What to Expect During Your HVAC Replacement

Whether your current system is driving up your heating bills or maybe it’s getting up there in years, perhaps you’ve decided to consider replacing your heat pump, furnace, or boiler. However, if you’re a new homeowner considering replacement for the first time or (hopefully) it’s been a long time since your last HVAC installation, you may not be sure what to expect. So: what’s the process like? When you choose JK Mechanical for your HVAC installation and service needs, you get a team of trained and experienced professionals to help walk you through the process from beginning to end. Here’s what you can expect when you’re expecting a new heat pump, furnace, or boiler:

First, talk to our Sales Coordinator, Connie

Connie Hess has been part of the JK team for twelve years. Her role as Sales Coordinator is to assist you and our install team throughout every step of the residential HVAC install or replacement process. When you call JK Mechanical or send us a message, Connie will gather some information about your current system and what you’re looking for. She’ll then provide that information to one of our JK Comfort Consultants so that they’re prepared for your on-site assessment.

Next, schedule your free on-site assessment

At JK Mechanical, we understand that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to home comfort. After speaking with Connie, one of our trained and experienced Comfort Consultants will reach out to schedule a site visit at your convenience. While other mechanical companies may be willing to offer a ballpark quote over the phone or install from a set list of one-size-fits-all systems, we feel it’s essential to visit the site and inspect the condition and layout of your home as well as the existing equipment, all of which will affect the type of system we recommend and the materials needed to complete a successful, reliable install you can count on for years to come.

When your Comfort Consultant comes out to do the site assessment, they will take measurements and photos of your home and current HVAC system, in addition to speaking with you and hearing your concerns for your home comfort in order to design a fully custom system for your home, top to bottom, especially to meet your needs, your home, and budget.

Sign & Submit your Contract

Talk over your JK proposal with your family and your JK Comfort Consultant. When you’re ready to proceed, you can let your Comfort Consultant know, and they’ll make arrangements to collect a signed version of your contract and indicate any options you have selected. If you are paying with cash, credit card, or check, Pennsylvania HICPA law contracts ask for 30% down as a deposit. If you are interested in financing your project, Connie and your Comfort Consultant will help you apply online and confirm your approval.

In the meantime, if your system is down, we offer temporary heat solutions such as space heaters to help hold you and your family over until the install is complete. Your JK Comfort Consultant will drop them off for you and our installers will collect them after the installation is complete.

Schedule your Installation

Once JK has received your signed contract and your down payment or approved financing, RHR Project Manager Rob Clement will confirm the availability of your equipment, and contact you to schedule a time for installation. Most straightforward heat pump or furnace replacements can be done in 1-2 days of on-site time, while a more complicated system change or addition can take a week or more.

The Day Of

Before leaving our shop in Willow Street, your installer will call or text you to give you an approximate time of arrival. If you have any special instructions about parking, a garage code, etc, you are welcome to communicate that to Rob when scheduling or confirm them now.

Once they arrive, if you are on site, the foreman will review the schedule with you and what to expect during the installation. As this all varies from install to install, we’ll do our best to give you a clear picture of what to expect. If we are installing a gas appliance such as a gas boiler or furnace, we will usually ask about what other gas appliances you have in your home (such as stoves, fireplaces, etc) so that we can check and re-light the pilot lights as needed for you after finish.

Before beginning work, our team will lay down floor protection on finished floors and use shoe covers as needed to protect your home.

During Install

As you might expect, your heat will be inoperable until the new system is up and running. In the case of a Geothermal installation, your water will likely be off for a few hours. In the case of a boiler installation, you may be without hot water for several days. To alleviate some of the inconvenience, JK Mechanical is now able to offer our clients a temporary water heater so that you don’t lose hot water during a boiler install, in addition to space heaters as needed for living areas.

If your install is expected to last more than one day, your installer will be able to provide you with an update of what to expect before they leave for the day, and when they begin in the morning. Some tools and equipment may be left on-site as space allows.

Before We Leave

Your installers will take some time before leaving to pack up all of their tools, sweep and clean the install area, and do our best to leave your site better than we found it. If applicable, your old equipment will be hauled away and returned to our shop, where we will have it recycled.

If you are home, the installers will also take time to review the operation of your new system, including your thermostat and any necessary maintenance tasks, such as how to change the filter.

After the Install

Once your installation is complete, our office will invoice you for the balance of your contract or, if you are using financing, Connie will be in touch to help finalize that process. A few weeks after your install, Connie will give you a call to follow up and check to see if your system is working well for you, and confirm that you are completely satisfied with your install.

Once equipment has been installed, it needs to be registered with the manufacturer so that you receive the full manufacturer’s warranty. Connie and our team at the JK office will take care of that for you. In addition, depending on where you live and the type of equipment that was installed, your system may be eligible for manufacturer or power company rebates. Connie will file that on your behalf as well, and will be in touch if needed so that you can provide your account number and other necessary information to receive the rebate. If you are receiving a rebate, they are usually sent directly from the power company, and can take up to 12 weeks to arrive.

Reliable Home Comfort for Years to Come

At JK Mechanical, our goal is to provide you with an excellent and convenient HVAC replacement experience, from your first appointment through the lifetime of your system. As you use your system, our technicians typically recommend a JK Precision Tune-Up once per year in order to meet the requirements of your warranty and keep your system running smoothly & efficiently, in addition to regular filter changes. If at any time you feel like your new system isn’t cooling the way it should, just give us a call or contact us online for assistance.

As a reminder, we also have a Client Referral Program. If you’re happy with your JK HVAC installation, tell your friends and neighbors! If they give your name to Connie when they call or email for a quote and end up purchasing a new system through JK Mechanical, we’ll send you a check for up to $250! Ask your consultant or give us a call for more details.

Ready to begin the process of replacing your HVAC system? Contact JK Mechanical today to schedule your free, no-pressure estimate with one of our trained and experienced Comfort Consultants.