Since 1874, York has created air conditioning (AC) units and heating units for residential and commercial customers, with its more recent developments encroaching into the realm of heat pumps.
Learning more about the company and the specific York air conditioner units will help you to decide if York is right for you.
York offers six split system air conditioners, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $2,700 for a 1.5-to-2-ton unit, with options up to 5 tons available on most of its models.
With installation (and depending on tonnage, you may pay anywhere between $2,800 and $9,400 to install a York AC unit.
The main downsides – York air conditioners are often quite loud, and some have poor SEER2 ratings compared to competitor products.
How Much Does A York Air Conditioner Cost?
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Assuming you’re buying an AC unit alone, and at the lower end of the tonnage range, you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $2,700 for a York air conditioner.
The average AC unit price for York models lands at $1,850, and you’ll usually pay more for a unit with a higher Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 2 (SEER2) rating.
Including installation and depending on tonnage (both covered below), you may pay between $2,800 and $9,400 to get a single-zone York AC unit running in your home.
Larger and more efficient AC units command higher initial prices and installation costs.
York Air Conditioner Cost Breakdown
Beyond the per-unit cost, two things impact how much you pay for a York AC unit – installation and tonnage.
Starting with the latter, AC tonnage refers to the amount of heat that an air conditioner can remove from the surrounding area per hour.
A one-ton AC unit removes 12,000 British thermal units (BTUs) of energy per hour, meaning a five-ton unit can get rid of 60,000 BTUs each hour.
You need to understand tonnage to ensure you’re buying an AC unit that’s suitable for the heat in your home and the size of the space in which you install the unit.
Higher tonnage leads to higher prices, with a five-ton unit often costing over $1,200 more than its 1.5-ton equivalent.
As for installation, the exact price you’ll pay varies depending on the installer and your location.
A single-zone split air conditioner, which gives you one indoor unit per outdoor unit, can cost between $1,800 and $5,500 to install. So, installation costs an average of $3,650 per unit.
Did you know? The cost of AC installation varies significantly by state. For instance, people in San Francisco may pay up to $8,000 to have a unit installed, whereas customers in Wisconsin can expect to pay half that amount.
York AC Unit Models
Though it has released many models since its 1874 formation, York currently manufactures just six split-system air conditioners suitable for residential use.
| AC Model | Unit Cost | Installation Cost | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| YXT 18 | $2,200-$3,400 | $1,800-$5,500 | $4,000-$8,900 |
| YXV 20 | $2,700-$3,900 | $1,800-$5,500 | $4,500-$9,400 |
| YC2D 13.4 | $1,000-$2,200 | $1,800-$5,500 | $2,800-$7,700 |
| HMCG2 16.5 | $1,500-$2,700 | $1,800-$5,500 | $3,300-$8,200 |
| YC2E 14.3 | $1,200-$2,400 | $1,800-$5,500 | $3,000-$7,900 |
| YC2F 15.2 | $1,400-$2,600 | $1,800-$5,500 | $3,200-$8,100 |
YXT 18 SEER2 Two-Stage Air Conditioner
The YXT 18 has a SEER2 rating of 18, which is several points above the minimum ratings across the United States, which range from 13.8 to 14.3.
They have a tonnage range of between 2 and 5 tons, and produce at least 67 decibels (dBA) of noise, making them fairly loud for a low-range residential air conditioner option.
Starting Price – $2,200
YXV 20 SEER2 Variable Capacity Air Conditioner
As the most energy-efficient of York’s residential air conditioners, the YXV 20 is the ideal choice if you want to cut your energy bills and help the planet in the process.
It’s also quieter than the YXT 18, coming in at 53 dBA, though you’ll pay a little extra for the improved noise and energy performances. It’s also available in a tonnage range between 2 and 5 tons.
Starting Price – $2,700
YC2D 13.4 SEER2 Single-Stage Air Conditioner
Just about falling under the minimum average for the United States, the YC2D 13.4’s lower SEER rating means it’s going to deliver higher energy bills to your home.
Still, it offsets those bills by being the most cost-effective of York’s air conditions when it comes to upfront costs, as you’ll pay over $1,000 less for this unit than you would for one closer to the 20 SEER2 rating range.
It’s loud, though, clocking in at 74 dBA, though it has a slightly larger tonnage range due to its 1.5-ton starting point.
Starting Price – $1,000
HMCG2 16.5 SEER2 Modulating Side-Discharge Air Conditioner
Though it has “16.5 SEER2” in its name, the HMCG2 can actually get up to a SEER rating of 18.5, at least according to York themselves.
