What to Expect During a Professional HVAC Installation

At some point, every homeowner will have to invest in a new HVAC system. If this is your very first time purchasing a system for your home, it can be a bit overwhelming because you don’t know what’s going to happen throughout the process. Below, we’ll go into detail about what happens during professional HVAC installation service so that you can gain peace of mind on the subject.

Initial Consultation

When you first decide that you need a new HVAC system in your home, we’ll schedule a consultation appointment. This is where our technician will come out to your home, listen to your needs, and recommend the best unit to meet your heating and cooling demands. Our technician will use a specialized calculation known as the Manual J calculation to determine the appropriate size unit for your home.

While the total square footage of your home does play an important role in determining the right size unit to meet your needs, it’s only one of many different factors. Factors like the type of windows you have, your door and window placement, your local climate, and even the insulation level of your home will all go into factoring the appropriate unit size.

Receiving a Quote and Scheduling

We offer many different heating and cooling products to meet your needs. Your options include furnaces, ductless mini-splits, heat pumps, and even central air conditioning units. All of these systems come in both standard and high-efficiency models.

High-efficiency models cost more upfront to purchase. However, they use much less energy and will reduce your energy bills over their entire lifespan. Once you determine what unit you want, we’ll provide you with a free estimate. We do offer financing to make the purchase of your new HVAC unit more manageable for your budget.

Once you approve the installation quote, we’ll go ahead and order your new unit and schedule an installation date. In general, most HVAC units can be installed in a day, though. Larger homes with multiple levels may take a bit longer. Our technician will let you know the installation time frame for your specific system.

A Note on Ductwork Inspection

If your home already has existing ductwork, our team will do a thorough inspection of it to determine if any changes are needed. Properly insulated ductwork can last 20 to 30 years. If your ducting is getting up there in age, it may be time to consider replacing or sealing it.

Additionally, it’s typical for older homes to have DIY ductwork additions. The problem with these additions is that they may not offer the best performance from your new unit. Our technicians will let you know if your ductwork needs to be redesigned or not.

Prepping for Installation Day

As a homeowner, there are a few things that you’ll want to do to prepare for your new HVAC installation. First and most important is to clear the space around your existing unit. You don’t want the area to be overly crowded with items, as it will be challenging for our installer to remove your outdated unit. Be sure to create a clear path from the existing indoor unit to the closest exterior door.

It’s also a good idea to leave some space in the driveway for the installers to back in with your new unit. Have a plan for where your pets and children will stay during the installation process. It’s always best to plan on being home for the installation so you can answer any questions the installer may have.

Installation Day

On the day of your new HVAC installation, our technicians will arrive at your home ready to start the installation process. They’ll safely remove the refrigerant from your old unit. Then, they’ll disconnect the power to it and start to disassemble it for easy removal. They’ll also remove any existing outdoor condenser unit and level up the existing concrete pad.

Next, they’ll install the new HVAC components. If you’re getting a heat pump or ductless mini-split, we’ll install the outdoor condenser unit, the indoor air handler unit, and the refrigerant lines that connect them to one another. If you’re getting a new furnace, we’ll install the new unit in your basement or utility closet.

Once the new unit is in place, we’ll wire up its electrical system and charge its internal refrigerant. We’ll calibrate your thermostat and do a thorough system test to ensure it’s working properly. During this initial test, we’ll check for things like refrigerant pressure, airflow, and so much more.

Once we verify your new HVAC system is working correctly, we’ll clean up our workspace. Our technician will do a final walkthrough with you and answer all the questions you have about your new unit. They’ll also provide you with all the necessary paperwork alongside your warranty information.

The Many Reasons to Hire a Professional

When it comes to installing a new HVAC system in your home, you may be tempted to DIY it. That isn’t the smartest idea for many reasons that we’ll address below.

Warranty Coverage

Probably one of the most important reasons you want to leave HVAC installation up to the professionals is to maintain the warranty coverage on your unit. Most HVAC manufacturers require their systems to be installed by a certified HVAC technician. If you DIY the installation, they may deny any future warranty claims that you submit for repair work. This could leave you paying a bundle out of pocket.

Ensure Proper Sizing

Our knowledgeable HVAC technicians are highly trained to determine the appropriate size HVAC unit for your home. Far too often, many homeowners think that bigger is always better. That’s simply not the case when it comes to HVAC systems.

If you get an air conditioner that’s too big, it won’t run long enough to remove humidity from your home. This will leave your home feeling stuffy and uncomfortable. Plus, you’ll be spending more upfront for the oversized unit. It’s best to simply let our professional technicians determine the appropriate unit size for your household so you can get the best operating efficiency and comfort possible.

Appropriate Tools and Knowledge

HVAC technicians are trained to install heating and cooling systems. They have the appropriate tools and equipment to do the job correctly. Many homeowners simply lack adequate tools to do the job and don’t have the appropriate knowledge when it comes to installation safety procedures.

Avoid Poor Installation

Poor installation is one of the main contributing factors to a shortened HVAC lifespan. When your unit is inappropriately sized, is hooked to undersized or leaky ductwork, and has a poor refrigerant charge, it isn’t going to function very efficiently.

Reliable AC Installation Service

MVP Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing & Electric provides reliable AC installation services to the Kansas City, KS community. Our technicians can also assist with all your HVAC replacement, repair, and maintenance needs. Simply call us today to book your next service consultation.