If one HVAC quote includes a furnace and another keeps yours, the prices aren't for the same job. The difference may be reasonable, but you need to understand it before choosing.
Use the original quotes and a separate comparison sheet. Write down what each includes, excludes or leaves unanswered.
Fictional example: These are invented offers, with no prices implied.
| Item | Offer A | Offer B | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC | Outdoor unit and indoor coil named | Outdoor unit named | What happens to B's indoor coil? |
| Furnace | Existing furnace stays | New furnace included | Why replace it or keep it? |
| Ducts | Existing ducts stay | One return air change | What does the change address? |
| Electrical | Excluded | Allowance | What would you pay beyond either total? |
| Permit | Included | Not stated | Who handles it, and is the fee included? |
| Startup | Checks listed | “Startup included” | What checks and results does B provide? |
The table doesn't pick a winner. It shows where the offers differ and where you still need answers.
Copy the model numbers for indoor and outdoor components. Include whether the offer is for a furnace and AC, an all electric heat pump or dual fuel, along with capacity and efficiency ratings.
Different models can be reasonable choices for the same house. Ask how each selection relates to the home's heating and cooling needs. The outdoor brand name alone doesn't answer that.
An exclusion is work outside the offer. An allowance sets aside an amount based on stated assumptions. Something not mentioned hasn't been explained at all.
Ask what an allowance covers and how costs above it would be handled. Get spoken promises added to the written quote before counting them as included.
Check wall repairs, removal, controls, permits and any separate contractors in the same way.
ENERGY STAR emphasizes airflow, refrigerant charge, sizing and ducts as parts of a quality installation. Ask what the shop checks and what records it supplies. Then compare the equipment and workmanship warranties separately.
Send each company the questions tied to its quote: “Are you replacing the indoor coil?” will get a clearer answer than “Does this include everything?” Once the differences are clear, you can decide which work and terms you prefer.