Before you sign for an HVAC repair or replacement, ask the contractor for their North Carolina license number, whether the quote is based on a load calculation for your house, what exactly is included in writing, who pulls the permit, what the labor warranty covers, and when the work will start and finish. Six questions, ten minutes, and the answers tell you more than any review score.
Are you licensed, and what’s the number?
Ask for the number and look it up in the state board search before you sign; here’s how. You want an active license in the group that covers your job (H-3 for cooling and heat pumps, H-2 for furnaces) and a qualifier connected to the business. Every contractor in the registry shows what we found, so if you found them through a city page you can start from that and confirm.
Did you run a load calculation, and can I see it?
A replacement quote should be based on a Manual J load calculation for your specific house, not on the size of the unit being removed. Homes get insulation, windows and additions over the years, and the original equipment was often oversized to begin with. Ask to see the calculation, or at least ask what the design load came out to and how it maps to the tonnage quoted. “Same size as what you have” is the answer that produces clammy houses and short-cycling systems in this climate. What a proper installation includes explains what the calculation covers.
What exactly is in the quote?
Ask for model numbers for every major component (outdoor unit, indoor coil or air handler, furnace, thermostat), the efficiency ratings, what happens to the ductwork, refrigerant line set, pad, disconnect, and drain, whether old equipment removal and disposal is included, and whether the price is fixed. Two quotes with the same headline price can differ by thousands of dollars in what’s actually included, which is why comparing quotes line by line matters.
Who pulls the permit?
The contractor should. If they suggest skipping it, or ask you to pull it as a homeowner permit, that’s a reason to move on. Ask for the permit number before work starts and expect an inspection afterward. When a permit is required in NC.
What does the warranty cover, and who honors it?
Manufacturers typically warrant parts for a period after registration; the labor to replace a failed part is separate and comes from the contractor. Ask how long the labor warranty is, whether it’s in writing, whether the contractor registers the equipment for you (unregistered systems often get a shorter parts warranty), and what happens if the company changes hands. HVAC warranties explained.
When do you start, how long does it take, and who’s doing the work?
A standard residential replacement is usually a one-day job; ductwork adds time. Ask whether the crew are the contractor’s employees or subcontractors, whether the technicians handling refrigerant are EPA 608 certified, and what the plan is if the job runs long in peak season.
The one question that reveals the most
Ask: “What would make you recommend a different size or type of system than the one I have now?” A contractor who has actually thought about your house will have a specific answer about your load, humidity, ductwork or utility rates. A salesperson will say the current size is fine.