A replacement of a heating or cooling unit can carry lines that have nothing to do with the unit itself. A permit, an inspection, and a reinspection are common examples. Each one moves the total. This guide shows you how to find those lines and ask about them.
Ask whether a permit is required
Local building offices set the rules. Some places require a permit to replace heating or cooling equipment, and some do not. Ask the local office directly, and ask whether the rule covers the unit type and the connection work. Do not rely on memory from a past job.
Find out who pulls it
Ask in writing whether the owner or the installer applies for the permit. The answer decides who holds the paper and who answers to the inspector. A permit pulled by the wrong party can leave a gap at inspection, so settle this before the job starts.
Read the lines, not the total
Look for these lines on any replacement proposal: the permit itself, the inspection after install, a reinspection if the first inspection finds something, removal of the old unit, disposal, and refrigerant recovery on an air conditioner. Each line should say what it covers. A total with no lines tells you nothing about what moves it up or down.
Ask what the reinspection depends on
A reinspection line appears only when a first inspection does not pass. Ask what the proposal assumes about the existing wiring, the venting, and the connections. Ask who fixes a failed item, and whether that work is in the scope or added later.
Compare the same lines on each proposal
When you compare two proposals, put the permit, inspection, and removal lines side by side. A proposal that leaves a line blank has not priced that work. A proposal that shows a line where another proposal does not may be pricing the same job two ways. Compare lines first, then totals.
Plan the lead time
Permit offices and inspection schedules take time. The planning date gives you room to book them before a sudden need forces the decision. Check the central air conditioner page or the gas furnace page for typical service life and when to plan, and put the lead time on your calendar next to that date.
See the central air conditioner page on typical service life and when to plan.