HVAC Cost Estimator
Equipment is the visible cost; ductwork, electrical and commissioning are where the hours actually go.
Drop plan sheets or site photos
Up to 6 files — they're read together as one job
Ballpark for planning and bid-checking — not a quote. Confirm against local supplier and subcontractor pricing.
What a complete hvac estimate covers
- Condensing uniteach
- Air handler / furnaceeach
- Line setLF
- Trunk ductLF
- Branch runs / registerseach
- Thermostat and controlseach
- Electrical / disconnecteach
- Removal and disposal of old equipmenteach
- Startup and commissioninglot
- Permit and inspectionlot
Scope most often left out
These are the lines that turn a won bid into a loss. Price them or exclude them in writing — never assume them.
- Electrical work when the new unit needs a different circuit or disconnect
- Duct modification to match the new equipment's airflow
- Condensate routing, pans and safety switches
- Attic or crawlspace access and the heat penalty on productivity
- Refrigerant line flush or replacement on a changeout
A changeout is rarely just a changeout
Replacing equipment usually surfaces electrical, duct sizing and condensate issues that were tolerable with the old unit and are not code-compliant with the new one. Price these as explicit lines with assumptions rather than absorbing them, or every job becomes a negotiation on the day.
Commissioning is billable work
Charge, airflow verification and control setup take real time and are what separate a working system from a callback. Estimating them at zero guarantees the hours come out of your margin.
FAQ
How do you estimate an HVAC job?
Price equipment by unit, distribution by linear foot and register count, and add electrical, condensate, removal and disposal, permits and commissioning as their own lines. The estimator does this from your uploads or description.
What is most often missed on an HVAC changeout?
Electrical changes required by the new equipment, duct modifications to match its airflow, and condensate routing and safety switches. All three are commonly assumed to carry over from the old system and frequently do not.
Should commissioning be a separate line?
Yes. Charging, verifying airflow and setting up controls is real, billable labour, and showing it separately makes it much harder to negotiate away.
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