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 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 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 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.

Margaret N.

Verified review

Bob was wonderful. He responded to my message promptly and came the same day. He diagnosed and repaired my furnace issue and had the heat back up and running in no time. He is my new go to for heating and air conditioning. I would not hesitate to recommend him and look forward to being able to refer to others to him.

Laurie K.

Sam was the best! I am going to bring him back in around Summer to look at my Air conditioning unit I would recommend him to everyone looking for this type of Service Thank you!

Samantha J.

It has now been several months since I had Green Air Care come and inspect my heating and air-conditioning system when they cleaned the vents in our entire house. During the inspection we uncovered many areas where our unit is leaking air “air gaps” in the ventilation where the air-conditioned or heated air escapes. We had Green Air Care come back to help us seal these leaks and since then, besides the air quality being better in our house due to cleaned vents we have actually seen a substantial cost saving in our electric bills now that our heat/AC unit is working more efficiently. What a quick return on investment, that also happens to result in cleaner air quality. We are certainly having Green Air Care come back for next HVAC services and needs.

Hetem M.

I had a great experience w/Casa Heating & Cooling when I needed to change my water heater! Mike contacted me immediately, came on time, & answered all my questions. His punctuality & work ethic is just great!! I'll definitely refer Mike to anyone that I know. Thanks!

Jaclyn R.

Ariadne Heating and Cooling was great! Our garbage disposal was leaking, so I put in a request on Thumbtack. They responded immediately and were able to come out the next day! Juan came out for an initial upfront charge and informed us we needed a new garbage disposal (not surprising because the original was about 10 years old). He went to the store, purchased the new disposal, brought back the receipt, installed the new one, and still only charged us the initial upfront cost and the price of the garbage disposal. He was extremely cordial and professional and he provided quality work. We were very appreciative of this great service!

LaDonna D.

I found them to be very professional, helpful, affordable, and empathetic to my HVAC needs. ComfortAire Inc Heating & Air Conditioning cared enough to go above and beyond to aide me in my emergent need on a Sunday, and they did it with a smile. I would go as far as rating them 6 out of 5 ⭐️’s.

James S.

Yep, all the good reviews are correct. Kris and his co-worker were great and professional. What really set these guys apart, for me at least, was the fact that they were the only contractor that could do it right away. The others all had to come out for estimates, while these guys give me an estimate through Thumbtack and were at my door bright and early at 7:00 AM the following morning. Pretty amazing, really. I have no idea how they got those two heavy air-conditioning units through the roof hatch. But when I came back from work in the early afternoon, I had air-conditioning all of a sudden. They are kind of miracle workers. And all add a fair price. Kudos to them!

Katie O.

Vitaliy was great! He came out for a quote the same day I contacted him and the job was done just a few days later. We're very happy with our new central air conditioning. It works well! Vitaliy upgraded both the unit and a pump free of charge because of our home's unique quirks. I would definitely recommend him! Thank you, Vitaliy!

Dean B.

As a top real estate agent, I rely on other experts who are honest, reliable, perform quality work, and are reasonably priced. Robert comes highly recommended for any heating and air conditioning service/installation needed. For years, he has worked with many of my buyers/sellers and on my personal properties. Most recently an A/C installation. Thanks Robert!

Wayne F.

He was prompt, called ahead kept me informed on arrival time, informed me of what he was was not right with my system, told me how he was fixing it, repair was fast and price was right!!! Knowledgeable and personable. Best of all my air conditioner works, nice and cool!! Fantastic!!

Quiroz M.

I'm so impressed by his service and professionalism, Luis is extremely knowledgeable and does good quality work. He knew right away what was wrong with my Furnace. Got everything done in a couple of hours.I would like for him to take care of my furnace and air conditioning from now on. Stop shopping around, he only provides exceptional quality service!!!!!

Marsha K.

Jason was excellent I was without heat on the coldest day of the year & waited all day for Four Seasons to arrive to install new boiler when they finally showed up at 5:30pm they were trying to charge me a price of over $6000 for a boiler that is advertised for $3600 because it was so cold out & we were desperate to get heat. I could not agree with that I called Jason from COMFORT AIR he came to my house 7:30pm checked all my radiators & the boiler Four Seasons was gonna install was not the proper size for my house so I will recommend COMFORT AIR THEY ARE GREAT I FEEL THEY ARE CARING & HONEST I'm really thank God I called him. I will HIGHLY recommend THIS COMPANY.

Kris R.

My secondary air conditioning unit failed. They were quick to respond and came out the same day. The accurately assessed the issue, and gave me a number of options including fixing or buying new, at different price points. When I chose to fix the issue, they clearly explained the risks, but respected my decision. They followed up on the technicians work. While they had to order a part, they quickly installed and got the right bit working as soon as it arrived. The unit has been working great for the last month. I would definitely use them again.

Trish Z.

I had some minor service work done on our air conditioner. They were honest, fair, fast and our AC has never run better. I will definitely call them for any HV/AC needs we have in the future.

Jaymes S.

Paul from STVU set up an initial meeting with me with his technicians and they explained the work that would be necessary after inspecting and determining the root cause of my Air Conditioning problem. I opted to purchase a new furnace through them because mine was really old. I feel the quality of product I chose was good for my property and the work that they performed was excellent. Previous work completed created an issue and Igor was able to find out what the problem was after just a short period and my AC has been running perfectly since! I absolutely encourage anyone looking for HVAC service to contact STVU and set up an appointment to see what they can do for you. Highly recommended!!!!

Eric H.

Reagan did an amazing job with my air conditioning cooling project. He is the kind of handyman professional that anyone would like to have as their "Go To Guy." He can handle virtually any project without costing an arm and a leg. He even supplied the material - which meant no hustle or bustle for me. Once he gets started on your job, he works continuously. I was sure that I was going to have to spend time helping him with the project - but I did not and it was worry free He said, "no worries" I have it all under control." He was even able to cart the old condenser away. I will definitely request Reagan for all of my future home improvement projects!!! Reagan is someone that I knew instantly was a man of integrity and worthy of my trust. I didn't feel the need to hover or hide the family jewels. I wish all contractors were like Reagan!!! So, please hire Reagan for your home improvement projects, but I can tell you right now he will be unavailable, if I have my druthers, because the very next time that I have a home improvement project He will be my "Go To Guy!!!"

Tom C.

Tim was extremely knowledge and professional. I needed a new furance and air conditioning unit installed and Tim outlined multiple options based on my needs. Once i decided on a unit, installation was done on time and work quality was great. Overall quality job.

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