It falls into the mid-range for loudness, generating 54 dBA, which isn’t bad seeing as it falls onto the budget end of the York spectrum.
The HMCG2 is also available with a tonnage range of between 2 and 5 tons.
Starting Price – $1,500
YC2E 14.3 SEER2 Single-Stage Air Conditioner
Loud is the operative word for the YC2E range, at least when compared to high-end air conditioners and some of York’s more energy-efficient offerings.
It’s a single-stage air conditioner that’s budget-friendly, and its low tonnage starting point (1.5 tons up to 5) makes it an option for smaller homes and apartments.
Starting Price – $1,200
YC2F 15.2 SEER2 Air Conditioner
With a standard SEER rating of 17.5, though this drops to 15.2 on the SEER2 scale, the YC2F is a decent choice for energy-conscious people in small homes.
Its tonnage range starts at 1.5 and goes up to 5 tons, like several of York’s other smaller air conditioners, but it’s let down a little by being quite loud. It’ll generate 72 dBA at minimum and may get louder with extended use.
Starting Price – $1,400
Did you know? SEER2 officially replaced SEER as the standard energy efficiency rating system for AC units on January 1, 2023.
Where To Buy A York AC Unit
York maintains a network of dealers throughout the United States who are specially trained to sell its AC units and provide you with the support you need to get the system up and running.
You can find the dealers who are closest to you via the company’s “Find a Dealer” system online.
An official York dealer will always be a “Certified Comfort Expert (CCE),” which is a York-specific certification that signifies the dealer has gone through the company’s training.
Where to Buy York Air Conditioner Parts
Beyond York-certified CCE dealers, you can find replacement parts for the company’s air conditioners from many sources.
Amazon is a strong choice, both for people who want to find original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and those who want equivalent parts but don’t want to pay York prices.
Otherwise, you can order parts directly from Johnson Controls, which is York’s parent company, or from any Source 1® dealership.
York Air Conditioner Reviews
It stands to reason that a company that has been around for almost 150 years should be able to provide a quality product. Otherwise, people would have abandoned it long ago and York would be no more.
As it stands, York is one of the better choices for residential AC units, both because of its reputation and because it makes an effort to create more efficient AC units with high SEER2 ratings.
The company has a Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating of A+, signifying exceptional service, plus it has a solid range of AC units.
If you need something cheap and entry-level, York has you covered, and it also has premium units for use in massive homes or commercial developments.
Did you know? The BBB has existed for almost as long as York, as it has offered information about businesses to consumers for over a century. According to BBB’s website, over 250 million checks of BBB profiles occur every year.
A solid basic warranty is also a plus point with York, as the company offers 10 years of cover on parts, and the same amount on your AC unit’s compressor, as part of its basic warranty.
Couple that with the YORKCare Protection Plan (which is paid) and you also get 10 years of cover for the entire system.
However, not all reviews for York are glowing. Installation is often a hassle, with York AC units often being highlighted as some of the most difficult to fit.
But the installation woes are offset somewhat by low maintenance costs, thanks to the units being quite reliable.
Still, those more complex installations can drive the price your contractor sets up, making York AC units more expensive to install than some competitors.
Are York Air Conditioners Reliable?
York does pretty well on the reliability front, as its air conditioners are relatively simple to maintain once you’ve gotten through the difficult installation process.
Customers often point to that reliability as a plus point, and it’s reasonable to expect few issues with your unit during your warranty period, as well as a unit that lasts beyond the warranty.
Is A York AC Quiet?
Quietness is often the area that lets York AC units down.
They’re not super loud, but several of the company’s most cost-effective options easily exceed 70 dBA, with several having minimum noise levels at the 72 to 74 dBA mark.
For context, a 70dBA air conditioner can be as loud as a washing machine or dishwasher, which may be irritating to listen to around the home at all times.
Of course, not all of York’s air conditioners are that loud, but even the quietest one still generates over 50 dBA of noise.
How Do York Air Conditioners Compare To Those From Other Companies?
You can’t make an informed buying decision if you don’t compare York’s AC units to the other major brands available.
Let’s see how York stacks up to its competitors.
York vs Lennox
On the surface, there’s little to choose between York and Lennox.
Both have a reputation for creating high-quality units, though Lennox is often considered a touch easier to install.
Lennox also comes out slightly on top in the efficiency stakes. Its premium XC21 has a 21 SEER2 rating compared to the 20 SEER2 achieved by York’s YXV.
