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.

Jeff M.

Verified review

Dan was communicative prior to the appointment and punctual when it came time to finally complete the work. He pointed out some service items that my primary HVAC provider had glossed over. Dan is very knowledgeable and consultative. His pricing is fair and I will definitely be using him again in the future.

Mark W.

Our heat pump broke down so we called a company out to take a look then they told me they can fix but the cost would be so high that they recommend that I should consider a new heat pump so I told them I will think about it . So I went on Thumbtack for a second opinion I got in contact with Remedy Cooling and Heating Remy came take a look at my heat pump run some diognostic told me that the heat pump need freion and one welding he told me what it would cost, how long the work would take , very upfront and honest very hard to find in these days . Remy did not charge me to come out and check on my heat pump and run diognostic on the unit very honest. All I can say from now and for the foreseeable future he is my go to HVAC contractor . Mark W

Veronica K.

These guys are great! Showed up same day as requested and allowed me to observe their work on our HVAC. I've had some bad experience with another company and wanted to try to learn myself so I can be more educated with our units. Within 10 minutes, they found the problem, fixed it and even offered to come back on short notice should the issue re-surface. Pricing is a premium to other vendors on TT ($110 vs $80 hr) , but WELL worth it! Will 100% be using these guys in future for HVAC & Boiler needs.

Victoria M.

Very consultative and supportive. Great recommendations for completely converting HVAC system throughout an antique home (circa 1862). Included a quality team of vendors to support the efforts, ie. duct work, electrician and general carpenter.

Zane Z.

Mark and his team are simply amazing. Not only did they provide constructive feedback on our A/C system, but they pulled off a phenomenal job of fixing it quickly with a reasonable price. I've had a few frustrating experiences of dealing with other HVAC companies (including a few big names in the industry) and I felt that they always tried to rip you off without getting work done. Most professionals seemed to care more about how they could charge you not how they could help you. However, Mark and Jay were completely different - they were totally customer-oriented where they'd put your interest first. I would highly recommend them and I'd personally work with them on any other issues in the future!

Shirley T.

Ed helped to install new condensate pump and even relocated to make access to furnace filters much easier. He was prompt, professional and very neat in his work. I would hire Ed again for my HVAC needs.

TB W.

Mahdi was quick to reply, honest with his assessment, and fixed my heating issue seamlessly. On top of all that, he and his staff were great to work with. I highly recommend Soumadel HVAC!

Bianca B.

We had an emergency involving a water leak and Oneal Plumbing & Hvac Solutions was quick to respond right away. Pascual responded to our call right away, he was very nice and easy to talk to. We ended up using a different company, only because they were located closer to us and were able to assist us with the issue right away. I was very impressed with Pascual professionalism and I will definitely reach out to him in the future for any other plumbing work.

Tim S.

Put in a job at 730am on a Sunday. Got a response by 830am. Tech arrived by 1pm. Done by 130pm. We were in a tough spot because our central air went down the day before a 2 day heat wave was on the way in. Tech was really nice and informative and they didn’t use our situation to rip us off. I’ve had a few companies in the past try to take advantage and quote absurd prices. I’ll never call another company for HVAC ever again. Thanks guys.

Eric S.

I had a newer AC unit stop working on me right when it was outside its warranty. The contractor who installed it was absolute trash with whom I had a litany of problems so I tried Modern Air HVAC. I really wish I would have had these guys from the start to do the initial work. Jeremy/Modern Air came out within 48 hours of my Thumbtack request. Despite attempts to repair the unit he stopped at parts that needed to be special ordered and told me flat out that the unit that was initially installed was some off-brand POS that is essentially built to fail. He was willing to order parts for me to fix it but in the end he told me I'd be saving myself a lot of money and issues down the road to just replace the condenser with something more reliable. I did some research on my own and basically found this all to be true and the price Jeremy/Modern Air quoted me for a new unit was more than reasonable. Within a week I had a brand new condenser unit, 5 year warranty on everything, and an HVAC guy that not only knew his stuff but was trustworthy, reliable, and did the little things like reply to texts and phone calls and let you know if he was going to be running behind. All things considered it would have been hard to disappoint me based on the first company I had hired, but I really felt like Modern Air HVAC went above and beyond to make sure the job was done right and that I was happy. I highly recommend these guys for any HVAC issues!

