Trade checklist · Heating & Cooling (HVAC)
HVAC replacement quote review
HVAC proposals often hide the real differences behind package names like Bronze, Silver, and Gold without listing model numbers, AHRI matched ratings, return-air sizing, or whether the copper line set is flushed or replaced. Paste your quote below for a line-by-line read.
Scope checklist
FN-TRADE-HVAC
finalist.cc trade read
What we check on an AC, heat pump, or furnace quote
When a person at finalist.cc reads an HVAC replacement quote, we check eleven scope items so you can see what each contractor is actually installing and what to ask before signing.
1. Line by line across an HVAC quote
| Line | What a vague quote says | What a clear scope states | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sizing & load check | “4-ton system (like-for-like)” | Whether the contractor ran an ACCA Manual J heat-load calculation or measured existing supply/return static pressure rather than copying the old unit size. | Ask in writing |
| Exact model & AHRI number | “16 SEER2 high-efficiency system” | Exact model numbers for the outdoor condenser/heat pump, indoor evaporator coil, and furnace or air handler, plus the AHRI reference number showing the matched SEER2, EER2, and HSPF2 ratings. | Often missing |
| Compressor & blower stages | “Comfort series condenser” | Single-stage, two-stage, or variable-speed inverter compressor, and whether the indoor blower motor is constant-torque ECM or variable-speed communicating. | Vague |
| Refrigerant type & line set | “Reconnect existing copper lines” | Refrigerant type (R-454B, R-32, or R-410A) and whether the existing copper suction and liquid line set is pressure-tested and chemical-flushed or replaced with new insulated copper of the required diameter. | Vague |
| Supply & return plenums | “Modify plenum as needed” | New sheet-metal or ductboard supply and return transitions sealed with mastic, plus verification that return-air drop and filter grill CFM match the new blower tonnage. | Vague |
| Secondary drain pan & float switch | “Reconnect drain line” | New galvanized or polymer auxiliary drain pan under attic/closet units, primary and secondary PVC condensate traps, and an inline float safety cutoff switch. | Check attic units |
| Filtration & media cabinet | “Standard filter” | Whether the quote includes a 4-inch or 5-inch media filter cabinet (such as MERV 11/13) at the unit vs. keeping 1-inch return grills. | Check spec |
| Electrical, pad & gas flex | “Standard installation” | New outdoor composite equipment pad, outdoor fused/non-fused disconnect box and whip, surge protector (vital for inverter boards), and new gas flex connector/sediment trap on furnaces. | Vague |
| Thermostat & control wire | “Programmable thermostat” | Exact thermostat model and whether new multi-strand thermostat control wire (such as 18/8) is pulled to support two-stage or communicating heat-pump staging. | Vague |
| Commissioning & test-out | “Start and test system” | Superheat/subcooling refrigerant weigh-in, external static pressure reading, temperature split check, and municipal mechanical permit inspection. | Ask in writing |
| Parts & labor warranty | “10-year warranty” | Distinction between the 10-year manufacturer parts coverage (who registers it within 60 days) and the contractor's own labor coverage length, and whether annual paid maintenance contracts are required to keep labor coverage active. | Read fine print |
2. Questions we help you send back to the HVAC contractor
- Please provide the exact outdoor, coil, and furnace/air-handler model numbers and the AHRI matched reference number for each option on the quote.
- Did you measure our existing return and supply duct static pressure, and is the existing return air sized for this tonnage without high static noise?
- Does the price include replacing the copper refrigerant line set, or flushing and pressure-testing the existing lines?
- Are a new auxiliary drain pan, float cutoff switch, outdoor disconnect, and condenser pad included?
- Does your company register the 10-year manufacturer parts coverage for us, and how many years of labor coverage are included without a mandatory paid maintenance plan?
Other trade quote reviews on finalist.cc: Roof replacement quote review · Foundation and drainage quote review · Fence and deck quote review.
Send your HVAC quote
Paste your AC, heat pump, furnace, or ductwork quote below, or choose that it is a PDF or photo. A person at finalist.cc reads it against our HVAC checklist and replies by email with a benchmark note.
What happens next
- A person reads the quote line by line.
- If the quote is a PDF or a photo of a tablet screen, we reply by email and ask for it; you attach it to your reply.
- You get a benchmark note by email: included, missing, vague, the arithmetic, questions to ask, and a scope for a second contractor.
We do not send your quote or your details to HVAC contractors.