Scarborough summers are filled with incredible festivals, delicious food, great music, and days at the beach, but you can’t forget about the hot and humid weather. The city can get quite warm during the summer months, and the comfort of your family depends on having a dependable and efficient air conditioner.
If your unit hasn’t been performing optimally, has started requiring expensive repairs, or is costly to operate, then now might be a great time to start looking into an upgrade.
There are plenty of options on the market in terms of pricing, features, technologies, efficiency ratings, and more. To help you sort through all this information and make the right choice for your new air conditioner, this guide will tell you what you need to know to buy a new air conditioner in Scarborough.
Average central air conditioner cost in Scarborough (including installation):
$4,250 – $5,250.
The average price of a new air conditioner in Scarborough is $4,250 to $5,250. The total cost of your new air conditioner will depend on many factors, such as the efficiency rating, size and cooling output, make, model, and brand, installation fees, and more. To give you a better idea of the full cost to buy and install your new system, we’ll go over these factors in more detail.
Higher than average
Slightly above-average price range, which may be due to factors like a more complicated installation, or purchasing a top-of-the-line unit or premium brand.
Typical price range: $4,250 – $5,250
The average price range for a typical high-efficiency unit with a typical installation from an established, fully licensed & insured local HVAC contractor. Prices will vary within this range based on installation factors, brand & model, unit size/BTU output & efficiency, among other things.
Lower than average
Below-market pricing; be careful if the price is exceptionally low. The lower the price is below average, the higher likelihood that you may receive a more hastily done installation, low-end or used components, limited labour warranty coverage & ongoing support, or the company may be less established or lacking in insurance and/or licensing & certification.
Scarborough Statistics
Population: 632,098
Average summer temperature: 20 C
Average winter temperature: -4.6
What to look for when choosing a heating & air conditioning contractor
People often fret over the brand of air conditioner to buy, but choosing the best contractor in Scarborough is every bit as important. Not only is the quality of the workmanship and installation crucial to the air conditioner’s lifespan, the company you choose will be relied on for future servicing and warranty coverage.
Always choose an established company that has:
- Good, independently-verified feedback
- A solid track record and no outstanding disputes
- Verified insurance, licenses, and certifications
- Experienced staff, with manufacturer training
- Registered to offer rebates
Checking all of these things is difficult and time-consuming.
That’s why we’ve already done it for you!
Learn more about our independent local HVAC contractor Certification program, designed to help you get a reliable heating system at a fair price, from reputable local dealers.
Who Are Our Top Scarborough Air Conditioners Contractors?
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Top Brands by Tier and Price
Economy Tier
Average price: $3,950
Brands: York, Keeprite, and Goodman
Mid Range
Average price: $4,950
Brands: Napoleon, Amana, American Standard, Rheem, and Trane
Premium
Average price: $5,950
Brands: Lennox, Carrier, and Bryant
Purchasing a High-Efficiency Central Air Conditioner in Scarborough
When shopping for a new air conditioner, two things you’ll see often are SEER ratings and ENERGY STAR logos. It’s important to know what these are not only for the upfront cost of the unit, but also operating costs over time.
The SEER rating is the seasonal energy efficiency ratio, and this measures the operating efficiency of the air conditioner. A higher SEER rating means better efficiency and lower power bills. In Scarborough, most of the SEER ratings you’ll see will range from 13 and 21.
ENERGY STAR is a certification awarded to high-efficiency and high-performance air conditioners. To get ENERGY STAR certification, an air conditioner has to have a SEER rating of at least 14.5.
Although you’ll typically pay more for a high-SEER or ENERGY STAR air conditioner, you will save more on your energy bills over the next decade or so, meaning the additional upfront cost will likely be recouped with lower bills.
Reducing Costs Versus Getting Special Features
A significant factor that will impact the cost of your air conditioner is special features and technologies. When you’re working with a tight budget, you can reduce your costs by looking for a more basic air conditioner that doesn’t have a lot of innovative technologies, convenience features, and other bells and whistles.