Raul C.

Very cold winter night...heat stopped working in the middle of the night! Outside temp was well below zero ! Pipes bursted in basement and kitchen...(who do I call ) (who do I call !! ) panicking ....house got below 30•degrees !!! So I called Ideal air hvac...they said will be there no problem !!! And they did ....they fixed my heating unit ..fixed my pipes and even help me clean up all the water from the burst pipes !!!..I couldn't believe it !! Ideal hvac got my family warm and comfortable as soon as they could!!!!!!i highly recommend this company to anyone who needs excellent professional service !! Thank u ideal hvac!!!!!!

Warren V.

I can't recommend Mike highly enough. Mike Kikpatrick is old school. He is courteous, fair, thorough and very down to earth. His bid was the second lowest of the six I received, but close enough to the lowest that I hired him because I trusted and liked him as a person. I had two complete AC systems installed (both the outside compressor and the inside air handler). He always showed up within 5 minutes of when he said he would. If he was any later than that (once a supplier was out of what he needed so he had to go to a second supplier), he called or emailed to update me on his ETA. He did not take any shortcuts. When there were a couple parts that needed replacing, he didn't charge extra for them. When he ran into a couple surprises and things took longer than he expected, he kept at it and didn't charge extra. He charges for the job. He was flexible when I wanted him to do additional work. He personally supervises or does all the work himself. He has decades of experience and knows what he's doing. He gives good advice, but is open to your suggestions. He doesn't try to talk you into things you don't need. He's very responsible, trustworthy and respectful of your property. I plan to use him for service and any future HVAC needs. I can't think of a single thing he could have done any better.

Pramod Y.

The technicians were professional and most importantly had very good knowledge about the HVAC systems. They identified multiple issues with the AC and had to come back to fix it the next day due to replacement parts.

Jaipal Y.

The team came on-time and explained me what they are doing. They verified the HVAC Unit and started the work. The total work took ~2 hours and they are very professional. I recommend them for Duct Cleaning service.

Marc P.

A few weeks ago I submitted a request on Thumbtack for someone to install a home humidifier to my furnace. Tim responded to my request within an hour. He had me take photos of my card set up and gave me options are which Aprilaire models he could install. On the day of the job Tim was punctual, very thorough, and extremely professional from start to finish. I was happy to have found him and Will definitely use him for amy and all HVAC related jobs, in my home. Tim’s a super cool guy and I would definitely recommend him to anyone

Joshua B.

Great prices, great service and they were very knowledgeable. A great up and coming business with unlimited potential! Ive called them for small jobs and big jobs and they always come right out. As a real estate investor topknotch hvac is always my #1 call when I need something done and done right. They are the best!!

Grayson C.

I recommend chris for anyone who has central air conditioning or any other HVAC issues . He was very thoughtful of my needs and took time to make sure that my AC system was in good shape and pointed out things that he could have charged for but he did not

Rohit R.

Awesome job by Mario and his son on installing Hvac for all three levels of our house! They are true professionals- price was fair and everything was done as promised and on time. Would highly recommend them!!

Sandhya S.

He was great! We called him in the morning, and he came to our home same day in the evening to check out our broken air conditioner! Amazing service, very punctual, great value for the amount charged to us for his services. Turn around time was 1 day! I will definitely be using him for all of my future electrician needs around the house!

Everett, MA197 HVAC Professionals near you

Answer a few questions

Get quotes

Hire the right pro

Everett HVAC Professionals

Marsel N.