Choose a licensed, insured HVAC contractor who looks at your house before quoting, explains what they found, and puts the whole job in writing. Compare complete quotes item by item, not just totals.
How do I find a reliable HVAC contractor?
A reliable HVAC contractor is licensed for the work, carries insurance, pulls permits, and gives written quotes after seeing the house. Check the license on LARA's site, read recent reviews, and ask neighbors who they use.
Watch how they handle the first visit. Do they measure, check the ducts and venting, and explain options? Or do they price a box from the doorway?
Why are my HVAC quotes so far apart, and is mine fair?
HVAC quotes end up far apart because they are rarely for the same job. One price may include a load calculation, new venting, a chimney liner, duct changes, a permit and a matched coil. Another may reuse everything and skip the permit. Equipment efficiency and brand tier also vary.
A quote is fair when it is complete, written and close to other complete quotes for the same scope. Three quotes such as $4,800, $7,500 and $11,000 often turn out to be three different jobs. Line them up item by item.
Should the company do a load calculation before quoting?
Yes. A load calculation, often called a Manual J, sizes the furnace and AC to your house. Without one, a contractor is guessing or copying the old unit. Many older Detroit homes have had insulation and windows upgraded since, so the right size has often changed.
How much deposit should an HVAC company ask for?
A reasonable deposit covers equipment that is ordered for your job, not the whole price. Read the contract for the deposit terms and what happens to the deposit if the job is cancelled. Pay the deposit by check or card, never cash, and keep the receipt.
Be careful with any company that wants most of the price before the equipment arrives.
Should I get three quotes?
Yes, three quotes is a good number for a full furnace or AC replacement. Fewer leaves you without a comparison, and more wastes your time. For a simple repair, one honest diagnosis is usually enough.
What questions should I ask an HVAC contractor?
- Are you licensed in Michigan for this work, and insured?
- Will you do a load calculation?
- What exactly is included, and what is not?
- Who pulls the permit, and when is the inspection?
- How will the furnace be vented, and what about the water heater?
- Do any utility rebates apply, and who files them?
- Who registers the warranty?
- What happens if something is wrong after install?
How can I tell if a contractor is selling me a system I don't need?
Ask them to show you the problem: the photo of the crack, the meter reading, the part that failed. A good technician explains why a repair will or will not work. Be wary of pressure to decide the same day, a scare about carbon monoxide without a test result, or a price that drops sharply when you hesitate.
If in doubt, get a second opinion. A replacement you don't need costs far more than one more visit.
Is a big name brand better than a cheaper brand?
The installation matters more than the brand. A mid-range unit sized and installed correctly will usually outperform a premium brand put in poorly. Many brands share parts and factories. Compare warranty terms, parts availability and the installer's record.
Does my new furnace warranty need to be registered?
Often, yes. Many manufacturers give a longer parts warranty only if the equipment is registered within a set time after install. Ask the installer who will register it, and get a copy of the registration.
My new furnace is louder than the old one. Is that normal?
Some change in sound is normal, because new furnaces often have different blowers and an inducer motor. A loud bang, rattle, whistle at the registers or a fan that roars when it kicks on is not. Those usually point to duct sizing, a blower setting or a loose part, and the installer should fix it.
New AC was installed and the house still isn't cooling
If a new AC was installed and the house still isn't cooling, the usual causes are the wrong size, an incorrect refrigerant charge, a mismatched coil, or ducts that cannot move enough air. Call the installer back first and ask them to measure the charge and airflow.
My bills are still high after a new furnace
If your bills are still high after a new furnace, the cause is often the house rather than the furnace: leaky ducts, poor insulation or air leaks. A furnace that short-cycles or a wrong blower setting can also waste energy. Compare bills by the weather, since a colder month uses more gas no matter what.
Burning smell from the vents after a new furnace install
A faint burning smell for the first few hours after a new furnace is installed is common, as coatings on new parts burn off. A strong smell, a smell that lasts more than a day or two, or any smoke is not normal. Turn the furnace off and call the installer. If you smell gas, leave and call 911.
The HVAC company won't come back or return calls. What can I do?
If the HVAC company won't come back, send a written request by email or letter with photos, the contract and a date to respond. Keep copies. If it still won't return calls, you have three main options.
- LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes Enforcement Section takes complaints against licensed mechanical contractors and about work without a permit or license. It does not handle money or warranty disputes.
- The Michigan Attorney General's consumer protection team takes consumer complaints, including after a contractor takes a deposit and disappears.
- Small claims or district court is the route for getting money back.
If the job had a permit, the city building department can also inspect it.
Do you give estimates?
Call or text (313) 488-2188 to ask about an estimate for your job. Replacement quotes are given in writing. We serve Detroit, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Park, Harper Woods, Southfield, Oak Park, Ferndale, Royal Oak and Redford.