use them again!
Response from the owner:Your 5-star review made our day! Thanks for choosing us.
Ruben Medina was very professional and pleasant and did a great job analyzing the issue with my AC, and came back to finish the job although it was later in the day.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words about Juan! We appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear that he provided you with excellent service.
I was referred to Brody Pennell from a friend who has utilized them for decades. There is something so comforting about working with True experts that know how to install a machine and how to ensure that it runs properly for years to come. Had a great experience with installation and with Jason, who came to service our units.
Update:
We just had Justin and Allen service since inexplicably our power was out to the unit. They resolved it so quickly and are wonderful gentlemen! Grateful for a company with integrity and happy staff.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Very good service call. Very thorough!
Response from the owner:Your satisfaction is our reward. Thank you for the 5-star review!
Leaving a quick perfect review because of the super kind man that talked to me on the phone at this place - he was leagues away more professional in his brief conversation with me than someone else from a different local AC company was that I spoke to yesterday. If that other place falls through this afternoon, I will immediately be contacting these guys back, because they clearly value mutual respect and human decency over that of at least one competitor out here in LA
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Daniel B. and David E. Both did such an amazing and mindful job diagnosing my AC unit. They took their time, and kept me informed each step of the way.I highly recommend both of these gentlemen.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We're thrilled to know you had a fantastic experience with us.
Fantastic service. Technicians Jose Castillo and Misael Ramirez were consummate professionals. Wouldn’t trust any other company to service my HVAC system.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! Your satisfaction is our top priority.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Kevin was extremely polite and professional and explained everything he worked on and inspected and was very thorough in his work. We are very happy with his service and promptness.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Hands down the best HVAC service I’ve used. My home’s never felt more comfortable. Reason are very reasonable amazing service 😀
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Giovanny came on the same-day to look at our HVAC system. Very professional and solid experience !
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Jonathan came and not was able to quickly fix my HVAC but spent the time to teach me what went wrong. Very friendly and helpful!
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Excellent and knowledgeable service
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.
Ivan Diaz was fantastic! Professional courteous and knowledgeable. He advised me of everything he would check for both of our house systems. After reviewing, cleaning condensers and changing filters. He also tactfully suggested a few recommendations which would be useful for our home. Mr. Diaz is a credit asset to your organization.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Great inspection/maintenance service today from Alex and Alberto. They were very thorough in both thier inspection and wonderful in explaining what they found and had a picture for everything. Very personable too. I believe you can't go wrong with Brody Pernnell
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! Your satisfaction is our top priority.
He explained so politely we were satisfied his maintenance and we hope he will come back for next maintenance.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.
Great experience. I was notified of an estimated arrival time so I could plan. When the tech came,he listened to my concerns and didnt try to diminish my concerns or upsell because im a woman. He took his time and triple checked everything. He didnt rush or try and sell me anything I didnt need which is everything. So I would recommend and will use again if need be.
Response from the owner:Your satisfaction is our reward. Thank you for the 5-star review!
Great service.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Matthew was great! Subscribed so I"ll be seeing him again:)
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Great work from Juan and David, both were very professional. They explained things thoroughly showed me pictures of a rooftop unit, and we’re very detailed oriented. Will definitely use this company again.
Response from the owner:Your 5-star review made our day! Thanks for choosing us.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Jonathan from Brody Pennel was very professional and skilled. He kept me informed throughout the servicing of my AC unit and discussed what was needed to keep it running in optimal condition.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Giovanny was extremely professional and thorough. I felt like I received exceptional service from him and am continuing to work with Brody Pennell to replace my AC unit.
Response from the owner:We're delighted you had a great experience with us. Thanks for the 5-star review!
Replacing my HVAC through Brody Pennel, I am very satisfied with my experience. From making an appointment to finishing the work, the process was systemized and thorough. Actual work was clean and timely. Thank you very much!
Response from the owner:We're delighted you had a great experience with us. Thanks for the 5-star review!
I've finally found an AC maintenance company I can trust! Octavio and Armando serviced my two ACs today, checked and rechecked everything, cleaned the system, identified problems and solutions, and were incredibly professional, thorough and clear in all their explanations! They also wore booties and were nice to my dog :)
