Be Wary of Low-Ball HVAC Quotes

Whether you are replacing a heat pump, furnace, or central air conditioning system, it’s always a good idea to get three or four proposals from different HVAC contractors before choosing a contractor to handle the job.  The only exception is when you have a good relationship with an HVAC contractor and you are comfortable with using that contractor for your HVAC system replacement. 

After you have the competing proposals in hand, don’t just automatically go with the lowest bidder.  In fact, if any bid is significantly lower than the others, be very careful about choosing that contractor.  An unusually low bid can be a sign that something is amiss.  The contractor may have specified an undersized unit due to a bad load calculation (or no load calculation at all) or may be proposing to install lower quality equipment.

Alternatively, the low bidding contractor could be cutting corners on the installation which is potentially worse than using substandard equipment.  Proper installation of your HVAC system is every bit as important as the quality of the system itself.  Poorly installed equipment will not operate as efficiently as it was designed to operate and will fail sooner than it should.

It is well worth the small additional expense of hiring a reputable HVAC contractor with experience in HVAC replacement and installation who will take the time necessary for a top quality, professional installation of your new heating and air conditioning system.  You can be confident that you will be getting a system correctly sized for your home that will operate at peak efficiency.  You will also be able to depend on that contractor in the unlikely event of a problem down the road.