New HVAC Quote - What to Expect

After the initial discussion, our Advisor will begin the inspection of the house and existing system. Depending on what is found and the original reason for the visit, this could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. We realize that your time is very valuable and we value that, however, we believe it is our responsibility to evaluate the house and systems in a manner to help you make an informed decision. In most houses, this cannot be done in only a few minutes. The type work we perform can require a large investment so we will do our best to be as thorough as possible so you can invest as little as possible to solve the issue at hand.

We will be gathering information about the existing equipment size and type, examining the area where the equipment is located, taking pictures of the potential work area, measuring the home for a system load calculation, examining the insulation in the home, looking for any excessive moisture, code issues, ductwork condition plus many others. We may use tools such as an IR Camera and Infiltrometer to help us determine what the best solutions are to present to you.

After all the needed information is obtained, our Comfort Advisor will do a quick review of the information with you and what you are looking to accomplish before moving to the next step.

If we have all the information needed and you are comfortable, we will then ask permission to complete the proposal while on site. Again, we realize how valuable your time is and therefore really want to minimize how much time we take while still giving you as much information as possible.

Our Comfort Advisor will then proceed to put together a proposal for the work requested unless you do not have time or the proposal will require something unusual that requires outside information or possibly the help of one of our partners to complete the work or proposal. The proposal will typically include at least three choices so you know that there is almost always more than one way to address an issue in your home. Very rarely will you be limited to only one solution. During this phase, we welcome as many questions as possible. We will always do our best to explain our solutions but we also know that some of what we might propose could be something that you have never seen before or have never had to deal with before. Now is the time to ask as many questions as possible.

If we have done our job properly up to this point, we believe that you will be moving forward with the work. However, we also know that all the persons involved in the decision may not be present. If you are not ready to make a decision, our Comfort Advisor will ask for permission to follow up on a certain date/time.

We greatly appreciate the opportunity to present solutions that will improve the comfort and energy efficiency in your home. We believe strongly that no one will serve you better or stand by the work better than we will.

Sincerely,

Steven Long
President, Residential Divisions

Important Things To Know Before You Replace Your HVAC System:

There is No Cookie Cutter Solution: Every situation is different when it comes to installing a new heating/cooling system. Each individual home needs a custom solution in order to maximize the return on your investment and help you be as comfortable and energy efficient as possible. Before your contractor provides you with an investment proposal, there are a few questions that should be considered.

• Is the unit sized properly?
• What is the best efficiency model for my application?
• Is the ductwork in good condition?
• Is it better to repair it now and wait?

After these questions have been answered, then you can move on to the next step with a clear mind. There is no “one size fits all” solution to your heating/cooling comfort.

The Whole House Matters: Each part of your home affects the way your heating/cooling unit works. Some examples include: the duct system, envelope, attic, crawl space, and living space. The entirety of the home needs to be analyzed to choose the best solution for your new heating/cooling system.

• Are the any areas where the home is leaking air?
• Are there hot or cold spots?
• Does the home need more insulation?
• Are your energy bills excessively high?

A Whole Home Comfort & Energy Audit is required to see if any of the above problems are present. A blower door and smoke test, an infrared scan of the ductwork and home envelope are included in this evaluation. These results yield information that will help you make the most informed decision where home comfort, energy efficiency, and heating/cooling are concerned.

There are Always Choices: A Whole Home Comfort & Energy Audit is required to see if any of the above problems are present. A blower door and smoke test, an infrared scan of the ductwork and home envelope are included in this evaluation. These results yield information that will help you make the most informed decision where home comfort, energy efficiency, and heating/cooling are concerned.

If you experience a similar situation, we suggest that you talk to someone else for a secondary analysis. In certain situations you may simply need an upgrade, a repair, or a tune up rather than replacing the unit. One of the most important questions you need to ask when going through this process is: What are we trying to accomplish? You always have a choice regarding your heating/cooling system.

Bigger is Not Better: In the HVAC industry, especially when it comes to a gas furnace, bigger is not better. In order to determine the correct capacity of the heating system needed for your home, an evaluation is vital. A heating system that is oversized will reduce your comfort, increase energy usage, and shorten the life of the system. In the long run, those aspects can cost you an unnecessary amount of extra money. A detailed procedure is required to determine the exact size system. This procedure includes the size of your house, where the unit is located, what condition the duct system is in, how old the home is, how many people live in the house, etc. If this analysis is not performed, then it is impossible to ensure that the heating/cooling system will be the correct size.

