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Expectation for 5 ton Package unit
Posted on 8/21/26 at 9:04 pm
Posted on 8/21/26 at 9:04 pm
For comparison, my other package unit is Trane 5 ton dual stage 15+ SEER. That cost me 9600 USD installed in 2019 with a new plenum and some duct work and new electrical for the dual stage thermostat. Will likely need a new supply/return plenum as guy telling me the contractor that installed this one should have put in a bigger one based on tonnage.
Any idea what to expect in 2026? Company I currently use is a Trane dealer. I want to get a quote from the American Standard dealer here as well. Just trying to get an expectation to measure against when the first quote comes up.
Any idea what to expect in 2026? Company I currently use is a Trane dealer. I want to get a quote from the American Standard dealer here as well. Just trying to get an expectation to measure against when the first quote comes up.
7
Posted on 8/21/26 at 11:58 pm to BigPapiDoesItAgain
what is the question?
Posted on 8/22/26 at 4:57 am to BigPapiDoesItAgain
I think 16-17k might be in the neighborhood.
Trane and AS are the same
Trane and AS are the same
Posted on 8/22/26 at 7:21 am to BigPapiDoesItAgain
Variable speed, SEER rating?
If higher SEER and variable speed, will be north of $22K for 5 ton+.
If higher SEER and variable speed, will be north of $22K for 5 ton+.
Posted on 8/22/26 at 7:22 am to Maillard
quote:
what is the question?
Sorry if not clear from the text above...looking for experience others might have had in terms of cost. I understand it will vary by market, and I plan on a few quotes, but it would help me to have some benchmark to measure against.
Posted on 8/22/26 at 9:07 am to BigPapiDoesItAgain
Was told by an AC guy recently that a 5 ton package starts at 15k and goes up from there. If you want higher SEER or variable speed, I think someone else’s quote of around 22k is probably in the neighborhood.
Posted on 8/22/26 at 9:58 am to BigPapiDoesItAgain
quote:
That cost me 9600 USD installed in 2019 with a new plenum and some duct work and new electrical for the dual stage thermostat.
As others mentioned don’t be surprised if it’s 2X the cost of the unit installed in 2019. I got an estimate on replacing my HVAC (split system) in 2018, but I was able to coax several more years out of it. When I replaced it in Feb 2023, the exact same unit quoted in 2018 had doubled in cost (same HVAC company).
Duct work sizing must match the tonnage of the unit if you expect to get full cooling and heating capacity out of the system. You sure you need 5-ton unit, particularly if the old unit has 4-ton ductwork? Has that been determined with a Manual J & S calculation (heat/cooling load, cooling tonnage/BTU heating assessment)?
As stated, Trane & American Standard are same company-equipment, though American Standard often comes in at a lower price point.
Posted on 8/22/26 at 11:47 am to CrawDude
quote:
You sure you need 5-ton unit, particularly if the old unit has 4-ton ductwork?
I'm not sure of anything, but this unit serves the new part of my house. The original structure was built in 1929, we bought it in 2013 and completed an addition in 2016. I feel like it was a well thought out addition with an architect and contractor that had extensive experience renovating and adding to historic homes.
I don't remember anything more than him talking about a 4 or 5 ton unit and him coming back and telling me that I needed the 5 ton in that spot. The crusty old HVAC fella I had out yesterday told me that duct work underneath the house is right for 5 ton, but plenum should've been one step up bigger.
I have 4 units. The two units for the original structure are very nice high efficiency multi-stage Trane units (one split and one package that are 14 and 7 years old respectively) and the two that service the addition are Luxaire single stage units, what I would call contractor grade. I should've paid more attention to that at the time, but that is neither here nor there now.
Posted on 8/22/26 at 12:34 pm to BigPapiDoesItAgain
quote:
The crusty old HVAC fella I had out yesterday told me that duct work underneath the house is right for 5 ton, but plenum should've been one step up bigger.
Understood. One good thing, replacing/upsizing a plenum only will be much cheaper than having to replace/upsize ductwork - good that he’s assessed the ductwork is adequate for 5 tons. Being your plenum is undersized I assumed that your ducts might be undersized (for 5 tons) as well.
It’s not uncommon in the HVAC trade for the cooling/heating equipment to be over sized and ductwork undersized. What many don’t realize that upsizing HVAC equipment cooling tonnage tonnage without upsizing duct work to match the increase doesn’t provide more cooling/heating capacity.
You can ask who ever you get bids from to replace the unit, if they measure total external static pressure (TESP; measure of resistance to airflow) after installation. If they do, you likely have a good installer.
Posted on 8/22/26 at 1:13 pm to CrawDude
quote:
You can ask who ever you get bids from to replace the unit, if they measure total external static pressure (TESP; measure of resistance to airflow) after installation. If they do, you likely have a good installer.
Thanks for that. I was wondering if the outfit that did the original install just "used whatever was on the truck" for the plenum. Not sure if those are a custom fab for every job or those are pre-made according to standard sizes. Trying to learn as much as I can as I know this will be an expensive undertaking.
Posted on 8/22/26 at 1:47 pm to BigPapiDoesItAgain
If this helps…I had a 4 ton American Standard 17 SEER variable speed unit and an evaporator coil installed at the end of July for 10k before taxes.
It doesn’t have a capacitor by the way. 10 year warranty with 2 years for labor.
It doesn’t have a capacitor by the way. 10 year warranty with 2 years for labor.
This post was edited on 8/22/26 at 1:48 pm
Posted on 8/22/26 at 1:52 pm to BigPapiDoesItAgain
quote:
Not sure if those are a custom fab for every job or those are pre-made according to standard sizes
Both.
They had to change my supply plenum with my HVAC changeout. It was pre-made.
Posted on 8/22/26 at 2:41 pm to BigPapiDoesItAgain
Paid around 16k for Trane multistage (which is the new dual stage) last August.
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