When you are having a new furnace installed, it is very important to ask for a written estimate from your HVAC contractor before agreeing to any work. The estimate should give a breakdown of what is going to happen in your home. This means that there should be full description of what the HVAC contractor is proposing to do. A written estimate should also give a detailed description of the furnace being installed, including make, model and BTU’s. Look for the listing of permit costs on the estimate. Has the contractor included it in his bid, or is he expecting for you to pay for the permit costs as an added item?
You also want to get an estimate of the amount of time that it will take for the company to complete the furnace replacement. This doesn’t have to be an hourly estimate, but you should receive an estimate on how many days they expect the project to take from start to completion.
Check the estimate to see if it lists the length and type of warranty being provided for the work that the contractor is going to do and for the furnace itself. If there are necessary costs, such as electrical work, to complete the installation, the estimate should state whether those costs are included in the estimate or not.
The estimate should also provide you with the terms of payment that will be expected should you choose that contractor to do the work. A partial down payment when signing the contract is standard. Full payment should never be required until the job is completed to your satisfaction.
Once you have found what you need on the written estimate, it is good to compare between contractors. Make sure that each estimate is providing comparable services and equipment to the others.
