How to shop for installers?

[NelsonG]

I will be replacing a 20 year old heat pump/AC unit this winter. It came with the house and seems like it ran all day this summer just to get the house down to 79 degrees.
I'm in Florida so I maybe turn the heat on for 30 days in the winter. House is well insulated, low E double paned windows and radiant barrier.
I've been lurking here trying to get educated but I'm afraid I'm a little slow on the uptake. While comparing proposals I need to know how to weed out the carpet-baggers from the guys who really know their stuff and will shoot straight with me.
While budget is a consideration, I'm ok with paying a little more for more comfort and better energy efficiency. I just don't want to overpay and then end up with a system that's mis-matched or hasn't been sized right.
So my question is is there a checklist that I should use in evaluating proposals and companies? Perhaps a criteria that I should use in determining whether to eliminate an installer?
Any help would be appreciated.
NelsonG

[DanW13]

You can go to the Energystar web site and I believe there's information on there site about what question you should ask and other important info.

However the first items you should ask each and everyone of them is are they willing to do a load calc and manual D prior to sizing the new equipment ?

Ask around, friends , neighbors and relatives of who they might reconmend and what equipment they currently have in there homes.

Ask for references along with phone numbers to call several of there past and most current customers so you can actually call a couple of them to see how well of a job they did for them and if they were satified with there work.

I asked for numbers of past customers and actually went to a couple of there homes to see his work in person as the people I talked with were more than willing to allow me to do so.

What ever you do, do not allow them to size your new equipment based on what is currently in your home now, if they do just go off of your current equipment show them the door ASAP !!! Or if they base it off of the old rule of thumb with a quick walk thru of your home and tell you that the house needs a 5 ton when it might do well with a 3 or 3-1/2 ton equipment.

You can do a search here based on what answers your looking for as I am sure most of your question have been asked at one time or another, there's alot for a HO to understand and have some knowledge of prior to hiring someone. Remember your talking alot of money for a couple of pieces of equipment that if installed properly should last you a good number of years when installed and maintained so do your home work and ask question, and by all means get everything you and your installer agree on in writing before signing on the dotted line.

[NelsonG]

You can go to the Energystar web site and I believe there's information on there site about what question you should ask and other important info.


Thanks for your response! I did find a checklist of sorts at: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_contractors_10tips

I guess I'm looking for a blatent sign that somebody is BS'ing me since I'm not really versed on "best practices" in HVAC.

NelsonG

[ibis1]

There is a well respected pro on the forum "Dash" who may be in your area. Do a little research, that would possibly save you a lot of time and headaches trying to sort through contractors. Good luck!:LOL:

[DGIO-Not]

Thanks for your response! I did find a checklist of sorts at: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_contractors_10tips

I guess I'm looking for a blatent sign that somebody is BS'ing me since I'm not really versed on "best practices" in HVAC.

NelsonG

Energy Star should have also linked you here, a more complete checklist: https://www.acca.org/consumer/checklists/

[pecmsg]

Size matters

[kls-ccc]

You can download a copy of the ACCA HVAC quality installatioin spec at www.acca.org/tech. It has a check list of questions and explainations so you can rate the dealer.

[rubberduck]

Word of mouth is the best. If you can find someone that did a bang up job for someone that you know then I would call that a good start.

[n-e-w Jerz!]

day laborers in convenience store parking lots......

[DanW13]

Size matters

Gee, I thought only those from the female persuasion used that as a criteria :LOL:

[tedkidd]

Sounds like you are really interested in having this done right! Measure your walls, your windows, ceiling area, insulation levels - guess at your infiltration and do your own load calc.
http://hvaccomputer.com/

Or hire someone with a blower door who can do this for you. Maybe pay them to do some blower door assisted air sealing, since they'll be there anyway. Reducing infiltration will improve comfort, save energy, and allow for smaller equipment. In some cases down sizing equipment will dramatically improve duct distribution efficiency.

Then when you get proposals you can see who comes closest. Check their credentials (nate, acca, bpi...) and continuing education.

Then get a 2 stage unit so it will dehumidify nicely and so a touch over sized won't matter.

[alkydrinker]

I got a new A/C system installed this spring. After getting a pretty bad install, I started doing some research on the right way to do things (I know, I should have done all that research first).

If I could do it all over again, here are the six key questions I would ask the installers before hiring one:

1-Do you do a load calculation to size the unit?

[They probably should unless the situation is very simple]

2-Will you measure the static pressure in the ductwork to make sure existing duct work is accommodating the new unit?

[Static pressure determines your air flow through the duct work, which is EXTREMELY important but commonly ignored, just ask pro member UDarrell]

3-What method do you use for getting the refrigerant charge correct?

[After static pressure is verified, they should measure subcooling and/or superheat (there must be proper air flow before these readings will be accurate)].

4-As standard procedure, do you do a nitrogen purge when brazing the copper lines? Then, do you pull a deep vacuum on the lines before charging? (to ensure the copper pipe is clean and not leaking)

[From what I've read, not doing a nitrogen purge while brazing is a common installer shortcut to be on the lookout for. I believe the deep vacuum is another thing that is SUPPOSED to be done, but may be skipped by hacks ...you won't be able to know it wasn't done, but your unit may prematurely break down a few years down the road from junk in your copper line]

5-What is the ARI number of the equipment? (if you are getting tax credit)

[If you intend to get the Energy Star tax credit, make them show you the ARI number on the equipment you are getting and plug it into the government website to be sure it qualifies. Ill-informed HVAC companies will try to sell you equipment saying it qualifies, but come tax time you find it doesn't and you lost up to $1,500. Equipment must have a combined SEER of 16 or better.]

6-Who is going to do the install?

[You may be talking to a salesperson when getting quotes. Verify the experience of the person who will actually install the equipment. Make it clear you want to be insured they will follow the correct procedures in the questions above.]

If an installer has good answers to these six questions, they should be good.

[davefr]

All of the above is good advice. However I'd also suggest you go down to the local HVAC supply house(s). (ex: Johnstone Supply, United Refrigeration, etc)

Head over there in person around mid morning and talk to a couple of the senior counter sales personnel. Ask them this question; "if you were hiring an HVAC tech. to work on your own home, who would you pick?"

This is far from perfect but the wholesale suppliers generally know who the good techs and honest contractors are.