What HVAC Equipment Actually Costs
A standard 3 ton replacement should not cost five figures. If you were quoted $10,000+, you are paying for someone's billboard, not your equipment.
Real equipment cost ranges, based on what we actually pay at the supply houses.
Pick your size. See the real numbers.
Not sure what size you need? Rough rule for the Gulf Coast: about 1 ton per 500 square feet. A 1,500 sqft home is usually 3 tons. (Or use our Replacement Cost Planner and we will size it for you.)
Solid single-stage equipment, 14.3+ SEER2. Cools the same air for less money. What most Gulf Coast homes actually need.
15.2+ SEER2 systems and heat pumps. The sweet spot for efficiency and price.
17+ SEER2, two-stage and inverter systems. Lower power bills, higher upfront cost.
These are equipment cost ranges, not installed totals. Installation is added on top, and we quote it before we start. For your full budget range with your home's details factored in, use the Replacement Cost Planner below.
Gulf Coast reality check: our winters are short and mild, so you do not need to pay a premium for heating power down here. And high-SEER upgrades often take 8 to 12 years of power bill savings to pay back the price difference. Buy efficiency because you plan to stay in the home, not because a salesman pushed it.
Pick any brand. The price difference is real, and we will show it to you.
We are not a dealer for anyone. We buy from every major supply house in the region, which means we install whatever brand you want, and we make the same honest installation fee either way.
When a dealer-locked company quotes you a premium brand at $16,000, part of that price is their dealer program, their sales quota, and their billboard. We just charge you what the equipment costs, plus our installation fee. Your money, your choice, our same work either way.
What goes into a real replacement (besides the unit)
Every quality install includes parts most quotes never itemize: a new condenser pad, primary and secondary drain pans, float switch and drain plumbing, electrical whip and fused disconnect, hard start kit, new thermostat, line set flush or replacement as needed, and code-required fittings.
Our numbers above already account for these. If a quote you received does not mention them, ask what else is missing.
Equipment cost plus one honest installation fee. That is the whole formula.
Most companies bundle equipment and labor into one big number so you cannot see either one. We do the opposite. You have seen what the equipment costs. Installation is quoted on top of it, before we start, based on your home's actual details (system location, access, heat type, and code requirements).
Want your number? The Replacement Cost Planner takes your square footage, ZIP, and system details and gives you a budget range in about a minute. No phone call required.
When a job costs more, here is why
Some homes need work beyond a straightforward replacement. We tell you before we start, not after. Things that add real cost when they are needed:
- Duct repair or replacement
- Electrical panel upgrades
- Code-required updates (gas line, venting, drain routing)
- Difficult access (tight attics, closet conversions, crane lifts for package units)
If your quote from another company is over $10,000 and none of these apply, ask them to walk you through the number line by line. An honest company will.
Some brands and models are subject to supply house availability and may require special order.
We built this page because we kept meeting homeowners who were quoted $12,000, $15,000, even $20,000 for a straightforward system replacement. They had no way to know what the equipment actually costs, so they had no way to know how much of that quote was air.
Now you do. The numbers below are real equipment cost ranges, based on what we actually pay at the supply houses, updated as prices move.
Licensed Alabama HVAC company. Cert. No. 26098. Serving Mobile and Baldwin County.
251-222-4054Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 3 ton AC unit cost?
The equipment itself runs about $3,000 to $6,300 depending on efficiency tier and brand, including the pad, drain pans, disconnect, and thermostat. Installation is added on top. Most straightforward 3 ton replacements on the Gulf Coast should land well under $10,000 all-in.
How much does a Trane system cost compared to Goodman?
Trane equipment typically costs 40 to 60 percent more than Goodman at comparable SEER2 ratings. A 3 ton Trane system might run $5,400 to $6,200 in equipment where the Goodman equivalent runs $3,600 to $4,100. Both cool your home the same. The difference is the brand.
Why was I quoted $15,000 for an HVAC replacement?
Large dealer-locked companies carry costs that show up in your quote: dealer program fees, sales commissions, advertising budgets, and financing markup. Unless your job needs major ductwork, electrical upgrades, or difficult access, a standard replacement should not reach five figures.
What size HVAC system do I need?
On the Gulf Coast, figure roughly 1 ton per 500 square feet. A 1,500 sqft home usually needs 3 tons, a 2,300+ sqft home usually needs 5 tons. Our Replacement Cost Planner sizes it for you from your square footage.
Do you install Trane, Carrier, or Lennox?
Yes. We are not locked into any dealer program, so we install every major brand at the same installation rate. You pick the equipment, we show you what it really costs, and we do the same quality install either way.