Henry Check

Understand your HVAC estimate before you replace your system

Already have a written estimate for furnace, central AC or heat pump replacement? Enter it in Henry Check or upload a PDF or photo. See your estimate next to published, cited price ranges, along with red flags and questions to take back to the installer.

A replacement quote needs to describe more than a brand and equipment size. The indoor and outdoor components, existing ducts, electrical supply, venting and startup work determine what you are actually buying. Use this checklist to identify missing scope, then get matched with up to 3 local pros if you want more estimates.

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Published price ranges

Each range is shown with who published it. Henry Check also uses the ranges from Henry's city guides near your ZIP.

Work	Range	Published by
Diagnostic / service call	$85 – $200	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
Capacitor or contactor replacement	$150 – $450	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
Furnace igniter or flame sensor	$150 – $500	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
Blower motor replacement	$450 – $1,500	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
Refrigerant leak repair + recharge	$400 – $2,000	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
Evaporator coil replacement	$1,200 – $3,500	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
Compressor replacement	$1,500 – $4,000	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
AC replacement (condenser + coil)	$5,000 – $10,000	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
Gas furnace replacement	$4,000 – $9,000	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
Full system replacement (AC + furnace)	$8,000 – $16,000	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
Heat pump system installed	$8,000 – $18,000	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
Ductless mini-split (1 zone)	$3,500 – $7,000	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
Duct sealing / repair	$800 – $3,500	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
Full duct replacement	$4,000 – $12,000	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide
Maintenance plan (two visits/yr)	$150 – $400	Homeowner Henry's national hvac guide

What drives furnace, AC and heat pump replacement cost?

Start by identifying the job: furnace only, outdoor AC plus indoor coil, complete furnace-and-AC system, or heat pump with an air handler or retained furnace. Those are different scopes. A quote that keeps your existing blower or furnace is not directly comparable with one that replaces it.

Equipment capacity, compressor stages, blower controls and efficiency ratings affect the proposal. So do attic or crawl-space access, a new equipment platform, longer refrigerant piping, return-air changes and electrical work. Ask the contractor to separate necessary corrections from optional comfort upgrades such as zoning or filtration.

Changing from fuel heat to a heat pump adds design decisions. The estimate needs to explain cold-weather heating capacity, backup heat, thermostat controls and electrical requirements. A high cooling-efficiency rating alone does not tell you whether the proposed system can meet your winter heating needs.

Read the sizing and equipment details before the total

ENERGY STAR recommends sizing from the actual characteristics of your home rather than a rule of thumb. Ask for a Manual J load calculation reflecting insulation, windows, air leakage and local weather. Repeating the old unit’s size does not establish that the replacement fits your home, especially after insulation or window changes.

Request full model numbers for the furnace, outdoor unit, indoor coil or air handler. For a rated AC or heat pump combination, ask for the AHRI certificate that identifies the components and their certified performance. Compare SEER2 for cooling, HSPF2 for heat-pump heating and AFUE for furnace fuel efficiency without treating those ratings as interchangeable.

For a heat pump, request the selected model’s heating output at your local winter design temperature and the plan for any remaining heating load. If a furnace stays as backup, ask how the controls decide when to switch between the heat pump and fuel heat. Put that control sequence in the proposal.

Compare two or three estimates on the same replacement scope

Place the proposals side by side and mark each component as replaced, reused, modified or excluded. Pay particular attention to the evaporator coil, refrigerant lines, thermostat, return duct, disconnect and condensate drain. A missing entry is a question, not proof that the work is included.

Ask each bidder to describe the same duct corrections and commissioning deliverables. ENERGY STAR identifies airflow, refrigerant charge and duct evaluation as installation priorities. An equipment-only proposal and one that includes measured airflow and duct repairs are not equivalent, even when the outdoor units have similar ratings.

Keep optional air cleaners, service memberships and extended coverage separate from the replacement scope. Ask for the total before conditional rebates or financing, and get exclusions and written change-order procedures. If savings are projected, request the assumed energy rates, equipment performance and backup-heat use rather than accepting a guaranteed bill reduction.

