Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

What is an HVAC system?

The letters in HVAC stand for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. An HVAC system enables you to regulate your home or building’s internal temperature (thermal control) for comfortable living and working. You can bring heat levels down in the summer and up in the winter, keeping your home or office livable year-round. HVAC systems can also help with humidity levels and regulate indoor air quality in a home or office. There are many types of HVAC systems and technologies available.

Many homes have a forced-air HVAC system. Both the heating and the central air conditioning units share a ductwork system where they either push in or pull out warm or cooled air. There are also heating and cooling systems that don’t require ductwork — such as ductless mini-splits — but work on the same principles of heat exchange. The national average to hire an HVAC specialist is $2,920-$3,670, with costs varying depending on the work you need done and the equipment you are installing.

How many years does HVAC last?

The number of years an HVAC system lasts depend on the type and brand of components that make up your system. The lifespan of an air conditioner averages between 15 and 20 years. The life expectancy of a tankless water heater is approximately 20 years, while a storage water heater is closer to 10-15 years. Ducts may need replacing within 10-15 years. Your equipment will have a longer life if you have regular tuneups and maintenance to keep everything in good working order. If you’re having repair problems and your HVAC system is over 10 years old, it’s a good time to consider the costs and benefits of repairing vs. replacing. Energystar.gov provides the following tips to help you decide whether to repair or replace:

Your HVAC system needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are increasing.
Your cooling or heating equipment is less efficient.
Rooms in your home are too hot or too cold.
Your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old.

Replacing your system with an Energy Star-certified unit could save up to 20 percent on your heating and cooling bills.

Your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old.

You may choose to replace your system with an Energy Star-certified furnace (which is 15 percent more efficient than a conventional furnace) or an Energy Star-certified boiler (which is 5 percent more efficient).

Your home has humidity problems.
Your home has excessive dust.

Leaky ducts can pull particles and air from attics, crawl spaces and basements and distribute them throughout your house. Sealing your ducts may be a solution.

Your heating or cooling system is noisy.

You could have an undersized duct system or a problem with the indoor coil of your cooling equipment.

Your score on the Home Energy Yardstick is below five.

That means your home energy use is above average and you're probably paying too much for your utilities.

How much does it cost to get central air?

Prices for central-air HVAC systems will vary. The national average to hire an HVAC specialist is $2,920-$3,670 but can run as high as $5,000 or even $12,000 depending on the capacity you need and other factors. Installing central air conditioning requires an entire system that works together to draw hot air out of your home. The system includes an outdoor unit, which houses the condenser and compressor, and the evaporator coils. If you don’t have an existing duct system, ductwork will need to be installed, which will affect labor and material costs. Leaking or damaged ducts will also need to be replaced.

How much does it cost for a new air conditioning unit?

If you’re ready for a new air conditioning unit, it’s time to start exploring HVAC prices. The price will vary depending on the type of air conditioner you buy and its cooling capacity. Window units, which require minimal installation, are one of the most affordable options on the market. If you’re purchasing from a big-box store, you can expect to pay approximately $120-$1,000 for a window unit. Window units are appealing for their quick setup and relatively low cost, but they can use more energy over time than central air and only cool the room in which they’re installed. Portable air conditioners don’t have the cooling power of a window unit, but they do have the perk of being transportable from room to room. Expect to pay between $225 and $800 for a portable air conditioner, on average. For a whole-house air conditioning system with coils, condenser and line (not including installation or ductwork), the cost from a big-box store can range from approximately $2,000 to $4,000 or more. If you don’t have (and don’t want to put in) ducts, a ductless mini-split air conditioner is a good option, although pricey up front. Pricing can range from $650 to $4,250 per unit on average; you’ll need one unit for each room in which you want temperature control.

Sam S.

Verified review

I have a home in Huntington Beach that had an existing furnace and ductwork. I wanted to install AC utilizing the existing system. I consulted with several HVAC contractors and received quotes. Mina was the most knowledgeable of the group of contractors, provided the best suggestions, and also had a very competitive price. During the installation the ductwork turned out to be in poor condition. Mina replaced the ductwork and only charged me the cost of material and not the labor. For anyone who has done contracting this in unheard of. Change orders are often outrageously priced. Mina is an honest man who does good work and cares about satisfaction with the job. If you have the opportunity to use Mina I highly recommend him. The system has been installed and running for 1 month and all continues to work great. Thank you Mina.

Echo S.

Response Time: Quick. Ed responded immediately with all questions I had. Additionally, I called to discuss the task over the phone and he was very friendly and accommodating. Arrival/Appearance: One of his senior techs called when he was on his way and he requested if it was okay to come early because he was in the area, which was great for me. When his tech arrived, he was very professional and dressed appropriately. Service Provided: Cleaned air ducks and replaced filter. Cleaned up after himself. Tech Comments: His tech was very friendly and explained every detail of what he was doing. He confirmed the quote that was provided and continued with the agreed upon work. I asked him a few questions about my HVAC and he was very knowledgeable and provided me with all the details that I needed. He also explained everything about my HVAC system, which was well-needed information. I highly recommend this company!

Ann M.

Jose of JC Heating & AC Systems was great. He responded quickly, gave a thorough and honest assessment without trying to oversell services and a very reasonable price. We will call him next time we need HVAC repair.

Aska B.

Fantastic to work with Joel Mayorga of Platinum Plumbing He was the first to respond to my work request. Answered every question almost immediately! I have tenants living in my home in Los Angeles & I live in Miami. I wanted someone I could feel confident with doing the work 3000 miles away. My tenants have been going without hot water due to ineffectual work by American Home Shield repairs My former TAKAGI tankless was never vented properly nor valves put on for easy maintenance. It was a 15 year old tank Joel described via this app exactly what I needed. I sent him photos so he could see the space. He offered me several options I decided to get a NEW Noritz tankless heater. He was at my leased home within 2 hours ; new heater & all necessary parts in hand! It was a big job but in a few hours; DONE! He returned the next day to make sure all was ok & water temp was holding. He even serviced my HVAC heater at no extra cost! Will I be using JOEL again?! YOU BET I will! Using him for ALL my heating & AC & plumbing needs!