Lennox also has its SunSource® system to fall back on. This clever system allows its premium AC units to leverage solar power as an energy source, potentially helping you to save money on energy bills over the long term, though you also need to have a solar power system installed to use it.
Did you know? The average American home can expect to pay around $20,000 to install solar panels, with that massive upfront cost often meaning it takes over a decade to see real savings on your energy bills.
York vs Trane
Cost is the big point of difference between York and Trane, with York coming out on top by providing more cost-efficient AC units.
The trade-off is that Trane charges a little more for better quality AC units, though the difference is slight enough that many consumers would prefer to pay less given that York’s units are still very reliable.
Trane used to have a reputation for offering better SEER and SEER2 ratings than York, though that gap has closed significantly in recent years. And York counters that slightly higher efficiency with a few units that are quieter than the 57dBA Trane achieves with its air conditioners.
York vs Carrier
Again, there’s little to choose between York and Carrier.
Both create energy-efficient AC units, though Carrier has a slight edge thanks to marginally better SEER ratings on its top-end systems.
Sound levels are also pretty even, with Carrier offering a quieter minimum (51 dBA to 53 dBA), which York counters with a quieter maximum (74 dBA to 76 dBA).
Cost is an interesting point of difference, though. Carrier offers a broader selection of models than York, which means it can cater to every budget.
But if you’re just looking for the cheapest air conditioner you can find, York has Carrier beaten, at least when it comes to upfront costs.
York vs Daikin
Daikin likely has the edge on York when it comes to customer service, with the former making keeping customers happy a priority.
That’s not to say York is a slouch in this area (it has a BBB rating of A+), but Daikin just about comes out on top.
Noise can be a concern with Daikin, with York’s quieter units generally beating the 70+ dBA a Daikin produces.
Buy beyond these minor differences, there’s little to choose between the two brands outside of York having a longer track record.
York vs Goodman
Both York and Goodman are well-established AC unit providers that offer a solid range of residential units. But York comes out slightly on top in the energy efficiency department, thanks in large part to the SEER2 20 rating of its YXV model.
That’s not to say that Goodman doesn’t create energy-efficient units. They’re just a touch below York’s.
Goodman battles back with easier installation, though, meaning your upfront costs may be lower depending on your installer.
Who Makes York Air Conditioners?
Though the York brand has existed for over a century, the company is now owned by Johnson Controls.
Interestingly, Johnson Controls also owns Coleman, another AC brand, and the units produced for both are often similar barring their color and branding.
Are York Air Conditioners Made In The USA?
York maintains two American factories – in Kansas and Oklahoma – that employ around 2,400 people.
As such, every air conditioner with York branding is made in the USA.
Did you know? York began life in Wichita, Kansas, so the fact that it still has a factory in the state means it’s a company that considers its local roots to be very important.
What Is The Best York AC Unit?
This is a tough question to answer because the best York AC unit for you depends on your budget and specific needs.
Still, the YXV 20 stands apart because it has high energy efficiency (a SEER2 20 rating), low volume (53 dBA), and is available in tonnages ranging from 2 to 5.
What Is The Warranty On A York Air Conditioner?
York’s warranties vary slightly depending on the type of AC unit you buy, though most come with a 10-year limited warranty on parts, as well as a warranty on the compressor used in the unit.
The latter warranty starts at 10 years but can extend to a lifetime warranty on the company’s premium AC units. Extended labor warranties are also available.
What Is The Life Expectancy Of A York AC?
Assuming regular upkeep, which involves yearly maintenance checks and keeping an eye (and ear) out for developing issues, a York Air Conditioner can last for between 15 and 20 years.
You get a limited warranty to cover 10 of those years, with any repairs required afterward needing to come out of your own pocket.
Is York A Good AC Brand?
In a word – yes.
York has a stellar reputation that it has upheld for about 150 years, and its air conditioners are generally considered to be reliable, if a little difficult to install.
A strong A+ BBB rating shows that it responds quickly to issues, and it has fairly low upfront unit prices (along with solid energy efficiency) compared to other major AC brands.
York – Is It The Right Choice For Your Home Air Conditioning?
York has a lot of things going for it when it comes to residential air conditioning units. Its split systems are affordable, reliable, and come with a solid warranty that matches the best that the industry has to offer. But they’re not perfect.
Cheaper units can be a bit noisier, with some exceeding 70 dBA, and you may end up paying more for installation than you would for other units because of overly-complex designs.
Still, you can balance those higher installation costs with solid energy efficiency, saving you some money on your bills over the long term.
