10 questions to ask before you sign.
Published April 14, 2026 · 6 min read
You're about to spend more on a new HVAC system than on most used cars. The installer is across your kitchen table with a quote and a pen. Before the pen hits the page, ask these ten questions. The good ones will sail through. The not-so-good ones will stumble on the second or third. That's the whole point.
Physically printing this list and having it in front of you is a cheat code. Installers read the room — when they see you reading from a printed list, they'll answer more honestly.
Are you licensed in Florida, and what's your license number?
Any legitimate contractor will rattle it off without hesitation. If they stall or say “my boss handles that,” end the visit. Florida requires a Class A or Class B HVAC license for every install, and you can verify it on the DBPR website in under 30 seconds.
Who's pulling the permit?
Every Florida HVAC install requires a permit pulled from the local building department. If the answer is “we skip permits to save you money,” you're about to void your manufacturer warranty and accept an unpermitted alteration that will haunt you at resale. Walk away.
What's the Manual J load calculation say?
The answer should be a specific BTU/hour number tied to a form the installer can show you. “Your old one was a 4-ton so we'll put in a 4-ton” is not a calculation. “One ton per 500 sqft” is a rule of thumb that overshoots modern homes by 15–30%.
What specific model numbers are you quoting, and do they have an AHRI match certificate?
You need the outdoor condenser model, the indoor air handler model, and the AHRI reference number that proves those two are rated together. “A 16-SEER Trane” is not a quote. It's a placeholder for whatever's cheapest on the truck that day.
What's included in the price — and what isn't?
The quote should explicitly list: new equipment, labor, permits, haul-away of the old system, pad/bracket, line-set, disposal fees, and commissioning. Ask about sales tax, any “admin fees,” and whether ductwork repairs add on top. Get everything in writing.
What's the warranty — parts, labor, and years?
Manufacturer warranty (usually 10 years on parts) is table stakes. Labor warranty varies wildly: standard is 1–2 years, premium is 5–10 years. Ask if the warranty transfers if you sell. Our 10-year parts + labor warranty transfers; many competitors' don't.
How many systems like mine have you installed in my zip code this year?
A Florida HVAC crew doing 200+ installs a year knows the local permitting office, the common ductwork pitfalls, and the inspection quirks. A crew doing 20 installs a year is still learning. You want the 200.
What's the cancellation policy if I change my mind tomorrow?
Florida's 3-day right of rescission only applies to door-to-door sales. Office signings have no default cancellation right — you take whatever the contractor offers in writing. “We don't do cancellations” is a real answer you'll sometimes hear. Now you know to avoid it.
How do you handle warranty service after the sale?
Does the same crew come out when something goes wrong? Do you have to call a 1-800 number and wait on hold? Is there a trip charge? You're buying a decade-long relationship, not just an install.
Can you show me the online reviews and let me talk to a recent customer?
Every good installer has happy recent customers who'll vouch for them. If the installer won't provide a reference — or insists “our reviews are on Google, check there” and moves on — the reviews are fake or the reference wouldn't say nice things.
What a great installer sounds like
Direct. Specific. Not defensive. A great installer will say: “License CAC1817823. I'm pulling the permit myself on Monday. Manual J says 3.5 tons — the load was 42,000 BTU/hour. The outdoor is a Trane 4TWR6036N and the air handler is a TEM6A0C42H. AHRI match #208551234. 10-year parts and labor, transferable. We did 47 installs in your zip last year, here are three customers who'd talk to you about us — one of them lives two blocks from you.”
If you hear something that specific and direct, you've found a good one. Sign the paper.
More from the Journal.
What size HVAC do I need for a Florida home?
Why the 500-sqft-per-ton rule is wrong, what Manual J actually calculates, and a sizing table by home vintage — the starting point for an honest quote.
How to read an HVAC quote (and spot the red flags)
Every legit quote has the same 6 line items. Here's what each one means, what to ask about, and which missing details should send you running.
Finance or pay cash for a new HVAC?
The real math on $20K systems, the Wisetack vs GoodLeap decision, and the honest framework for when each path makes sense.
Prefer to skip the kitchen-table pitch?
AIRA answers every one of these questions up-front, in writing, during your assessment.