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.
Read the guide
AC Replacement in St. Louis Park, MN
New central air in St. Louis Park runs $5,200–$9,800 installed, with a Manual J load calculation and a written flat-rate quote. On these close-set postwar lots, the condenser's location takes planning, and if the finished upstairs has no ducts, we'll price a ductless option alongside the central system.
AC replacement calls in St. Louis Park homes
An AC replacement in St. Louis Park starts with where the condenser can go. Lots are narrow, side yards can be a few feet wide, and the unit needs clearance for airflow and service plus distance from windows. Sometimes the existing spot is fine; sometimes the better place is the back of the house, which changes the line-set length and the price.
Inside, the coil sits on the furnace in a low basement, and a new matched coil can be taller than the old one. The bigger question in a story-and-a-half is the upstairs. A new central system cools the main floor well and does little for unducted upper rooms, so a common fix is to pair it with a ductless mini-split heat pump upstairs, which also heats those rooms in spring and fall. Xcel Energy is the electric utility, and since its program rules shift from year to year, ask whether a rebate needs a registered contractor.
Updated September 23, 2026
How much does a new central AC cost in St. Louis Park?
A new central air conditioner from us runs about $5,200–$9,800 installed in St. Louis Park, sized with a Manual J load calculation. Same prices in St. Louis Park 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 St. Louis Park?
CenterPoint Energy (gas) and Xcel Energy (electric) run the standard rebates here: CenterPoint for high-efficiency furnaces and boilers with any dealer, Xcel for heat pumps and AC, some only through registered contractors. St. Louis Park adds its own Climate Champions for Homes cost share, which can add to utility rebates on cold-climate heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. It requires a Home Energy Squad planner visit before work begins and a rebate from Xcel or CenterPoint, and a furnace alone doesn't qualify. 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 St. Louis Park: questions
Is a ductless system upstairs a substitute for central air in a St. Louis Park story-and-a-half?
For the upstairs rooms, yes; for the whole house, usually not. One ductless head handles the finished upper level, where central ducts don't reach, while the main floor and basement still cool best from the ducted system on the furnace. Replacing the central AC and adding one ductless head in the same project is a common approach. Ductless systems run $4,200–$12,500 installed with us, depending on heads and capacity.
Will a new AC coil fit in our low St. Louis Park basement?
Usually, but we measure first. A new coil can be taller than the one coming out, and in a low basement the furnace, coil and plenum stack can run into the joists or a beam. Options include a shorter cased coil, a horizontal coil or reworking the plenum. We measure the space on the quote visit so the written price covers whatever the fit requires.
More in St. Louis Park
- Furnace repair in St. Louis Park
- Furnace replacement in St. Louis Park
- AC repair in St. Louis Park
- All HVAC service in St. Louis Park
AC replacement near St. Louis Park
- Hopkins, MN 4 mi
- Golden Valley, MN 4 mi
- Edina, MN 4 mi
- Minneapolis, MN 5 mi
- Richfield, MN 6 mi
- Robbinsdale, MN 6 mi
Brands we install and service
Guides on ac replacement
2-Stage vs Variable-Speed AC: Which Fits a Minnesota Home
Two-stage or variable-speed AC for a Minnesota home? How each handles humid July days, what SEER2 and EER2 mean, what it costs and what your furnace needs.
Read the guideFurnace and AC Replacement Cost in Minnesota: Together or Separately?
Replacing the furnace and AC together in Minnesota costs $9,700–$19,300 installed with us. Matched coils, AHRI ratings, and when to split the job instead.
Read the guideContact Us
AC replacement in St. Louis Park? Call or send a request.