How much does a new HVAC system cost in South Carolina?
A standard-efficiency 3-ton heat pump with a new air handler typically costs $7,500–$12,000 installed in the Upstate. Smaller homes and AC-only jobs come in lower; larger, higher-efficiency and dual-fuel systems cost more.
These are typical installed prices in Oconee, Pickens and Anderson counties as of October 2026. They assume standard efficiency (14.3 to 15.2 SEER2, single-stage), sound ductwork that is reused, the permit, haul-away of the old equipment and a basic thermostat.
| System | Size | Typical installed price |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump and air handler | 2 tons | $6,700–$10,500 |
| Heat pump and air handler | 3 tons | $7,500–$12,000 |
| Heat pump and air handler | 4 tons | $8,300–$13,500 |
| Heat pump and air handler | 5 tons | $9,100–$15,000 |
| AC and gas furnace | 3 tons | $8,500–$13,500 |
| AC and gas furnace | 4 tons | $9,400–$15,000 |
| AC only, furnace kept | 3 tons | $5,300–$8,800 |
| Dual fuel (heat pump with gas furnace) | 3 tons | $9,500–$15,000 |
| Packaged unit | 3 tons | $6,000–$10,000 |
| Manufactured-home system | 3 tons | $4,500–$8,000 |
To find your current size, read the model number on the outdoor unit’s label: 24 in it means 2 tons, 36 means 3, 48 means 4 and 60 means 5. Repairs, tune-ups and ductwork are on the HVAC price list for Seneca.
What makes one quote higher than another?
Size, efficiency and the state of the ductwork move the price most. Refrigerant, access, electrical work and the permit add smaller amounts.
Size and the load calculation
Many contractors size by rule of thumb, about 500–750 square feet per ton. A Manual J load calculation (the ACCA method) accounts for insulation, windows and shade, and often shows a smaller system will do. An oversized system short-cycles and leaves the house clammy: see why a house stays humid with the AC running.
Efficiency
For a 3-ton heat pump, a standard single-stage system runs $7,500–$12,000, a two-stage 16–17 SEER2 system $8,400–$14,700 and a variable-speed 18+ SEER2 system $9,700–$18,600. The legal minimum for a new split heat pump in South Carolina is 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. Duke Energy’s rebates start at 15.2 SEER2, a higher bar that some websites mistake for the minimum.
Ductwork
The prices above reuse ducts that are sound. Sealing and repairs typically add $500–$2,500, replacing some runs $1,500–$5,000, and a new duct system for a house of about 1,600 square feet $4,000–$10,000. Leaky ducts in crawlspaces and attics are common in the Upstate.
Refrigerant and equipment prices
Since January 1, 2025, new systems use A2L refrigerants, R-454B or R-32, and the switch raised equipment prices. Manufacturers added increases of several percent in 2025 and again in 2026. A new A2L outdoor unit can’t be paired with an old R-410A indoor coil, so replacing one half usually means replacing both.
Some contractors still have pre-2025 R-410A systems in stock, which EPA rules let them install until it runs out. If a quote offers one, remember that R-410A has roughly doubled in wholesale price since 2024, which shows up in any later leak repair.
Access, electrical and permit
A cramped attic, an air handler in a crawlspace or a long refrigerant line adds labor. A new circuit, disconnect or panel work adds cost, especially when switching from gas heat to a heat pump with electric backup. The permit and inspection belong in every replacement.
What should a good replacement quote include?
Model numbers for every piece of equipment, the size and how it was worked out, and a clear line on what is and isn’t included, all in writing.
- Model numbers for the outdoor and indoor units, plus the AHRI certificate number for the matched system, which confirms its SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings.
- The size, and whether it came from a Manual J.
- The refrigerant: R-454B, R-32 or R-410A.
- The ductwork scope: reused, sealed, partly replaced or new.
- The thermostat, electrical work, drain, line set, permit and haul-away.
- The warranty. Manufacturers typically give 10 years on parts when the system is registered within 60 to 90 days (5 years if not); the contractor’s labor warranty is separate and varies.
- The contractor’s South Carolina license number, which you can check at verify.llronline.com.
Are there rebates on a new system now?
Fewer than a year ago. The federal 25C tax credit ended for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025, and the state’s HOMES and HEAR rebates had not launched as of October 2026.
Duke Energy customers can get roughly $350–$900 back on a qualifying heat pump through Smart $aver, submitted by a participating contractor; confirm amounts on duke-energy.com. The rest is in SC HVAC rebates and tax credits for 2026.
Should you finance a new system?
It can make sense when a system fails without warning, but read the terms. Many contractor offers are deferred-interest promotions that charge all the interest back if the balance isn’t paid off in time, a trap the CFPB warns about.
Contractor financing usually runs through lenders such as Synchrony, GreenSky or Wells Fargo. Ask the contractor what they offer and compare it with a bank or credit union loan. Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative members can ask the co-op about its heat pump loan.
How does the estimator on the quote page work?
Choose “A new system” on the ballpark price page, then the type of system, the heated and cooled floor area and an efficiency level. It shows a range built from the same typical Upstate prices as the table above.
- It sizes the system at 500–750 square feet per ton. If you know your current size from the model number (18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 or 60; divide by 12 for tons), pick it instead.
- Homes over 3,200 square feet are priced as two systems.
- For heat pumps, it shows the Duke rebate separately rather than taking it off.
It’s a ballpark, not a quote. Your request goes to a licensed local HVAC contractor, who calls or texts back and gives a written price after seeing the house.
How do you get a real price for your house?
A contractor has to see the ducts, the electrical panel and where the equipment sits. That visit, ideally with a Manual J, turns a range into a price.
Read about AC and heat pump replacement in Seneca, or get a ballpark for a new system and we’ll pass your request to a licensed local contractor.