How to Size Central AC for a Twin Cities Home
Why square-foot rules oversize Minnesota air conditioners, what a Manual J load calculation measures, and how to read the size of the AC you have now.
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AC Replacement in Long Lake, MN
New central air for a Long Lake rambler or story-and-a-half costs $5,200–$9,800 installed with us, sized by Manual J, which usually lands smaller than the old nameplate in these reinsulated houses. The written quote covers the matched coil, the line set and any duct fixes.
AC replacement calls in Long Lake homes
In Long Lake's postwar houses, a new air conditioner should usually be modest in size. These houses have gained insulation and windows over the decades, and a condenser copied from the old nameplate short-cycles and leaves the rooms clammy. The Manual J sets the tonnage, the coil gets matched to the condenser and fitted to the furnace, and we look at the trunk-line joints in the unfinished basement, since sealing them puts more of the cooling where you want it.
Condensers on modest lots need a spot with the manufacturer's clearances, away from the neighbor's windows and the dryer vent. Xcel Energy supplies electricity and runs cooling rebates and the AC Rewards program. With CenterPoint gas in the basement, a heat pump paired with the furnace can qualify for CenterPoint's ducted heat pump rebate, which requires that gas-furnace pairing. The townhomes may have association rules on where a condenser can go.
Updated September 23, 2026
How much does a new central AC cost in Long Lake?
A new central air conditioner from us runs about $5,200–$9,800 installed in Long Lake, sized with a Manual J load calculation. Same prices in Long Lake as in every town we serve. See the AC replacement cost guide or furnace and AC together.
Are there rebates for a new air conditioner in Long Lake?
Long Lake is on CenterPoint Energy gas and Xcel Energy electricity. CenterPoint's heating rebates cover high-efficiency furnaces, boilers and thermostats with any dealer you choose, and a separate CenterPoint rebate covers a ducted heat pump paired with a gas furnace, which suits a house that keeps its furnace. On the electric side, Xcel offers cooling and heat pump rebates; many measures need one of its registered contractors, so ask before you buy. Xcel's AC Rewards program pays an annual reward for smart-thermostat demand response. Rebate programs change every year, so check the utility's current terms before you buy.
Our guides: Xcel and CenterPoint rebates, heat pump rebates.
Signs it's time to replace your AC
- An R-22 system with a refrigerant leak
- A failed compressor on an older unit
- A leaking evaporator coil on a system that's had other major repairs
- A system that has needed refrigerant more than once
- Upstairs rooms that never cool, even with the AC running all afternoon
- A house that reaches the setpoint but still feels damp
- Repair quotes that keep coming back for the same system
More detail on our ac replacement & installation page.
AC replacement in Long Lake: questions
Should we add a ductless head upstairs when we replace the AC in our Long Lake story-and-a-half?
Often it's the best money spent. A central system in the basement struggles to reach rooms under the roof slope, and upsizing it only makes the main floor colder and clammier. A single ductless head upstairs cools those rooms directly and heats them in shoulder seasons. Our ductless installs run $4,200–$12,500, and we can quote it alongside a right-sized central unit so you see both prices.
How big an air conditioner does a Long Lake rambler need?
Only a load calculation can say, and it often comes in smaller than the unit already there. The Manual J counts the actual insulation, windows, orientation and air leakage, not square footage alone. A rambler that got new windows and attic insulation since its first AC may drop a size. The smaller unit runs longer cycles, which pulls more moisture out of the air near the lake, and costs less up front.
More in Long Lake
- Furnace repair in Long Lake
- Furnace replacement in Long Lake
- AC repair in Long Lake
- All HVAC service in Long Lake
AC replacement near Long Lake
Brands we install and service
Guides on ac replacement
How Many Tons of AC Does a Minneapolis House Need?
AC tonnage for Minneapolis homes: a tons-to-BTU and airflow chart, why square-foot rules oversize, how to read your old unit's size, and what a Manual J does.
Read the guideAC Replacement Cost in Minnesota (2026)
Central AC replacement in Minnesota runs $5,200–$9,800 installed with us in 2026. What moves a quote, R-22 systems, and when to repair or go heat pump.
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AC replacement in Long Lake? Call or send a request.