HVAC services

A repair visit starts with a diagnostic fee, which many companies waive or credit if you approve the work. Be clear on that fee before the technician drives out. A tune-up is a different visit entirely — it is preventive, scheduled, and should include cleaning coils, checking refrigerant charge, testing safety controls and inspecting the heat exchanger on a gas furnace.

Replacement is where the money is, and where the quality gap between contractors is widest. A good installer performs an ACCA Manual J load calculation to size the equipment to your actual house, then Manual S to select equipment and Manual D for duct design. ACCA notes these methods are referenced in building codes nationwide. If a contractor sizes your new system by looking at the old one's nameplate, that is a red flag — the old one may have been wrong for 20 years.

Duct work is the service most often skipped and most often needed. Leaky or undersized ducts will waste the efficiency you just paid for. Ask any replacement bidder whether they measured static pressure and airflow, not just square footage.

How to choose

Repair or replace?

Age matters more than the symptom. Carrier puts typical furnace life at 15 to 30 years and AC and heat pump life at 15 to 20 years. A big repair on a 20-year-old system is usually money thrown at a countdown.

Insist on a load calculation for any replacement

ACCA Manual J sizes equipment to the house. Oversized systems short-cycle, dehumidify poorly and wear out faster. Ask to see the calculation, not just hear that one was done.

Verify the license and the refrigerant certification separately

EPA Section 608 certification is required under the Clean Air Act for technicians who service equipment containing refrigerant. That is federal. A contractor license is separate and is issued by your state or locality. Check both.

Get three bids on replacement, one on emergency repair

For a planned replacement, three written bids is normal and reasonable. For a no-heat call in January, get it fixed, then shop the replacement later when you are not cold.

Beware the free-inspection-then-condemned-heat-exchanger pattern

A cracked heat exchanger is a genuine safety issue and a genuine sales tactic. If a technician condemns your furnace during a free or cheap inspection, ask for photos or camera footage and get a second opinion before you buy.