HVAC Replacement Guidelines

A contractor may elect to perform an assessment of your property, prior to installing a new air conditioning system. This assessment will provide the contractor with vital details about the size and condition of your home. Additionally, it will reveal any upgrades that will be needed, including insulating rooms and cleaning or replacing ductwork.

The Assessment Of Your Home

A contractor will need to calculate the correct HVAC size for your home. This will involve conducting a walkthrough of your residence and inspecting the home's thermal envelope. The climate you live in may also play a factor in determining what type of unit will be the most sufficient for your home. If you will be likely to use your new air conditioning system on most days during the summer or another season, a contractor may recommend a high-efficiency unit that has a high BTU rating. 

Insulation And Ductwork

A poorly-insulated home or one that contains clogged or damaged ductwork will prevent you from being able to appreciate the maximum coolness that your new air conditioning system provides. A contractor will need to perform a full assessment of the insulation that is used in each room of your home. This includes inspecting the insulation around doors and windows and checking out the insulating properties of a crawlspace, an attic, or another similar area within your home.

The ductwork inspection that a contractor performs will indicate if there is any sediment or dust inside of the ducts. This initial assessment may uncover issues that will need to be remedied during a subsequent service appointment. Vacuuming out a duct may be necessary. 

An Estimate

A contractor's estimate is the checklist of all of the services that they will need to perform to set up a new air conditioning system inside of your home. An estimate will cover the labor costs for the inspection and repair steps and the installation costs for the new air conditioning system.

You may not receive an immediate cost for an air conditioning unit. This is because your contractor may suggest that you price equipment that is a particular size and BTU rating, prior to choosing one of the air conditioning models for your home. The estimate that the contractor fills out should be dated and signed. This will provide you with a guarantee for the proposed work that you will be hiring the HVAC contractor to complete at your residence.