Plan it

A new system quote: load calculation, permit, refrigerant

A full replacement runs $5,000 to $28,000. Three things separate a good install from an expensive one: a Manual J load calculation instead of a square-foot guess, a permit pulled by the contractor, and clarity on which refrigerant the new equipment uses.

What is probably happening

Sizing. ACCA Manual J is the residential load calculation standard, and ENERGY STAR requires it for certified homes. ACCA's own analysis of 40 real load calculations found homes needing anywhere from 624 to over 1,400 square feet per ton, so a 'one ton per 500 square feet' rule cannot be right for your house.
Permit. Many jurisdictions require a mechanical permit for a replacement, and the application is signed by the licensed contractor. Maryland, for example, requires one for replacement gas or oil fired equipment. The permit brings an inspection, which is your check on the work.
Refrigerant. New residential AC and heat pump equipment made since January 1, 2025 must use a refrigerant under 700 GWP, so quotes should be for R-454B or R-32 systems. Both are mildly flammable A2L refrigerants with their own leak sensors and installation rules. CBS News reports the transition has pushed equipment prices up, and the ICC noted R-454B shortages in 2025.

Do this in the next five minutes

Ask every bidder: will you run a Manual J and give me the report? A quote sized by square footage alone is a guess.
Ask: who pulls the permit, and is the fee in the price?
Ask which refrigerant. If a quote is for leftover R-410A equipment, ask why, what it saves, and how parts and refrigerant will be supported over 15 years.
Get the model numbers of the outdoor unit, indoor coil and furnace or air handler, and check they are a matched, rated combination.
Get three written quotes. The spread is usually thousands.

Do not

Do not pay in full up front. A deposit for equipment is normal; the balance is on completion and inspection.
Do not let a contractor skip the permit to save you the fee. Permit costs are $250 to $400 on average; an uninspected install can cost you at sale or on a claim.
Do not accept 'same size as the old one'. The old one may have been wrong, and your house has changed.

Who to call

A licensed HVAC contractor

Replacement is licensed work in most states and needs EPA Section 608 certification for the refrigerant. Check the license on the state board's site, not the contractor's van.

Get a free shortlist The seven questions for this trade

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What it should cost

$7,000 to $20,000

Central AC plus furnace in a 2,000 sq ft home, typical band. Full span $5,000 to $28,000. HVAC permits $250 to $400 on average

Source: CBS News, new HVAC system cost, May 2026, and Angi, building permit cost, August 2026. View source

National published range, not a quote for your job. The full cost table for this trade is on the hvac page.

Ask this contractor, on the phone, before anyone comes out

Tap each one as you ask it.

Will you run a Manual J and Manual S and give me the reports before I sign?
Which refrigerant does this equipment use, and is a refrigerant leak sensor included where the code requires it?
Who pulls the permit, is the fee in the quote, and will the final inspection happen before the last payment?
Are the outdoor unit, coil and indoor unit a matched AHRI-rated combination? What is the rated efficiency of that exact match?
Is duct testing or sealing in the quote, or is it extra?

End the call if

No load calculation, or a quote produced in the driveway from square footage.
A suggestion that you borrow from a lender they recommend, or a discount that expires today.
Full payment up front or cash only.

Where this comes from

Not my problem, tap through instead Every hvac answer