A properly installed HVAC system is essential to maintaining comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. Once you’ve selected your new HVAC system, the next step is to install it.
What can you expect on your HVAC installation day? The USA TODAY team asked the HVAC experts at ARS to find out.
What to expect during HVAC installation
The HVAC installation process is simple. You can expect the following:
- HVAC team arrives at your home
- Electricity or gas supply has been cut off
- Old unit will be disconnected and deleted
- new unit installed
- New HVAC units are tested and calibrated
- HVAC team cleans
- Get a complete walkthrough of the new system
- We will explain the warranty, money back guarantee, and manual.
- Your new HVAC system is ready.
How to prepare for HVAC installation day
Spending just 20 minutes setting up your home the night before can make a huge difference in your HVAC installation process.
Some small actions that have a big impact include:
- Clear the route. Clear a wide aisle from the front door to indoor utility closets, basements, attic spaces, or other areas where technicians need access to ductwork or systems.
- Protect your valuables: Keep fragile decorations, picture frames, and electronic equipment away from the work zone to prevent accidental damage.
- Ensure your pet’s safety. To minimize stress on your dog or cat, consider keeping them safely confined in a quiet room or leaving them alone for the day. (For example, my dog loves HVAC technicians, so he won’t stop barking until he’s allowed to see the work up close.)
- Remove outdoor obstacles: Make sure there are no patio furniture, toys, or vehicles around your outdoor concrete pad.
What happens before installation begins
Procedures vary slightly depending on the installer and installation company, but the lead engineer will usually provide a brief explanation before work begins. We will confirm the placement of your new equipment and explain the schedule for the day.
Before work begins, our professional workers will take precautions to protect your living space. High-traffic walkways may also be covered with thick cloth or protective floor runners to catch water and dirt. Move furniture as necessary to access the work area. Doing it the night before allows you to get started early.
If you haven’t already done so, you can also obtain the necessary municipal permits to ensure the work complies with codes and is properly recorded in town records.
Removing the old HVAC system
Work begins by safely decommissioning and removing your old heating and cooling unit. Crews will shut off all gas lines, electrical circuits, and breaker switches connected to the equipment.
The old chemical refrigerant must then be carefully pumped out and recovered using a dedicated containment tank. Refrigerants are harmful greenhouse gases, so environmental regulations make it illegal to release them into the outside air.
Once the system is empty and fully disconnected, the team disconnects the old unit. The heavy equipment is then trucked out for proper recycling.
Inspection and correction of duct work
Ducts act as a circulation system to control the temperature in your home. Connecting a new unit to old, leaky ductwork will not make it work efficiently.
Before installing a new system, our team thoroughly inspects all accessible ducts for gaps, loose joints, or crimps (a method used to make ducts fit snugly). If necessary, make the necessary small corrections, seal leaks with mastic paste and replace damaged parts.
Steve Wade, senior director of operations and procurement at ARS, cautions against omitting these important areas. “In some cases, you may find companies cutting corners by replacing only the box and leaving all other components to themselves.” A quality installation replaces all critical complementary parts.
Installing a new HVAC system
Once the old machine is out of the way, the technicians will clean the area and begin installing the new equipment. This includes positioning the indoor evaporator coil, furnace or air handler, and outdoor condenser.
Installation instructions vary depending on the complexity of the installation, the presence of duct work, and the layout of your home. However, when installing a new HVAC system, the key steps typically include:
- Installation and leveling: Secure the indoor unit and outdoor unit so that they do not fall.
- Refrigerant line: Route new copper tubing from the compressor unit to the mini-split head or duct.
- Electrical connection: Route high voltage and control wires from the unit to the circuit breaker and secure the connections.
- Condensate management: Install drain lines and pumps to ensure a functioning closed-loop system.
“I always tell people that equipment can be great, but if it’s installed poorly, it will perform poorly,” said Joey Dooley, general manager of ARS of Texas. This is the most important part of your HVAC replacement day, so give your team time to make sure everything is done correctly and properly tested.
Testing and system calibration
Once all components are securely secured and wired, the team performs a vacuum cleaning of the system. This important step involves removing all air and moisture from the copper wire to ensure a natural environment for the new refrigerant.
