Replacement Installs
What to Look for in an Hvac Equipment Replacement Proposal
1. Price
No one wants to overpay for their system.
But why are there so many different Prices.
2. Overhead
Each company has its own costs of doing business.
Local advertising, employee benefits, office costs, technician costs, and profit margin all affect pricing.
3. Experience & Knowledge
Great companies use their experience to price out the installation costs of future installs; knowing the labor and materials costs is important. But, if they are not following the manufacturer's installation instructions, then they might not charge enough to allow the installers to do a quality installation you deserve.
4. Efficiency of the System
The higher the efficiency, the higher the system costs, When you choose a system with high efficiency, it "Can" result in lower utility bills. Why did I say "Can"?
Because, with today's new equipment, it "must be", sized properly, installed correctly, and commissioned by a qualified service technician to achieve designed performance. A high efficiency system, not installed properly—yes, your electric bill may go down, but that might be, because the old system wasn't efficient to start with and is currently on its last leg.
But wouldn't you want peak performance?
5. New Ductwork Requirements
Homes that are more than ten years old usually operate at a high air pressure (static pressure) in the ductwork. New standards implemented on January 1st, 2023 (SEER2) are based on a low static operation. New systems operating at higher pressure will use more electricity and will have premature parts failure. Blower motor and compressor failures are very common. Many times these fail before the parts warranty expires, leaving you on the hook for the replacement labor.
6. Misinformation
"Installing bigger systems is ok and puts less stress on the unit". "Variable speed systems are too expensive and have lots of problems". "New refrigerants are dangerous". "Single stage units are the best". "Systems come with all the refrigerant they need." "We can't work on this because it's too old".
"They don't make the refrigerant for your system".
7. Brands
Most of the most common brands are similar in quality. SEER ratings of all brands use the same testing procedures; a 16 SEER in a Trane is the same as in an Amana. In the past, there were brands that were built to last longer, but with all brands competing against each other for sales, all brands have tightened up quality and price points so they can compete. This doesn't mean I sell all brands. I use brands that I trust, have good warranties, & work with my business.
8. Commissions
"Comfort advisors" is a nice way of saying "salesperson." There are salespeople that actually have HVAC experience, but most are just good at selling. Most of them are paid by commissions added to the job price. So they don't get paid unless they sell.
So the questions are:
Do they really have your best interest in mind?
Do they know what is best for your home's comfort, efficiency, and reliability?
Do they "talk a good game" but have no responsibility for the system installed?
We also want clients to purchase from us, but we stand behind all of our installs.
Thank you for taking the time to review all of this. I know it's a lot, but I hope all of this helps.
I started my HVAC journey in 1978. Over these years I have serviced and installed most major brands. Even with this experience, I search out in-person training classes just to keep up with all the changes. If you are going to need help choosing a new system or would like your current system serviced,
we would be honored to help.