1. Verify licence, insurance, and certifications
- Kansas has no statewide HVAC contractor licence. In Wichita and the rest of Sedgwick County, licensing is local: the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD) licenses contractors and issues master and journeyman mechanical trade certificates. Ask for the contractor's MABCD licence number and the installers' trade certificate numbers, check them with MABCD, and ask for proof of liability insurance. Outside MABCD's area, ask the city or county building office what applies. Do not accept 'licensed and insured' as a sentence without numbers. (Licensing rules checked November 2026; confirm current requirements with MABCD.)
- Technicians handling refrigerant must hold EPA 608 certification. Ask who will actually do the install and what certifications they hold.
- Ask for a certificate of insurance and for local references in Wichita or a named suburb — and call one.
2. Insist on a load calculation and duct check
A proper sizing calculation (Manual J or equivalent) accounts for your home's size, insulation, windows, orientation, and air leakage. If a contractor sizes by square footage alone, or proposes the same size as the old unit without checking, that is a reason to get another quote. Likewise, a quote that never mentions ducts has skipped a major cost and comfort driver — ask for a duct inspection and a written finding, even if the finding is 'ducts are fine.'
3. Compare quotes like-for-like
| Compare this | Why |
|---|---|
| Exact model numbers + SEER2 / AFUE / HSPF2 | Brand names alone hide efficiency tiers. Model numbers pin the equipment down. |
| Parts vs labour warranty, separately | 10-year parts with 1-year labour is a very different deal from 10-year parts with 10-year labour. Registration often extends parts warranties — ask who registers and by when. |
| Scope: line set, thermostat, pad, electrical, gas, permits, haul-away | Missing scope items become change orders on install day. |
| Total cost of ownership | Ask for estimated annual running costs at your utility rates for each option, not just the install price. |
4. Questions to ask before you sign
- What load calculation did you run, and what size does it recommend — and why?
- What did you find in my ducts, and what will you fix?
- What are the parts and labour warranties, and what voids them?
- Who registers the equipment warranty, and by what deadline?
- What rebates or financing apply to this exact equipment, and who files the paperwork?
- What is the install timeline, who is on site, and how is the system tested at startup?
- What maintenance does the warranty require, and what does it cost?
5. Red flags
- Sizing by guesswork, refusal to inspect ducts, or a quote given sight-unseen over the phone as a firm price.
- Pressure to sign today for a 'today only' price, or a large cash deposit before equipment is ordered.
- No model numbers, no warranty terms, or a quote that is a single lump sum with no scope breakdown.
- Advice to replace a young system for a minor component failure without showing the repair-versus-replace numbers.
The simplest test: a contractor who measures your home, inspects your ducts, and puts model numbers, scope, and both warranties in writing is doing the job properly — even if their price is not the lowest.
Before you decide
General information only, not professional advice. This site covers topics that touch gas and electrical safety, refrigerant handling, contracts and warranties, rebates, and financing. Nothing here is legal, financial, tax, or engineering advice, and cost figures are published planning ranges, not quotes. Your home, your equipment, and your contract decide what applies to you.
Talk to a licensed local professional before you decide: a licensed, insured local HVAC contractor for sizing, ducts, and installation, your utility or a tax adviser for rebate and credit questions, and a licensed attorney for contract questions.