Next, fill the lines with new refrigerant and power up the entire system for testing. Technicians often use digital gauges and AI-integrated diagnostic software to measure airflow, static pressure, and electrical draw. This process tests variable speed features and tries out communication features to ensure the machine is operating to factory specifications.
Final walkthrough and homeowner instructions
Once the installation is complete, workers will clean up and, if not already done so, load the old system onto a truck. The lead technician will then perform a final walk-through.
Learn how to set up your new thermostat, set heating and cooling schedules, adjust variable speeds, and important system warnings and error codes to be aware of. We also provide basic tips for HVAC maintenance, including how to change filters.
Finally, hand over all warranty registration documents, equipment manuals, and written installation warranties.
HVAC installation time
The time it takes to install a new system depends on the complexity of the job.
- Easy replacement: Replacing an existing outdoor AC unit and indoor coil with all wires and duct connections matched will take 4 to 6 hours.
- Replace the entire system: Replacing both the entire furnace/heating system and central air conditioning unit on the same day can take 8 to 10 hours.
- Complex overhaul or duct modification: Larger projects that require replacing entire ductwork, modifying the structural frame, or installing a multi-zone system from scratch take 1 to 3 days.
Note from the editor: When I had my furnace replaced, I was surprised at how quickly the installation was done. It took 5 hours from start to finish. The team arrived bright and early, removed the old furnace, installed the new furnace, and even cleaned up while they were there.
Reasons for delaying HVAC installation
Reputable companies will try to complete the project within the quoted period, but this is not always possible. Things that can delay your HVAC installation include:
- Hidden structural corruption: Hidden water damage, mold, and floorboard rot under older indoor units should be discovered and repaired before a new system is installed.
- Outdated switchboard: It turns out that the main electrical service panel in an older home can’t handle the power demands of a modern HVAC system and requires a cord upgrade or the addition of a subpanel.
- Severe weather phenomena: Sudden torrential rain, thunderstorms, or extreme sub-zero temperatures in winter can make working on outdoor power lines dangerous.
- Historic duct discrepancies: Older homes may have more restrictive, undersized ductwork, and the need for cumbersome custom metal fabrication to prevent blockages in new systems can add time (and cost) to your project.
How to make the construction day go smoothly
To make your HVAC replacement day as efficient as possible, take the time to prepare the night before and clarify your protection policies in advance. Make sure you understand the rates clearly before the work truck arrives and that the contractor offers written guarantees, such as a money-back guarantee.
“The most important advice I can give to people purchasing HVAC systems is to choose a company that offers a money-back guarantee,” says Scott Urquhart, HVAC sales and customer experience expert at ARS.
I can attest to this from personal experience. After installing the system in my own home, it took less than a year for the entire system to fail. The contractor quickly started having problems with more manufacturer’s products he had installed last year and took it upon himself to replace the entire system in our home free of charge. A warranty or money-back guarantee really provides great peace of mind.
Note from the editor: Like the author, I too found the warranty invaluable. Eighteen months after installing a new furnace, the furnace stopped working. I thought it would cost over $1,000 to fix this problem, so I called the HVAC company to come and take a look. After all, all repairs and labor were covered by the warranty. We didn’t owe anything.
FAQ
Do I need to leave the house during installation?
Usually not. Please note that you will not be using air conditioning or heating for several hours and there may be some noise while you work.
Will installing it damage my house?
Our professional workers will use drop cloths, floor runners, and corner guards to protect your home. Technicians will have to bring heavy metal machinery to your door, but if you work with a quality contractor, there will be little structural damage.
How much noise does an HVAC installation make?
Moderate noise is expected throughout the day. The removal process requires power tools, metal ringing, and drilling. It’s not like using a jackhammer on the road, but you can definitely hear it working.
Can I use the air conditioner or heater on the day of my arrival?
Most standard replacement items will be ready for use before the technician leaves your premises. More complex installations that require ductwork or structural repairs may take longer.
What should I do once the installation is complete?
Please ensure that you have received all warranty registration cards and that your system is registered online with the manufacturer. We also recommend setting a regular reminder to change your air filter every 60 days. Otherwise, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the fresh air.
