AC Installation in Bismarck, ND
A new air conditioner in Bismarck will run from July through August every year. Tell us about the house, and a licensed contractor who covers Burleigh County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Bismarck asks two things of a new air conditioner
Cooling season here only runs July through August, two months a year, with summer afternoons averaging around 80°F. A new system in Bismarck spends most of the year sitting idle, then has to work when those two months arrive.
Burleigh County has also logged 74 hail events and 96 damaging wind events over the past ten years, with hail up to 4.5 inches recorded. Whatever gets installed sits outside through that. Any new central air conditioner also has to meet the federal efficiency minimum of 13.4 SEER2.
- 2 months
- July through August, your air conditioner is on duty
- 80°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
- 74 hail events
- in ten years, and hail bends the fins on outdoor coils
- 13.4 SEER2
- the federal minimum any new unit must meet
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
Going above the federal minimum saves little here, about $10 a year.
Estimates for a typical Burleigh County home, from EIA household energy data, North Dakota fuel prices and NOAA climate normals. Your home will differ.
North Dakota requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
North Dakota licenses the contractor, not the job. The Secretary of State tests and records that contractor, and the same license covers whatever HVAC work they take on. Work under $4,000 does not need a licensed contractor at all.
An air conditioner installation is the kind of job the license was built for, since the state license is what stands behind the work here. Most cities and counties also require a permit for an installation like this, with an inspection once the work is done. That inspection checks the installation itself, separate from the contractor's license.
Sources: North Dakota Legislative Branch · North Dakota Secretary of State
- What size air conditioner does my house need?
- It depends on your square footage, your insulation, how many windows you have and which way they face, and your ceiling height. A unit that's too big cycles on and off too fast and never runs long enough to pull the humidity down. One that's too small runs constantly on an 80°F afternoon and still can't keep up. A contractor works this out with a load calculation done room by room, not by square footage alone, so have them walk through the house rather than quote a size over the phone.
- Should I replace the whole system or just the outdoor unit?
- If your indoor coil and outdoor unit were installed together and are close in age, replace both. Matching a new outdoor unit to an old indoor coil often means the system can't hit its rated efficiency, and some manufacturers won't warranty the mismatch at all. If the coil was already replaced recently, or tests out in good condition, a contractor can tell you whether it's worth keeping. Ask them to check the coil before you decide.
- Do HVAC contractors in Bismarck need a state license to work on my home?
- Yes, North Dakota requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license, issued through the Secretary of State. The license covers the contractor as a business, not each individual job. Small jobs are an exception, so ask the contractor whether your installation falls above that line. You'll also likely need a permit from the local building office, with an inspection once the work is done.