How Much Does a Precise Zoned Heating and Cooling Solution Cost?

Here in the Allentown, PA area, many people are choosing Carrier Ductless systems for their home so they can add the comfort they want, right where they need it most. Carrier’s ductless “mini-split” systems can act as air conditioning, heating, or both! They can be used in a single area or your home, or you can create multiple zones of heating and cooling, to give you perfect comfort in the areas of your home where you need it most. And because they are one of the most efficient systems on the market today, you can get the comfort you crave, with the flexibility needed to fit your home and your budget.

If you’re like most of our customers throughout Greater Allentown - Bethlehem, you’re wondering how much it would cost to get the heating and air conditioning you want, while ensuring you keep your monthly energy bills as low as possible.

The cost of zoned systems depends on many factors. The system consists primarily of an outdoor unit connected by refrigerant piping to one or more indoor units, that come in a variety of styles. These indoor units can be networked together to create zones of heating and cooling that can each be controlled separately. A single outdoor unit could create one zone or eight, or anything in between, depending on what you need and what your budget is.

Even better, you can expand an existing system to include additional indoor zones in the future, allowing you to stage out costs over time if that’s a concern.

For example, if you live in an older home, it’s likely your home was built without ductwork for central heat and air. These older homes are gorgeous, but they are becoming more and more uncomfortable during the summer. Window AC units probably aren’t getting the job done as well as in the past, and they cost a fortune to run.

Carrier Ductless and zoned heating solutions could make even rooms on the third floor perfectly comfortable, even on the hottest and most humid day in the summer, and the most bitter cold days of Winter.

Because of the customization and flexibility of this solution, it’s not as straightforward to give a price as it would be if you were just going to buy a window air conditioner or a whole home, unitary central heating, and air system. The solutions offered by Carrier’s ductless air conditioning and heating solutions can be ducted or ductless, or a hybrid of both. This flexibility means that there’s a great solution for your home, whether it’s a split level in Parkway Manor, a colonial in Allentown, a ranch home in Millville, a Victorian in Dorneyville, a newer home in Alburtis or a Townhome in Macungie, and our experts here at Werley's have the experience and expertise to design the best, custom solution for your needs and budget.

The cost will vary depending on the number of zones you need to achieve the comfort your family wants. As a certified Contractor for Carrier, at Werley's we have the experience and expertise to make sure you get the best and most efficient solution on the market.

What are the contributing factors that make up the system cost?

The first step to understanding the cost of a new Carrier Ductless total comfort system for your Greater Allentown - Bethlehem area home is to understand the individual elements that contribute to that cost:

A. New equipment. Each Carrier total comfort solution includes an outdoor unit, indoor unit(s), controls, and parts including the refrigerant line-set, wiring, and electrical accessories. Conditioning one room or zone comes at a significantly different price than heating and cooling a home with eight or more zones. Generally, new equipment comes in at $3,000 to $15,000. Your costs will vary and may be higher or lower than this estimate. Additionally, solutions that are just for air conditioning may be different than options that allow the units to provide both heating and air conditioning to the room.

B. Labor and Equipment. In addition to the cost of the equipment, there is the cost for the design and installation of the system, customized for your home and needs. In general, the cost is approximately equal to the cost of the equipment itself, which covers our certified and trained technicians who can handle refrigerants safely, as well as perform the plumbing and electrical work necessary for an installation. Labor costs also vary depending on the complexity of the installation, and this may vary depending on the type of home you own as well.

C. Possible additional costs

1. Electrical. These systems require a 240V outlet, which can cost between $200 to $1,000. The price will increase if your home’s electrical panel requires a new 240V circuit. To avoid surprises, securing an estimate before purchasing a new system is always advised.

2. Equipment pad or stand. Creating an even surface underneath the outdoor unit for proper drainage generally costs $50 to $300. Alternatively, units can be mounted on brackets, so be sure to discuss the possible alternatives with us when designing your system and picking the best location for the outdoor unit.

3. Ductless or ducted? Choosing ducted indoor units introduces a price that is difficult to generalize. Some homeowners might be installing ductwork for the first time while others may be repurposing some of their existing ductwork, which adds a level of complexity – adding potentially 75 percent to the labor cost. One of the best things about Carrier's total comfort systems, especially for older homes throughout our area, is that they can be installed without ductwork, saving you the time, money, and inconvenience of retrofitting a home with ductwork.

4. Controllers. There are many controller options to choose from with Carrier’s ductless systems. What you select will affect the cost. Wall-mounted units come standard with a handheld wireless controller. If you want a wired thermostat that allows remote control through a smartphone app, that can be an additional cost that is directly related to the cost and compatibility of the thermostat with your selected system.

D. Any additional equipment needed for unique situations. Some homes need a little extra something; this is true for older homes, high-performance homes, and homes in the mountains, or near the water. Some of these homes may require specialized designs and/or equipment, all of which impact the cost of the system. Carrier ductless uses inverter technology that’s designed to provide comfortable indoor temperatures even in extreme cold-climate conditions (as low as minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit) while saving energy and money- we’ve got solutions that can work in any of the winter weather Mother Nature can dish out here in the Lehigh Valley - and in the Summer, even when the weather is above 100 degrees- we’ve got you covered!

As you can see, there are a lot of variables that affect the estimated cost of a Carrier ductless total comfort system. While it is impossible to get a precise estimate of your costs without consulting a local contractor like us here at Werley's, there is some third-party data available regarding the low end of the cost range. Angie’s List published an article in June 2015 that stated the average price for a ductless system was between $3,000 and $5,000 for a single zone.

Additional zones can be added- and often you can add multiple indoor units without requiring additional outdoor units, which helps keep costs down. For full home systems with 8 or more zones, you may be looking at close to $20,000, or about the same price of a traditional, full home central heating and air conditioning system.

Your specific price range is directly impacted by the choices you make with the experts at Werley's regarding the number of zones you want to condition, whether to use ductless or ducted indoor units, whether you need cooling only or heating and cooling, if you want a standard or premium product, what type of indoor units work best and so on. As a result, the answer to the question, “How much does a precise zoned heating and cooling system cost?” remains a range.

Depending on your home and your needs, the best way to find out how much a system would cost is to give us a call here at Werley's. As a licensed Carrier contractor, we can save you money by designing a system that works for your home and provides the comfort you need for your home- and for your budget.

To get a better idea of what a solution might look like for your home, give us a call. We’ve worked on homes throughout the Greater Allentown - Bethlehem area, and we’d be happy to show you some of our work.

We’ve likely done an installation in your town, or on a home just like yours, and you can get a feel for what the solution looks like and what we helped the owners achieve.

Whether you live in a colonial, ranch, cottage-style, split level, cape, victorian, townhome, or even a condo, we’ve worked on a home like yours and can show you what might be possible.

Getting an estimate for your home

Give us a call here at Werley's. When you meet with us, discuss how many zones you want, where indoor and outdoor units might go, whether you need cooling only or heating and cooling, if you prefer ductless or ducted options (or a mix), and any special considerations. We’ll also talk to you about what to expect during the installation process.

Sounds pretty good, right? Soon you’ll have your estimated cost, and after that – a future filled with personalized comfort and energy savings.