However, if you have a higher budget and want a more advanced air conditioner, here are some features that might interest you:
- Variable-speed fan that offers better temperature control and energy efficiency
- Two-stage or variable-speed compressor for quiet operation, lower energy bills, and better temperature maintenance
- Wi-Fi system that lets you control settings, check maintenance issues, and monitor the system remotely
- Humidity control for those particularly muggy summer days in Scarborough
- Features that protect from corrosion and weather
- Quiet operation
- Air filtration and purification systems
- Programmable thermostat capabilities
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Air Conditioner Warranties
Manufacturers offer a wide range of warranties for their products. You might pay more for an air conditioner with a better warranty, but like with high-SEER and ENERGY STAR units, this additional cost could end up saving you more in the long run. Air conditioner maintenance and repairs are a large expense over the lifetime of the unit, and a good warranty could mean you don’t have to pay for them.
Every new air conditioner will come with some sort of warranty from the manufacturer. With standard options, the warranty might only last five years. With premium units, you could score a lifetime warranty. Here are some of the more common warranties to look for:
- Parts warranty that lasts between one and 10 years
- Compressor and coil warranty that lasts between five and 20 years
- Lifetime or hassle-free replacement warranties
- Labour warranties
Important Installation Information
It will typically cost roughly $1,000 to install a new air conditioner, plus the cost of the unit. Contractors generally don’t install air conditioning units that aren’t purchased from them, for liability reasons, among other factors.
Although this might seem like an easy area where you might be able to cut costs for your new cooling system, DIY installation isn’t recommended for a number of reasons. Here are some of the risks associated with improper installation:
- Damage to the unit
- A less efficient system that’s more expensive to run
- Increased maintenance and repair costs
- Decreased longevity and reliance
In other words, skimping on installation could cost you more in the long run than it will save you up front. Furthermore, many HVAC companies offer installation guarantees and labour warranties that could save you even more.
Available Rebates and Deals
Another great way to save money when buying a new air conditioner is to look for deals, promotions, sales, and rebates. There aren’t currently any air conditioner rebates available through the province, but new ones could become available, so keep an eye on current rebates. Further, manufacturers and HVAC companies often hold their own promotions and sales that could save you hundreds of dollars on your new cooling system. When looking at different units, be sure to ask if there are any makes and models on sale.
Financing Options
Just because it’s time to buy a new air conditioner doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve got the biggest budget to play with. HVAC companies are aware of this, and many offer financing options that include leasing options, payment deferral, and monthly payment plans. With the right plan in place, you could get a new air conditioner installed right away and not have to worry about the price for several months, or could pay off the system over the next several years.
Even if you do have a decent budget for a new cooling system, you might want to look into financing for the simple reason that it could help you get a higher-quality and longer-lasting air conditioner with a better efficiency rating, newer technologies, or features that you’d really love.
Popular Air Conditioner Brands in Scarborough
Air conditioner brands can be a tricky thing, because while consumers can sometimes get caught up in brands and makes, the truth is that there are only a few manufacturers making air conditioners under several different names. It’s important to pay attention to this because there are times when you might pay a premium price for a premium name, but you could get the same air conditioner from a different brand for less.
Some of the most popular names in the area include:
- American Standard
- Trane
- Amana
- Goodman
- York
- KeepRite
- Rheem
- Lennox
- Bryant
- Carrier
- Napoleon
About Scarborough
Scarborough is a community within the Greater Toronto Area, and it’s situated on the shores of Lake Ontario. Residents and visitors to Scarborough are treated to the incredible views at the Scarborough Bluffs, attractions like the Toronto Zoo, fun festivals throughout the year, amazing food, and warm summers by the lake. Summers start heating up in June and peak in July, when temperatures can reach 30 C or more. Because of the humidity from the lake and the extended heat waves, reliable air conditioning systems are critical for getting through the hot summers.
