Install and replacement
Putting in a new heating or cooling system, usually because the old one has aged out or failed. This is the large-ticket project, from a central air conditioner to a full furnace-and-AC system.
// HVAC
Heat and cool your home with a contractor you choose.
A new system, a repair, or a tune-up starts the same way: you pick your own licensed, insured, vetted HVAC contractor, and your request goes to that one. Free for homeowners.
Every contractor here is licensed, insured, and vetted before they're listed. You pick the one you want, and your request goes to that one.
Vetted Pros Only
What HVAC covers
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, the systems that keep a home comfortable year round. The work falls into a few groups:
Repair
Fixing a system that quit or is running poorly: a unit blowing warm air, a furnace that will not stay lit, weak airflow, or water pooling around the indoor unit.
Maintenance
Scheduled tune-ups that keep a system running efficiently and, on most equipment, keep the manufacturer warranty valid.
Heat pumps
All-electric systems that both heat and cool through one unit. They are common in milder climates and growing fast nationwide.
Furnaces and central air conditioning
The split system, a gas furnace paired with a central AC coil, that heats and cools most homes in colder and mixed climates.
Ductless mini-splits
Systems that condition one room or zone without ductwork, often used in additions, older homes, and spaces a central system does not reach.
Boilers and radiant heat
Water-based heating common in older homes, mostly in the Northeast.
Ductwork
The network that carries conditioned air through the home. Leaky or undersized ducts can waste a large share of a system's capacity, so sealing and sizing matter as much as the equipment.
Indoor air quality and ventilation
Filters, fresh-air systems, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers that handle the air itself, not just its temperature.
// HVAC work by vetted pros
When people call an HVAC contractor, and what they ask first
Most homeowners do not think about HVAC until something changes. A system quits in the heat or the cold, the energy bills climb, a unit is getting old and the worry sets in, or a new addition needs heating and cooling of its own. Whatever starts it, a handful of questions tend to come up first:
Question 01
My system is twelve years old. Do I keep fixing it, or replace it?
A useful guide is the cost of the repair against the cost of a new system. When an out-of-warranty repair runs past a few thousand dollars, or more than about half the cost of replacing, a new system is usually the better long-term call.
Question 02
Can you just swap the broken outdoor unit and keep my old indoor parts to save money?
Often not a good idea. The outdoor and indoor parts are designed to work as a matched set; pairing a new outdoor unit with an older indoor coil can cut efficiency and void the warranty.
Question 03
How do you know what size system my house needs?
A good contractor runs a load calculation that accounts for your home's size, layout, insulation, and windows, rather than guessing from square footage. Bigger is not better: an oversized system short-cycles and leaves the air cold and clammy.
Question 04
Is my older refrigerant illegal now, and do I have to replace my whole system?
No. Older R-410A refrigerant is being phased down, but it is still legal to buy and use to service the system you have. A contractor who tells you the law forces a full replacement is a reason to get a second opinion.
A vetted HVAC contractor should have a straight answer to each. The vetting here checks the license, insurance, and standing up front, so the contractors you are choosing from can already speak to these.
What affects the cost
Two HVAC quotes for the same house can land far apart, and a few things explain most of the gap. Access is one: a system tucked into a tight attic, crawl space, or rooftop takes more labor than one with clear access. System size, measured in tons, scales both the equipment and the refrigerant. The technology matters too; basic single-stage equipment costs the least up front, while variable-speed, high-efficiency systems with smart controls run higher. And the refrigerant itself is a moving cost right now, as the older type is phased down and the newer type adds leak-detection hardware to the equipment.
It is also worth knowing that the ductwork can decide whether a new system performs. A premium unit bolted onto leaky or undersized ducts can lose much of its efficiency, so a contractor who looks at the whole system, not just the box, is usually doing it right.
If you need a way to pay for the work, financing options are available through trusted lending partners. You choose what works for you, there is no pressure, and the platform stays free for homeowners.
How to choose an HVAC contractor
The contractor you pick matters more than the brand on the equipment. Before you commit, a few things are worth checking:
License and standing
In most states an HVAC contractor has to be licensed, and the license should be active and in the right category. Verify it through the state board.