Confirm refrigerant credentials, permits and inspection responsibility

Ask who will recover the old refrigerant, connect the new refrigeration circuit and perform startup. EPA Section 608 certification applies to technicians performing covered refrigerant work; it is not a substitute for checking the contractor’s required state or local credentials.

Licensing and permit rules vary by state/city. Check requirements with your licensing authority and building department, including any electrical or fuel-gas work. Have the agreement identify who obtains required permits, arranges inspections and corrects installation-related inspection findings. The FTC recommends checking licensing and insurance rather than relying on an advertisement.

For furnace replacement, ask the installer to describe the venting, combustion-air and condensate arrangements required by the selected model. If the old furnace shares a vent with a water heater, ask how changing or removing the furnace affects that remaining appliance. Request a documented safety evaluation rather than assuming the existing vent can stay unchanged.

Tie payment and coverage to a documented handoff

Request a written payment schedule connected to identifiable installation milestones. Deposit rules vary by state/city; confirm local restrictions before signing. The FTC advises against paying the full project amount upfront. Do not let a monthly financing figure replace the equipment list, total contract amount and installation terms.

Separate manufacturer parts coverage from the installer’s labor coverage. Get the actual written terms, exclusions, claim process and any registration deadlines for the selected equipment. Ask who registers the system and supplies confirmation. Do not assume refrigerant, diagnostics, travel or labor are included just because a parts warranty is advertised.

Define the handoff before work starts: model and serial numbers, operating manuals, thermostat setup, filter access, commissioning results and inspection documentation where applicable. If outdoor conditions prevent a required cooling-mode check at installation, ask how and when the contractor will return to complete it, with the arrangement written down.

What a complete estimate lists

Load calculation and equipment selection
Identify the heating and cooling design loads, proposed capacity and selection method. This explains why the contractor chose that size instead of simply copying the old equipment.
Furnace and indoor blower
List the full model, fuel type, input and output capacity, AFUE, heating stages and blower type. State whether the existing furnace remains or is removed.
Outdoor AC or heat pump
Specify the model, cooling capacity, compressor staging and refrigerant. For heat pumps, include heating performance at the design condition, not just cooling tonnage.
Indoor coil or air handler and matched rating
Name the indoor components and provide the applicable AHRI certificate. This makes the promised efficiency traceable to the actual combination being installed.
Backup heat and electrical capacity
Describe electric heat strips or retained fuel heat, controls and any needed circuits or panel work. Identify who checks available electrical capacity and performs electrical changes.
Duct and return-air modifications
Locate the plenums, transitions, returns, sealing or insulation work included. Describe any duct evaluation and testing so duct correction is not an undefined allowance.
Refrigerant piping and removal
State whether lines are replaced or reused, how reuse will be evaluated against equipment instructions, and whether refrigerant recovery, old-unit removal and disposal are included.
Furnace venting and combustion air
Identify the exhaust and intake changes, gas-connection work and startup safety checks. Address any shared vent affected by removing or replacing the existing furnace.
Condensate drainage and protection
Describe the drain route, pump if needed, and overflow protection appropriate to the installation. Distinguish furnace condensate from cooling-coil drainage and outdoor heat-pump defrost drainage.
Equipment support and site access
List pads, brackets, stands, vibration isolation and access work. For a heat pump, explain placement considerations for snow and defrost water where relevant.
Thermostat and control setup
Specify the thermostat model, wiring changes and compatibility with staging, variable output or dual-fuel operation. Include homeowner instruction and backup-heat settings.
Permits, commissioning and closeout
Assign permit and inspection responsibility where required. List airflow and refrigerant checks, startup records, coverage documents and any seasonal return visit included in the agreement.

