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HVAC Quotes: Compare, Question, Check
HVAC quotes are only comparable when each one names model numbers, a size from a load calculation, the scope, the permit and warranty terms; these pages show how to read, compare and question them.
Read against its sources by The Second Bid · how pages are checked · Updated
The quote pages in four numbers
- 12,000Btu/h in one ton of cooling capacityDOE/NREL 2002 sizing sheet
- 30%the most efficiency poor installation can costENERGY STAR
- 60 daysregistration window for longer parts warranties at three makersLennox
- Dec 31, 2025last placed-in-service date for the 25C creditIRS
What belongs in HVAC quotes?
Every HVAC quote should carry model numbers, a size tied to a Manual J load, the matched efficiency rating, a written scope, the permit, warranty terms and a payment schedule. ENERGY STAR's undated Bid Comparison Checklist adds the documents to expect afterwards: Manual J calculations, an AHRI certificate and records of any measurements or testing.
How do you compare two HVAC quotes?
Match the size, ratings, scope, permit and warranty lines first, then compare price; ENERGY STAR tells homeowners to "compare cost, energy efficiency and warranties" across proposals. Read each rating as the certified SEER2, EER2 and HSPF2 of the indoor-outdoor combination, against the federal floors in 10 CFR 430.32, such as 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2 for a split heat pump.
Which lines in HVAC quotes are warning signs?
The warning signs are lines you can't check: a size from floor area, no model numbers, no permit, a price that expires today and part add-ons with no reason given. DOE's 2002 right-sizing sheet cautions against sizing from floor area, and ENERGY STAR's quality installation page says oversized equipment "may cycle too frequently". Refrigerant scare talk is another: EPA's FAQ says existing systems can still be repaired.
What should you ask before signing?
Ask about the state license, the load calculation, who pulls the permit, who installs, which startup tests get recorded, who registers the warranty and when each payment falls due. ENERGY STAR's hiring tips start with checking "license and insurance requirements for contractors in your state" and calling references.
When is a second opinion worth it?
A second opinion is worth it when a quote proposes replacement for an older system, when two bids disagree on size by a ton or more, or when a repair quote can't explain its parts. ENERGY STAR treats age as a prompt to evaluate, not a deadline: consider replacing a heat pump or AC more than 10 years old, or a furnace or boiler more than 15, per its replacement page.
Quotes: Getting a second opinion on HVAC repairs and quotes
Costs and credits: Repair or replace your HVAC system
| Page | Question it answers | Main sources |
|---|---|---|
| What an HVAC quote should include | Is anything missing from my quote? | ENERGY STAR hiring tips and checklist; ACCA |
| How to compare HVAC quotes | Are these two bids the same job? | ENERGY STAR; 10 CFR 430.32 |
| HVAC quote red flags | Is this line a warning sign? | DOE/NREL 2002; EPA; Lennox; Carrier |
| Questions to ask a contractor | What do I ask before signing? | ENERGY STAR; local permit offices |
| Warranty registration | Who registers, and by when? | Trane; Goodman; Lennox |
| Getting a second opinion | Should someone else look first? | ENERGY STAR replacement prompts |
Observation notes
This section reads ENERGY STAR's hiring tips, quality installation and replacement pages and its undated bid checklist; ACCA's Manual J page; 10 CFR 430.32; DOE/NREL's 2002 sizing sheet; EPA's refrigerant FAQ and May 26, 2026 rule; maker warranty pages from Trane, Goodman and Lennox; and the IRS 25C page, all checked in October 2026. It doesn't review anyone's quote, and it leaves out installed cost ranges because no primary source publishes them.
Outlook questions
How many HVAC quotes should I get?
No federal source sets a number, and ENERGY STAR only asks that bids be weighed on cost, efficiency and warranties; get as many as it takes to have at least two complete, comparable bids.
Is a verbal HVAC quote good enough?
No. Per ENERGY STAR, the thing to sign is a written proposal listing costs, model numbers, schedule and warranty, so there is something to hold the contractor to.
Why do HVAC quotes for the same house differ so much?
Usually because they aren't for the same job: different sizes, ratings, duct work, line sets or warranty terms. Line them up row by row before deciding which is cheaper.
Can The Second Bid review my quote?
No. This site doesn't review quotes, install or repair anything. It explains what to look for, with the sources, so you or a licensed contractor of your choosing can check the lines.
Do HVAC quotes need to mention the new refrigerants?
Ideally yes, by name or through model numbers you can look up. New split systems built from 2025 use refrigerants under 700 GWP, while pre-2025 R-410A stock can still be installed.
Should a quote in 2026 include a tax credit?
Not the federal 25C credit, which the IRS ended for property placed in service after 2025. State rebates may apply where a state program runs them.