If you are planning to replace your home’s cooling system, you have probably heard the common piece of advice: Wait until it’s cold outside to get the best deal. But are air conditioners actually cheaper in the winter? The answer is yes, but not for the reasons you might think. While the price of the metal box (the unit) stays relatively stable year-round, the cost of labor and installation fluctuates wildly based on the “Demand Curve.” During the sweltering summer months, HVAC companies are overwhelmed with emergency repair calls, allowing them to charge a premium for installations. In the dead of winter, however, those same companies are often looking to keep their crews busy, leading to aggressive discounts, free thermostat upgrades, and “off-season” rebates.
However, buying in winter has one major risk: Inventory Lag. By the time January rolls around, the previous year’s most efficient models may already be sold out, leaving you to choose between more expensive new releases or less efficient clearance stock.
Before you pull the trigger on a winter purchase, use our Interactive HVAC Seasonal ROI Calculator below. By selecting your current month and the age of your system, we can calculate your estimated “Off-Season Savings” vs. the “Emergency Summer Premium.”
Calculate the best month to replace your AC based on real-world demand cycles.
Is AC Cheaper in Winter?
Winter is definitely the best season to buy an air conditioner and it will save you a lot of money. Air conditioners are sold in bulk during the hot weather but when it comes to winter, the sales drop dramatically. This decrease in sales also results in dropping the prices of air conditioners.
The cost of an air conditioner varies to a great extent as it depends on many factors such as the type of AC you need, weather conditions, location, cooling capacity, etc. Usually, the installation charges of an air conditioner are reliably high and they can easily increase total cost in no time.
Always try to get a unit of higher quality without compromising on its performance. The same should be taken into consideration while calling an HVAC technician. Getting the services of a professional and experienced HVAC technician will get you a perfectly installed AC unit and it will surely contribute to boosting its performance.
Getting your air conditioner repaired and fixed in winter can also save money. On these cold days, there are possibilities that HVAC engineers may not have enough jobs and they are usually free on cold days.
People don’t call for HVAC engineers during cold months and they tend to charge less so that they can earn something. We can simply say that air conditioners are cheaper in winter just because businessmen and technicians think that something is better than nothing.
If you opt for a survey, almost every seller and manufacturer will say that the prices of air conditioners fall to some extent in the winter season but the amount of customers usually comes down to only 5 to 10%.
Why is winter considered the best time to buy AC?
Do we know that buying an air conditioner in winter saves a lot of money but is this the only benefit? Well no, there are plenty of other reasons that make winter the best season to buy an air conditioner.
Although there are countless reasons, below are some of the most prominent ones that will surely help you understand why winter or cold months are the best time to buy not only an air conditioner but almost any type of HVAC system meant to be used in summer.
- The convenience of Installation Time
- Time to Decide and Choose
- No Stress During Summer Days
The convenience of Installation Time
Buying and installing an air conditioner in winter means less hassle. If you are going to get your air conditioner installed in winter and you have to wait for an HVAC technician, you don’t have to worry as you don’t need cool air in winter.
Time To Decide and Choose
If you are going to buy an air conditioner in summer, you will have to live in the extremely hot temperature until you decide and buy one for your room. It is also possible that you may get frustrated and choose an AC without any focus and consideration.
But if you go for the winter season, you will not have to decide and buy a unit in a hurry because you will have plenty of time to visit various places and choose the best air conditioner that suits your requirements in the best way possible.
No Stress During Summer Days
We all know that arranging an air conditioner on hot summer days is more than difficult. You have to travel in heat and it can take days or even weeks until you get your air conditioner installed in your room.
But there will be no stress when you step in the summer days with a pre-installed air conditioner. No matter what month it is or even if it is extremely cold weather, it is highly recommended to buy an air conditioner right now instead of waiting for the hot days to come.
The Bottom Line:
We can surely say that air conditioners are cheaper in the winter and there are plenty of valid reasons behind this. People from all around the world are now liking this factor because it not only allows them to save money but also prevents them from various hassles and stress. One thing should always be kept in mind that never compromise on quality and performance due to a minor difference in prices. Always go for the best in your budget instead of looking for a, even more, cheaper air conditioner.
Negotiating Your Winter Deal
While the sticker price might be lower in January, you must still be diligent. Some contractors use the winter slow-down to clear out ‘old-stock’ units that use soon-to-be-obsolete refrigerants. Before you sign a winter contract, ensure the unit you are getting is a modern high-SEER2 model. To see what a fair price looks like in the off-season, run your estimate through our HVAC Quote Analyzer.
The Cost of Waiting Too Long
Waiting for winter sounds smart, but if your 15-year-old AC is currently making a ‘screeching’ sound, you might not make it to December. A sudden compressor failure in August will leave you with zero leverage and a $2,000 emergency premium. Check your current system’s health against our guide on what causes an AC compressor to stop working to see if you can safely hold out for the winter deals.