Douglas G.

Responded quickly with the lowest quoted price for a repair the day after Christmas. Service was above outstanding...repaired the mistake I made with my HVAC and then did a complimentary check of the rest of the system, going over preventative maintenance recommendations to save us money later.

Brian C.

Our central AC unit went out on the hottest day of the year. Within just seven minutes of my making the request on Thumbtack (which I did in the early evening), Ziad got back to me with a quote and let me know he could be there at 9 a.m. the very next morning. I had called seven or eight HVAC companies prior to this and they all gave me a two to three week lead time. Ziad came first thing in the morning, diagnosed and fixed the issue (he installed a new compressor), and charged exactly what he said he would charge. I could not be more thankful for his promptness and professionalism.

Kyle H.

Wow, I've worked with a few HVAC companies before but this one is second to none. I hired them for routine maintenance for both of our units. One of the owners, Mark, was very responsive and reasonable over chat with Thumbtack and the phone when scheduling. Chip, one of the maintenance guys, was on time, courteous, and thorough! After a couple of hours of doing a full check up and tune up ok the system, he went over everything he looked at and called out a couple of things to take note of. No pressure to buy anything but did simply offer an annual maintenance plan that we signed up for. I wouldn't have done this if I hadn't been impressed with the whole experience.

Kenneth V.

I got a dual zone ductless air conditioner installed into my studio. I live in Winnetka,CA and he came all the way out from Anaheim and even gave a free estimate for the job at NO CHARGE! Installation went smoothly and in within a days work time,we had cool air! Couple things that could be better would be communication and attention to detail. There were some timings where a time was discussed to arrive and wasn't notified that they where going to be late or even show up, until later or after the fact. That's only saying that this could be an issue with someone who's on a timeline and has to make most of their time,i on the other hand didn't have worry too much seeing as i work from home and didn't have a busy schedule. Detail wise, the metal work for the line set covers where a little sloppy (my father is a sheet metal roofer for over 25 years) and it kind of caught my eye immediately. Over all,they got the job done and where a very respectful and polite team of workers.

Joy F.

Paul came next day and was right on time. He was extremely knowledgeable about the unit we had where other hvac technicians shyed away from the job claiming it was "too complicated". He found the problem right away and was kind enough to explain the unit to me and how it worked. It was a quick fix and now we have cold air again! I would reccomend Paul to anyone needing air conditioning repait.

Anoop K.

Zack was very prompt in responding and punctual. Had very good knowledge and was very skill full, knowing my hvac is ages old. Great to work with, will recommend anybody else to hire Clov-Air.

Jorge H.

Allan is very knowledgable and professional. He came in, found the problem and fixed it on the spot. Excellent work and I'll definitely contact him to fix/maintain my HVAC system in the future.

Sara B.

Tom was fast, efficient, friendly and made sure to explain things as we went. We're keeping his card for future issues as he does HVAC and electrical. He also had all of the tools he needed as well as a replacement for the blown up part that we didn't even know we needed available. A great experience!

Randall R.

This was our first experience with Thumbtack and, first time hiring Beach Cities Mechanical. We had been using another HVAC contractor for years until we recently became dissatisfied with their work. Travis was responsive and communicative. Even though he was busy, he accommodated our schedule. He was punctual, professional, and got the job done. His pricing was also fair. And, as a bonus, he seems like a genuinely nice guy. So far, our a/c is working great, and I'm sure we'll be working with Travis and Beach Cities Mechanical again!

Gary S.

When my air conditioning system stopped working, I feared that a technician would tell me that it couldn't be fixed because it was too old. But I called Laith Frangoul of Honesty Cooling & Heating and much to my delight he really was exactly what his company name touts - HONEST! He arrived very quickly, found a bad condenser, had it in his vehicle and we were up and running in minutes at a very fair price! I was so thrilled that I hired him to do some preventative maintenance. He uses top notch modern equipment and he is obviously very knowledgeable. I own a commercial building and I plan to use him when we have HVAC issues. I am thrilled to have found Honesty Cooling & Heating and I highly recommend his services. The HVAC service industry is loaded with crooks and thankfully he is the exception!

Nicky W.

Wannis was great. He arrived on time to get the job done and did a superb job at fixing the issue. He even went above and beyond to tell me about the air filter issues and checking my gas line. Thank you and recommend him 5 stars

Chris H.

Extremely happy with the evaluation of my HVAC system and duct work prior to talking about price and the proposed new system. We were given multiple options and everything was very well explained. Install went well and since we installed during a cold weekend, Ken scheduled to come back out once it gets warmer to fine tune the AC portion of the system. Ken truly cares about his trade and it shows.

Michael T.

Had multiple contractors come out to give us an evaluation/quote on our HVAC system. Everyone except TJ came in and started telling me what I needed without listening to what my problems and issues were with the system. TJ took the time to listen to what my issues were and recommended a couple solutions to fix. We ultimately replaced the entire system (compressor, furnace, etc) and added a new duct line and vent register. TJ rerouted the gas line to our furnace, relocated and hung the furnace in our attic, installed a smart thermostat in a new location, and more. His crew is very friendly and they all work quickly. They leave the work site cleaner than when they arrived which is so nice. Their quotes are very reasonable compared to what the other contractors were quoting. TJ even checked in the next week after everything was complete to make sure I was happy with the new system! I would highly recommend giving TJ a call for any and all of your HVAC needs.

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