I've tried three other companies and have never had the great level of inspection and service that I had today.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your experience with us, adrienne bell! We're grateful for your kind words and we're glad Octavio and Armando provided you with such exceptional service. We appreciate your trust in us!
Ivan was fantastic. He arrived on time, was very friendly and respectful of my home. He explained everything he was doing and answered all my questions. Everything was left in clean condition and my unit is running perfectly. I am 100% satisfied.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that you're happy with our service.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Response from the owner:Your satisfaction is our reward. Thank you for the 5-star review!
Outstanding service! Juan R. Worked on 2 HVAC Units in our building. Professional, knowledgeable, thorough, respectful and explained everything. He is outstanding and provided exceptional service!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words, Jane! It was a pleasure assisting you and I'm glad I could help resolve the issue for you.
Jaime was very polite and informative. He did a thorough job. But I was not impressed with the heavy handed up sell. I just wanted my system tuned I didn’t want to buy new components. Also their marketing is gorilla style. 4 days after having service done they hit me up to service my system. I’m not a fan of Brody Pernell.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Super impressed with their fast service and honest pricing . Got my AC running in no time . Great company 😃
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! Your satisfaction is our top priority.
Second time that I get them. Christian Flores was the technician. He did a maintenance check and fix some issues I had. I bought the maintenance plan from them. I highly recommend
Response from the owner:Thank you for trusting us with your HVAC needs, Alessandra! We appreciate your recommendation and are glad to hear that Shawn provided you with efficient service for both your A/C and heater.
Justin was very kind and helpful.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that you're happy with our service.
I was so impressed with the professionalism and workmanship done by Rosendo and his team from Brody Pennell. They got our entire HVAC replaced within 3 days. Ashton, the supervisor, was available by phone or in person every step of the way. I would whole-heartedly recommend Brody Pennell to anyone, and would use them again for any needs that might come up.
Response from the owner:Your 5-star review made our day! Thanks for choosing us.
Matthew was the best! 11/10 stars. Super helpful, knowledgeable and just a cool dude!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words, Conner! It was a pleasure assisting you.
Anthony (service tech) was timely and efficient. He clearly explained the service for both units (including pictures), checked the ductwork and made recommendations to keep the system at peak level.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your experience, DeAnna! We appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear that Daniel provided you with efficient service and clear explanations. We are here to help with any future needs you may have.
The service rep was very thorough and explained what he was going to do. We were very pleased with his thoroughness to clear out some clogged areas to help with our breathing problems.
Rene Morales was the best. He slipped covers on his shoes as he stepped into the house.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.
Brody Pennell serviced my AC unit today and Rene was great as always. Always in great spirits and professional.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words, Airika! We appreciate your continued support.
HVAC installation was done quickly and professionally!! They were on time and a pleasure to have around my home!
Response from the owner:We appreciate your 5-star rating! It's wonderful to know we met your expectations.
Pascual, Frank and Nico were very professional and hard working! They completed my HVAC on time and did a really nice job! I highly recommend them!!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! Your satisfaction is our top priority.
Brody Pennell serviced our AC unit in our condo today and they were excellent. Their technician was prompt, considerate and well qualified. I definitely recommend their service.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your 5-star rating! It's wonderful to know we met your expectations.
Jose Rivera was helpful, polite and clearly explained what he was doing.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your experience with Jose! We're glad to hear that he was able to assist you with fixing the issue promptly and ensuring everything was working well for you.
Juan was very detailed oriented and took the time to explain things to me in a technical way that was easy to understand.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Today, Alberto M. from Brody Pennell came to provide annual maintenance to our HVAC system. His service was outstanding, he provided a super thorough explanation of all the work he did, and any potential recommendations for additional maintenance.

He took extensive photos that helped show the details of what was done and what might be needed down the line. I will definitely be calling Brody Pennell again for any HVAC maintenance or repair needs in the future.

Thanks again Alberto!
Response from the owner:We're delighted you had a great experience with us. Thanks for the 5-star review!
Very thorough and honest
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.

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By clicking “Send Message”, I am providing express written consent to receive autodialed and pre-recorded calls, texts, and SMS/MMS with marketing communications from Brody Pennell regarding home services at the phone number provided above, even if the number is on a corporate, state, or national Do Not Call list. Consent is not a condition to purchase services or products.

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