An air conditioner will keep you cool in the summer and warm and comfortable in the winter. A high-quality air conditioner is an investment that will boost your enjoyment of your home or place of business. But what does it cost to get an air conditioner? Read on as we share air conditioning prices.
| Installation cost | R 1 500 - R 3 500 per unit |
| Air conditioning unit | R 2 500 - R 30 000 |
| Reapairs | R 350 - R 3 550 |
Air conditioning prices vary depending on the make or brand.
The benefits of air conditioning
Better air quality – because air conditioners circulate and filter the air, a lot of harmful irritants and mold are removed. This is even more important for people who suffer from allergies or asthma.
Fewer insects – the filters keep out insects, which means that indoor pets stay flea and tick free, and you won’t have flies landing on your food.
Increased productivity – when it’s hot, you get sluggish and lack efficiency. Scientific research shows that when the body expends energy to keep us cool, we lose the ability to think properly.
Better sleep – when our bodies are too hot, our blood pressure and heart rate increase. This makes it difficult to get a good night’s sleep.
Security – crime is a reality in South Africa. When it is hot, we want to leave our doors and windows wide open in the hope of a breeze to cool the house down. When you have an air conditioner, you can keep the doors and windows closed, which means your family is safe.
Factors affecting air conditioning prices
Determining the cost of an air conditioning system is not so straight forward as there are various considerations:
- System size – this will determine the installation process and the costs can vary. Some spaces will need more than one air conditioning unit to effectively control the temperature.
- Type of air conditioner – some are bigger or more effective than others and therefore cost more.
- SEER rating – the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) is a number that indicates how well an AC uses energy. All systems have a SEER of at least 13. The higher the number, the more efficient the system and, generally speaking, the higher the AC installation cost.
- Ductwork – if you have already installed an air conditioner and you are installing another then you will already have all the ductwork in place. If not, the installation cost will need to include this.
Air conditioning maintenance
In order for air conditioners to function successfully and efficiently over the course of their service life, they must be correctly maintained. These are the items that need to be checked and cleaned:
- Air conditioner filters
- Air conditioner coils
- Coil fins
- Condensate drains
- Window seals
Although there are a lot of videos showing homeowners how they can maintain and clean their air conditioners themselves, it is best to hire a professional so you can ensure it is done correctly and you don’t void the product warranty, if applicable.
Finding the right pro
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Suzette Meyer is the lead author and content creator for Kandua.com, South Africa’s #1 marketplace for home services. She researches and writes the Kandua Advice articles, Cost Guides, and the Kandua Email Newsletter, drawing on the expertise of Kandua’s base of over 40 000 pros across more than 100 services, and the data gathered from the 100 000+ home service projects facilitated through the platform.
Home improvement can be daunting, and it is often difficult to find out if you are paying a fair price for your products and services. Suzette has made it her mission to help homeowners with advice on all aspects of home repair, maintenance and improvement, including how to choose the right handyman and how to make smart upgrades that improve your resale value or save costs.
