If your air conditioner, heat pump or furnace is on its last legs, the first question is usually the hardest one to get a straight answer to: what is a new system going to cost? Search online and you'll find national averages that swing by thousands of dollars and don't know anything about your house.
Ace Mechanical has been replacing heating and cooling systems in Hampton Roads homes since 1986. We're family-owned, run by Kevin Clarke, and we give free estimates on new equipment. Here's an honest look at what actually drives the price of a new system here, and how to make sure you're paying for the right one.
Short answer: it depends on your house, and the estimate is free
The cost of a new HVAC system in Hampton Roads depends on six things: the type of system, its size, its efficiency, the condition of your ductwork, how hard the equipment is to reach, and whether electrical or other upgrades are needed. Two homes on the same street can get very different prices for good reasons. The only number that means anything is a written quote for your home, and at Ace that estimate costs you nothing.
We don't publish one-size-fits-all prices for replacements, because a price that ignores your house isn't much use to you. What we can do is explain what moves the number, so you know what you're looking at when a quote lands on your kitchen table.
The 6 things that drive the price of a new system
1. System type
The biggest choice is what kind of system you're installing:
- Heat pump. Most Hampton Roads homes use heat pumps because our winters are mild, and one system both heats and cools. In our area, a heat pump is often the most economical choice. See heat pump replacement.
- Air conditioner plus gas furnace. A good fit for homes with natural gas that like furnace heat on the coldest mornings. See AC installation and replacement and furnace replacement.
- Dual fuel. A heat pump for most of the year, paired with a gas furnace for the coldest days.
- Ductless mini-split. For additions, bonus rooms or older homes without ductwork. See ductless mini-splits.
Each option has different equipment and installation work, so each carries a different price. Replacing only one part of a system (for example, just the outdoor unit) is also a different job from replacing the whole thing.
2. Size
A bigger system costs more, but bigger isn't better in Hampton Roads. The right size depends on your home's actual cooling load: square footage, insulation, windows, sun exposure and the condition of your ductwork. An oversized system short-cycles, leaves the house clammy and wears out early. Simply copying the size of the old unit can mean paying more for a system that performs worse. We size every replacement to the house, not the label on the old equipment.
3. Efficiency
Higher-efficiency equipment costs more up front and uses less energy to run. Current systems use significantly less energy than units from 12 to 15 years ago, and a correctly sized system with good ductwork adds to those savings. Whether the top tier is worth it depends on how long you plan to stay and how hard your system works. That's why we quote options side by side instead of one take-it-or-leave-it number.
4. Ductwork
Your ducts can make a big difference in the total. Attics here regularly hit 120°F or more in summer. Flexible duct gets crushed, tape fails, connections pull apart, and poorly sealed ducts sweat in humid weather. A new system on leaky or crushed ducts won't perform the way it should. Ducts in good shape can often be reused. Damaged runs need repair, and some homes need a new insulated duct system. A good quote tells you which applies to your house. See ductwork and air quality.
5. Access and location
Where the equipment sits matters. A tight attic, a crawlspace, or equipment that has to be moved all add labor. In low-lying, flood-prone parts of Norfolk, Poquoson, Hampton and Virginia Beach, raising the outdoor unit on a stand may be worth including. Near the water, it's worth talking about coil coatings and placement to help a new system stand up to salt air.
6. Electrical and installation details
Some replacements need electrical upgrades. Every proper install also includes items that should be listed on the quote: a new pad or stand, a refrigerant line set flushed or replaced, a new condensate drain and float switch, the thermostat, and permits when required. For gas furnaces, that includes venting, gas connections, and a combustion and safety test. If two quotes list different items, they aren't pricing the same job.
How Ace prices a replacement
Here's how it works when you call us about a new system:
- Free estimate. We look at your current system, your home and your ductwork, not just the size of the old unit.
- Honest advice first. If a repair makes more sense than a new system, we'll tell you. We repair before we replace.
