TL;DR: Replacing your AC in Northwest Arkansas typically runs $7k–$15k+ depending on size, efficiency, ductwork, and the contractor installing it. Franklin offers free in-home replacement quotes — and we install the brands and tiers we'd put in our own homes.
What to know before you spend $7k–$15k+ on a new AC
1. Run the rebate numbers before you pick a system. SWEPCO and Black Hills Energy offer rebates ranging from a few hundred dollars on a basic AC up to $3,000+ on a high-efficiency heat pump. Picking the wrong tier can leave $2,000 on the table. Spend ninety seconds with our rebate calculator before you sign anything. (Full list of NWA rebates here.)
2. Use the “50% rule” on repair vs. replace. If the repair quote is more than half the cost of a new system and your unit is past 10 years old, replacement is usually the right call. Two facts that should push you toward replacement regardless of cost:
- Your system is over 12 years old. Average AC life in NWA is 15–18 years; builder-grade units sometimes only make it 10–12. Pouring money into year 13 of a 15-year unit rarely pencils out.
- Your system uses R-22 refrigerant. R-22 was banned from manufacturing in 2020 and is no longer sold in NWA. Any refrigerant-related repair on an R-22 system is essentially a no-go
3. Consider getting multiple quotes. If you don’t feel good about the first quote you got, get another (or two). On the exact same equipment, NWA homeowners regularly see quotes swing $3,000–$5,000 — quotes are free, so the only cost is an hour of your time. If you’ve already got one and it feels off, we’ll come out for a free second opinion, no obligation to switch. (We also wrote up a real breakdown of NWA replacement costs with actual quotes and post-install utility bills if you want to see the math.)
4. Strongly consider a heat pump. A heat pump is just an AC that can run in reverse to heat your home in winter — using outdoor air as the heat source instead of burning gas. The result: the same system handles both your cooling and your heating, often cutting winter utility bills 30–50% versus a gas furnace. They also unlock the largest utility rebates available ($1,500–$3,000+ in NWA), which often makes the upfront cost competitive with a basic AC after rebates. Watch this short explainer if heat pumps are new to you.
How Franklin installs an AC
Most replacements are a single-day job, but the difference between a system that lasts 18 years and one that limps to 10 is what happens during that day. Every Franklin install runs through 30+ commissioning checks — refrigerant charge, airflow, static pressure, electrical, condensate, gas pressure, and more — before we leave. Shortly after the install, a second technician returns for a QA visit to verify the work was done to our standards and catch anything the install team might have missed. We pull the permit in advance, lay protective floor covering on day-of, haul away your old equipment, and coordinate the city inspection on your behalf.