If you’re thinking of the amount needed to invest in an air conditioner and the cost of running it, this post is just for you.
When buying an air conditioner, there are two cost-related factors you need to consider:
- How much does an air conditioner cost upfront?
- How much does an air conditioner cost to cool your home?
This is what this guide will help you with.
Here, we’ll look at the initial costs of buying a window air conditioner and the monthly costs of operating them.
How Much Does A Window Air Conditioner Unit Cost?
You don’t need to spend $1,000s on a system or hire a technician to install a window unit.
The average price is usually between $150-$500.
The actual price depends on a variety of things we will cover here.
However, energy efficiency and cooling capacity are the most significant contributors to cost.
What Factors Affect the Cost Of A Window Air Conditioner?
There are several factors influencing the price of a unit. These include:
Cooling Capacity
One of the biggest factors driving the cost of an air conditioner is its cooling capacity or the amount of room space it can cool down.
The higher the window AC unit’s cooling capacity and the more energy it uses, the higher the price of that appliance.
To determine the cooling capacity of an air conditioner, check out its British Thermal Unit rating. A British Thermal Unit (BTUs) number indicates how large of a room an air conditioner can cool, so the larger the number, the greater the cooling capacity.
For example:
a 5,000 BTU unit can cool up to 150 square feet of space
9,000 BTU: 400 sq. ft.
10,000 BTU: 450 sq. ft.
14,000 BTU: 700 sq. ft.
Window air conditioners with 14 thousand BTUs are more powerful than AC units with 5 000 BTUs.
As a general rule, bigger isn’t always better.
It’s crucial to get the right size window air conditioner for cooling your space.
If your window air conditioning unit is not the right size for your house, you run the risk that it won’t be able to cool one or the entire area effectively.
This same theory applies when looking at wall AC units, which resemble window ACs, but you install them on walls instead of windows.
If you need to keep clear access to your window but don’t want to install an AC unit inside your house, a through-the-wall AC may be a better option.
Another essential factor you need to consider is the unit’s energy efficiency.
Just because something costs more doesn’t necessarily mean it is more efficient.
The most accurate way to measure an air conditioner’s energy efficiency is to use its combined energy efficiency ratio (CEER).
Both are displayed on energy labels with the AC unit.
Remember that a higher CEER or EEER rating doesn’t necessarily mean that the air conditioner will be more energy efficient or cost less.
Higher energy efficiency costs less, but not always.
Some window air conditioners aren’t built the same.
Some are designed as essential single-purpose solutions, whereas others include advanced features like Wi-Fi capabilities, multi-directional fan venting, and digital thermostats.
The more features an air conditioner has, usually the higher the price.
Another factor determining AC price is the brand.
When buying window air conditioners, buying from a brand you know you can trust or one with a substantial market share is always best.
That means you’ll receive a better quality product and the customer service you need if something goes awry.
Cost To Run A Window AC
After you’ve determined the initial cost of a new window air conditioner, we’ll discuss the cost of ownership.
When it comes to long-term costs of air conditioning units, you want to look into a few things:
- Number of watts the air conditioner uses
- The kilowatt-hours per hour (KWH) your electric company charges. (The average rate is $0.13/KWH.)
- The number of hours per day you plan to run your air conditioners.
You can then use this formula to calculate your daily and monthly costs for running the window air conditioners:
Cost of Operation: Formula
Several watts x (hours of use) ÷ 1,000 x $0.13/kWh = hourly cost of running the AC Example:
- 600 watt unit x 1 hour ÷ 1,000 x 0.13 (kWH) = $0.078 hourly cost
- $0.078 x 8 (hours per day) = $0.62 daily cost of operation
- $0.64 x 7(days per week)= $4.48 Weekly Cost
- $4.48×4 (weeks per month) = $17.92 monthly cost
Average Cost Chart
If you run your air conditioning unit for eight hours every day and the price per kilowatt-hour is $0.13 per hour, you will likely spend this amount each month on these different-sized air conditioners.
- 600 Watt AC(5,000 BTU) = $17.92 per month
- 660 Watt AC (8,000 BTU) = $20.88 per month
- 800 Watt AC (9,000 BTU) = $25.31 per month
- 900 Watt AC (10,000 BTU) = $28.57 per month
- 1,100 Watt AC (12,000 BTU) = $31.80 per month
- 1,300 Watt AC (14,000 BTU) = $41.13 per month
Cost Of Installation
Most people can install an air conditioner themselves, and most units come equipped with the parts needed to complete the job.
So, the installation cost can be $0.
However, if you want to hire a handyperson, you’ll need to spend around $150.
Total Cost For A Window AC
Window air conditioning systems can cost anywhere from $150 to $500 depending on the energy efficiency, the cooling capacity, and the system features you select.
You now know that window AC units cost as little as $1.02 per day to operate.
Hence, the total running cost of a window AC depends on the number of operating hours you run the unit. The total running cost is normal if you run the unit for eight hours per diem. Depending on the situation, you may need to use it more or less.
How to Maximize The Efficiency of Your Window AC
To maximize the efficiency of any model, you can take some actions to improve its performance.
1. Insulate! Insulation is by far the essential factor for reducing energy bills. The more you have, the less you will spend on bills.
2. Increase the temperature. Every degree of increase in temperature will save on cooling and heating costs. If you can, try to run around with warmer temperatures.
3. Let it flow. Don’t have anything in front of, behind, or next to the air conditioner. Keeps the curtains open, and even if they’re not modern art pieces, don’t try to cover them up with furniture!
4. Change your filters. Once every month is enough.
5. Keep it on the DL. Cooling down an air conditioner uses the most energy when reducing the temperature, not keeping it constant. So it’s better to leave it on with a higher temperature setting than to turn it off completely when you’re going out for a short time.
Can You EER The Savings?
Efficiency is one of the things to consider when looking for an air conditioner that won’t cost you a fortune. You need to pay attention to a few simple numbers: CEER.
CEER Is Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio.
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is used for central air conditioners, whereas CEER (Cooling Effectiveness Index Rating) is used for window air conditioning systems.
EER, by itself, is outdated. It is essential to compare like and like — since they all measure different things.
The higher the rating indicates, the better the efficiency.
The better the cooler’s efficiency, the less you’ll spend for the same amount of air conditioning.
I’m a degreed ME (mechanical engineer) who is passionate about machines of all kinds. I created MachineWonders.com as a way to connect with others who love machines like me – or need help choosing one for their needs, application, or situation.