Efficiency Ratings: The main reason you use central heating/cooling is to stay comfortable in your home as the temperatures change throughout the year. Efficiency ratings of a heating/cooling system are an important part of helping your comfort. Our industry spends a vast amount of time talking about equipment efficiency ratings. Every manufacturer has systems with high efficiency ratings. The duct system, the insulation within the home, and how leaky the house is can have a much bigger impact on the overall energy costs and comfort within your home. Proper system installation, proper air flow, and how the system is maintained has a greater impact on the system’s life and overall efficiency than the actual efficiency rating does. Individual pieces of a system are created in a factory, but these pieces are put together to form your system on site at your home, so the company chosen to install the system has a greater opportunity to positively or negatively affect how the heating/cooling system will operate.

Brand-X: Brands are not created equal, but does that mean that you have to overpay for a big manufacturer’s marketing budget? Absolutely not. In today’s industry, equipment is quality manufactured. Beware of getting “branded.” A successful heating/cooling system installation depends more on who is doing the work and how they are doing it rather than the brand of equipment. On occasion, there could be a special application where one brand does have the advantage, but on standard equipment and efficiencies, there really is not much different between the different brands of equipment. You should be careful of those organizations and of the contractor that tells you their brand is the absolute “best.”

Call a Professional: Finding the best company to install your new heating/cooling system can be frustrating. You could be put into a situation of never comparing the same “Apple Pie” vs “Apple Pie” proposal. It takes many ingredients to make a great apple pie, just like it takes many ‘ingredients’ to make a professional heating/cooling system installation. The first step should be a comprehensive inspection and evaluation of your home by a certified Home Comfort & Energy Advisor. This inspection should include items that will affect your comfort, energy efficiency, health and safety. These items are listed below:

1. Evaluation of your heating system and equipment.
2. Measurements of your home.
3. Evaluation of the air distribution center (the duct system).
4. Performing a load-calculation analysis.
5. Inspection and evaluation of the insulation in the house.
6. Inspection of the crawlspace (if applicable) and attic.
7. Questionnaire survey about your personal concerns and goals related to the comfort and efficiency of your home.

Your heating/cooling system is just one of the components in an intricate network that make up the entire “house-as-a-system.” Every action or change has a reaction, and can sometimes lead to unintended consequences. Your home’s performance is no different. Taking the time to do research upfront is an important factor to ensure you’re making the smart investment into energy savings, and better comfort. If nothing else is considered within the house other than the heating equipment, the long-term energy efficiency and comfort of the home may not be maximized.

How to Finance: One of the most beneficial things about getting comfort and energy efficiency upgrades added to your home is that you can save you money. If you feel that your heating bills are too high, upgrades such as a new unit, air sealing, insulation, and duct work can greatly reduce the amount of money you’re sending to the utility companies each month. Homes where the energy usage decreases by as much as 60%-70% exist! This result may not be typical of every home, but we do guarantee a 20% reduction if all the recommended work is done after a Whole Home Energy Audit is performed.

An even greater perk of this type of work is that the overall comfort level in a home is almost always improved at the same time the energy usage is reduced. You’re going to spend money either way, but the choice of whether you’re going to send it to the utility company (and still have comfort problems) each month, or invest the money in improving your home, is yours. In some situations, we have found that customers have financed the work, and the monthly savings has completely offset or almost offset the monthly investment amount for the work.

Now What? Installing a new heating/cooling system in your home is a big investment, one that will affect your utility and comfort bills for years to come. If there are any oversights, you cannot just trade it in like you can with a car. You’re stuck with it or left paying extra money to fix the situation. What if you’re not happy with something? What routine maintenance needs to be performed? How do you obtain “warranty service” if needed? How will your service provider support you in the short and long term? When choosing someone to install this system in your home, make sure you have a true “Professional Service Company” and not a “fly-by-night installer” who disappears once the installation is complete.

Why Homeowners Choose GSM Services:

• We Listen: Our customers know more about their home issues than we do.
• We Learn: We solve problems by listening to our customers and staying in touch with the latest innovations.
• We Deliver: We find resolutions through action.
• Worry-free pricing: We always tell you the cost up front.
• We repair and service all system brands and models.
• Quality Work: Customers know they can rely on us to achieve the highest standard of work.
• Dependable/Reliable: We are responsive and reliable.
• Customer Focused: Work at the customer’s convenience, not ours.
• Certified and expertly trained HVAC technicians.
• Free estimates for heating system replacements and installations.

Our Guarantees

100% Satisfaction Comfort Guarantee: If for any reason you are not satisfied with your new system installation, GSM Services will remove that system and install a new system or refund the total purchase price. This guarantee will remain in effect for one year after the original date of installation.

"No Surprises" Guarantee: Once the work starts, the price quoted is the price you pay, even if the job entails more work than estimated.