Red flags to look for

Sizing by floor area alone
A tonnage recommendation based only on square footage, or a promise to install a larger unit to cure every comfort issue, leaves load and airflow questions unanswered. Request the sizing calculation.
Only the outdoor model is named
A brand and condenser model do not identify the indoor coil, blower or certified combination. Ask for every component model and the applicable matched-system documentation.
Cold-weather heat is left unexplained
A heat pump quote that omits design-temperature output and the backup strategy leaves a major performance question open. Ask how the home stays warm when the heat pump cannot cover the load alone.
Existing ducts are declared suitable without evaluation
New equipment cannot resolve every return restriction, disconnected duct or airflow imbalance. Ask what was inspected and what measurements support retaining the duct system.
Line reuse has no compatibility explanation
Reusing refrigerant piping needs an equipment-specific plan, not a blanket assurance. Request confirmation of line dimensions, condition and the preparation required by the new equipment instructions.
Startup means only turning it on
A brief run does not document airflow or refrigerant charge. Ask which measurements will be recorded and how any testing deferred because of weather will be completed.
Furnace vent changes are absent
A furnace upgrade may change exhaust and drainage arrangements. If the proposal says nothing about vent routing or the remaining appliance on a shared vent, ask for a site-specific explanation.
Coverage is just a headline
A long parts-coverage claim does not establish labor protection. Request written equipment and installer terms, registration responsibilities and the costs excluded from a service claim.

Questions to ask before you sign

What Manual J heating and cooling loads support this equipment selection?
Which exact outdoor unit, coil, air handler and furnace models are included, and can I have the applicable AHRI certificate?
What will you measure to confirm that my existing supply and return ducts can deliver the required airflow?
At our winter design temperature, how much heat will this heat pump deliver, and what supplies any shortfall?
Which thermostat and settings will control auxiliary heat or switching to my retained furnace?
Will you replace the refrigerant lines, or what equipment-specific checks and preparation support reusing them?
How will furnace venting, combustion air and any shared water-heater vent be addressed?
Are the electrical circuit, disconnect, panel assessment and any heat-strip wiring included?
Where will condensate and heat-pump defrost water drain, and what protects against overflow?
Who handles required permits and inspections, and what startup records and written coverage terms will I receive?

Check your estimate in about 2 minutes

Upload a PDF or photo, or type it in. Free, no login.

Start my Henry Check No estimate yet? Get 3 free estimates

FAQs

How much does HVAC replacement cost for my home?

The answer depends on the replacement scope, equipment selection and site work. Enter your written estimate in Henry Check to see it beside published, cited price ranges. First confirm whether it includes the indoor components, duct changes, electrical work and commissioning needed for your installation.

What should an HVAC estimate include?

Look for exact equipment models, sizing support, efficiency ratings, installation scope and explicit exclusions. It also needs to explain ductwork, refrigerant lines, drainage, controls and startup testing. For a furnace, add venting and combustion-air details; for a heat pump, add cold-weather capacity and backup heat.

Does a new AC require a new furnace?

Not automatically. Ask whether the existing furnace and blower can support the selected coil, required airflow and controls, and whether the proposed combination has the applicable certified rating. Have the contractor explain the technical reason for replacing or retaining the furnace rather than bundling it without explanation.

Can a heat pump replace both my furnace and AC?

A heat pump provides heating and cooling, but a complete replacement needs climate-specific sizing and a plan for any heating shortfall. Some proposals retain a furnace for backup; others use electric auxiliary heat. Request the capacity calculation, control strategy and electrical scope for the proposed arrangement.

Why are two quotes for the same brand so different?

The brand name does not define the system. Models, capacity, staging, matched indoor components and installation work can differ. Compare the exact equipment and treatment of ducts, piping, electrical work, commissioning and labor coverage before deciding which proposal matches your needs.

Does HVAC replacement need a permit?

Rules vary by state/city and by the mechanical, electrical or fuel-gas work involved. Confirm requirements with the local building department. Ask the contractor to name the permits included, who obtains them and who arranges inspections; do not accept a nationwide answer for your address.

What records should I request after installation?

Request equipment models and serial numbers, manuals, thermostat instructions, the sizing calculation, applicable AHRI certificate and startup measurements. Include permit closeout where required and the written parts and labor coverage. Ask for registration confirmation if the equipment’s coverage terms call for registration.

Sources

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