- Written options. You get clear options in writing, usually good, better and best, with the full installed price for each.
- Your approval. Nothing gets done until you say yes, and the price you approve is the price you pay.
- Install and walkthrough. Most straight replacements are finished in one day. Jobs that add ductwork, upgrade electrical or move equipment can take longer, and we'll give you the timeline with your quote.
See how our pricing works for the full details.
Ways to lower the cost of a new system
Make sure you really need one
The cheapest new system is the one you don't have to buy yet. If your air conditioner is under about 12 years old, or your heat pump is under about 10, a reasonable repair usually makes more sense. Sometimes a system that was "condemned" only needs a capacitor, a contactor or a drain line cleared. Replacement is worth a serious look when an older system needs a compressor or reversing valve, has needed several repairs in a year or two, has rising power bills, or uses R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer produced and is expensive to recharge.
For a home repair call, our diagnostic is $75, and it's waived when you approve the repair. More on repair pricing in What Does HVAC Repair Cost? and Repair or Replace AC in Hampton Roads?
Right-size it
A correctly sized system costs less to buy than an oversized one, runs more efficiently and controls humidity better. Ask every contractor how they chose the size.
Compare the same scope
Line up quotes item by item: equipment model numbers, efficiency, sizing method, ductwork, permits and installation details. The lowest total isn't a bargain if it leaves out work your home needs.
Keep the new system maintained
Maintenance helps a system reach the long end of its lifespan. Heat pumps run year-round, so twice-a-year maintenance makes a real difference, especially near salt air. See maintenance and tune-ups.
Already have a quote? Get a free second opinion
Replacement quotes in Hampton Roads can vary by thousands of dollars for the same home. If you've been quoted a new system and you're not sure it's fair, we'll look at it for free: Not sure what a fair quote looks like? Read how to tell if an HVAC replacement quote is fair.
- Call (757) 495-7782 and tell us what you were quoted.
- A licensed technician tests your system and checks the diagnosis you were given.
- We tell you honestly whether we agree, and if there's a repair option, what it costs.
Ace will match or beat a written quote from another licensed Virginia contractor for the same scope of work and comparable equipment, or explain honestly why the jobs aren't the same. See free second opinions.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a new HVAC system in Hampton Roads?
It depends on the system type, size, efficiency, ductwork, access and any electrical work your home needs. Ace gives free written estimates on new heating and cooling equipment, with good, better and best options and the full installed price for each.
What makes one quote higher than another?
Usually a different scope: a bigger or higher-efficiency system, ductwork repair or replacement, harder access, electrical upgrades, or a whole system versus just one unit. Compare itemized quotes line by line. If one is much higher with no clear reason, get a second opinion.
Does ductwork replacement add a lot?
It can. Ducts in good shape can often be reused, but crushed, disconnected or leaky attic ducts should be repaired or replaced, or the new system won't perform as it should. Your quote should say which applies.
Are estimates free?
Yes. Estimates on new heating and cooling equipment are always free at Ace, and so are second opinions on quotes from other companies.
Is financing available?
Ask when you call about a replacement. We'll go over current payment options with your written quote.
Heat pump or AC plus furnace: which costs less?
In Hampton Roads, a heat pump is often the most economical choice because our winters are mild and one system heats and cools. If you have natural gas, an AC with a gas furnace or a dual-fuel system may fit better. We'll show you the numbers for each option for your home.
How long does a replacement take?
Most straight replacements are done in one day. Jobs that add ductwork, upgrade electrical or move equipment can take longer.
Get a free written estimate on a new system
Call (757) 495-7782 or request service online. Ace Mechanical is family-owned since 1986, licensed and insured in Virginia (license #2705120886), open 7 days, 7 AM–8 PM, and serves all of Hampton Roads, from Williamsburg to Virginia Beach and out to Suffolk.
Written by the Ace Mechanical team. We've been fixing heating, cooling, refrigeration and plumbing across Hampton Roads for more than 30 years. Questions about your own system? Call (757) 495-7782.
