HVAC Quote Checklist — San Antonio

What it should state. What's commonly not stated. What to ask before you sign.

You're about to sign an HVAC replacement quote — a new AC, furnace, or heat pump in the San Antonio area. This page lists what a complete one states, the lines that are commonly not stated, and the questions worth asking before your name goes on it.

This is a reading checklist, not advice. Spend Defense doesn't tell you whether to sign — we make sure you've actually seen what's on the page, and what isn't.

What a complete HVAC quote states

The total price — one installed price for the whole job, not an equipment price with labor to be figured later.
Equipment by model number — brand and exact model numbers for each unit, not just "3-ton system."
Efficiency rating — the SEER2 (and HSPF2 or AFUE, where it applies) rating of the equipment being installed, stated as a number.
Ductwork scope — whether ducts are being replaced, modified, sealed, or left as they are.
Pad, line set, and thermostat — each one named as included, reused, or extra.
Permit and refrigerant disposal — whether the permit and the recovery of old refrigerant are in the total.
Two warranties, separately — the manufacturer's parts warranty and the installer's labor warranty, with a length for each.
Payment schedule — deposit amount, and what has to happen before the balance is due.

What's commonly not stated

Labor warranty length — a 10-year parts warranty and a 1-year labor warranty can sit on the same page without either being highlighted.
Parts-warranty registration — many manufacturer warranties require registration within a set window; quotes rarely say who registers it.
What the maintenance plan renews into — a "free first-year tune-up" may convert to a paid plan; the renewal price and how to stop it are often missing.
Sizing basis — whether the system size came from a load calculation or a match to the old unit is seldom written down.
Installation date and duration — when the work happens and how long you may be without heating or cooling.
Permit and license details for San Antonio-area HVAC work — whether this job needs a permit depends on the scope and on the city or county it's in, so the quote should say whether one is needed, who pulls it, and whether it's in the total. Licensing for this work is set by Texas and local agencies; ask for the license information on the document and look it up yourself with the issuing agency.

None of these gaps decide anything by themselves. They're the lines to ask about before you sign, not after.

Questions to ask before you sign

“Ask your San Antonio HVAC contractor: what are the exact model numbers and SEER2 ratings of what you’re installing?”
“Are the pad, line set, thermostat, and any duct work in this total?”
“Is the permit in this number, and who schedules the inspection?”
“How long is the labor warranty, separate from the parts warranty?”
“Does the maintenance plan renew automatically, and at what price?”

Want a second set of eyes on the actual document?

Send us the paperwork before you sign. A Quick Check reads your document and shows you what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask — for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Longer documents: Document Review $19, Premium Review $49.

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We don't decide for you. We make sure nothing on the page — or missing from it — surprises you later.

FAQ

How much does an HVAC replacement usually cost in the San Antonio area?

We don't price other people's work — cost depends on system type and size, efficiency rating, and how much duct work the house needs. What you can check is whether your quote states its own total, the model numbers, and what's included. A clear quote and a vague quote can carry the same number.

What if something on this checklist is missing from my HVAC quote?

Ask for it in writing before you sign. A missing model number or labor-warranty length isn't a verdict on the installer; it's an unknown in a contract you're about to be bound by. Getting it stated on the page costs nothing and settles it before the old unit comes out.

Can Spend Defense read my actual HVAC quote?

Yes — that's the Quick Check. Send the document and you'll get back what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask, for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Most HVAC quotes fit well within that, including the equipment spec sheets attached to them.

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Spend Defense — we read the paperwork before you sign. We don't decide for you.