Insurance
General liability and workers' compensation protect you if something goes wrong on site. Ask for a certificate of insurance.
EPA Section 608 certification
This is federal law for any technician who handles refrigerant. It is a card the technician can show you, not an optional credential.
Technician certifications
NATE certification is voluntary but a solid sign of field competency, and you can look up a technician's number in the NATE registry. ACCA accreditation speaks to a company's business and design practices.
Manufacturer certifications and warranties
Major brands authorize specific contractors, and that standing is often what keeps your equipment warranty in force. Worth asking about if warranty coverage matters to you.
// Warning signs When to keep looking
The warning signs are consistent in this trade, so they are worth naming.
- Watch for a "free" inspection or a deeply discounted tune-up used to get in the door, followed by an alarming list of urgent failures.
- Be especially careful with a claim that your heat exchanger is cracked and leaking carbon monoxide; a cracked heat exchanger is a real hazard, but it is also a favorite of dishonest sellers, so ask to physically see it or the camera footage and get a second opinion from an unrelated contractor before you buy anything.
- The refrigerant scare, that the law forces a full replacement, is false.
- And high-pressure pitches, limited-time offers, demands for full payment up front, and a push toward an oversized system are all reasons to keep looking.
// A platform, not a contractor
A shorter, safer list. The choice stays yours.
This is the part the platform is built to take off your plate. Our HVAC contractors are vetted before they can join, by people who spent their careers in the trades and know how to judge a contractor's license, insurance, record, and work. We are a platform that connects you with contractors; the contractor owns the work and the relationship. You get a shorter, safer list, and the choice stays yours.
Start your project →Good to know before you start
A few terms and a couple of myths that come up on most HVAC projects:
SEER2 and the efficiency ratings
SEER2 measures cooling efficiency, HSPF2 measures a heat pump's heating efficiency, and AFUE measures how much of a furnace's fuel becomes heat. Higher numbers mean more efficiency. SEER2 numbers look slightly lower than the older SEER ratings because the test changed in 2023, not because the equipment got worse.
Sizing is a calculation, not a guess
The right system size comes from a load calculation, not from square footage alone. Oversized cools too fast to pull out humidity and leaves the air clammy; undersized never quite catches up. Either one wears the system out faster.
Matched systems
The outdoor and indoor units are designed to run together. Replacing only half often drops efficiency and can void the warranty.
Myth: setting the thermostat very low cools the house faster
It does not. The system delivers air at the same rate either way; setting it far below your target just runs it longer and wastes energy.
Myth: closing vents in unused rooms saves money
It usually does the opposite. Closing registers raises pressure in the ducts, which stresses the system and can lead to bigger problems.
Myth: a newer system does not need maintenance
High-efficiency systems are sensitive to dirt and airflow, and skipping the annual visit can invalidate the parts warranty.
// Vetted, licensed, insured
// Find a vetted contractor
Find a vetted HVAC contractor near you
Every HVAC contractor here is licensed, insured, and vetted before they're listed. You pick the one you want, and your request goes to that one. Your information is not sold to a list of companies who race to call you.
Start your project, choose your area, and see the vetted contractors near you.
Start your project →Common questions
Should I repair my system or replace it?
A common guide is to weigh the repair cost against a new system. When an out-of-warranty repair runs past a few thousand dollars, or more than about half the cost of replacing, a new high-efficiency system tends to be the better long-term value. A vetted contractor can walk you through both numbers.
Is my old refrigerant illegal, so I have to replace the whole system?
No. The older R-410A refrigerant is being phased down for new equipment, but it is still legal to buy and use to service the system you already have. A contractor who says the law forces a full replacement is a reason to get a second opinion.
Why does a contractor want to replace both the indoor and outdoor units?
The two parts are designed to work as a matched set. Pairing a new outdoor unit with an older indoor coil can lower efficiency and void the manufacturer warranty, which is why a contractor may recommend replacing both.
Is this free for me?
Yes. The platform is free for homeowners, always. You choose your contractor and connect with them directly.
Ready to start? Find your vetted contractor.
Start your project → FREE FOR HOMEOWNERS // YOU CHOOSE YOUR PRO