Home Project Summary

HVAC Service

Ideas, costs, tips and plans - the information you need for a successful HVAC Maintenance project

February 2011

Homeowners have many important questions about their HVAC Maintenance Project. How much will it cost? How long will it take? What problem areas do I need to watch out for? Can I recover my HVAC Maintenance investment when I sell? Can I do some of the work myself? What can I do to make sure that the work is done right?

Costs, materials and best practices for the example HVAC Maintenance project will help you answer these questions. Use this information to develop a budget, bid requirements, hiring contracts and a project plan.

Use the following information to understand your options, make good decisions and get quality work at a fair price.

HVAC Maintenance - Project Overview

The approximate costs and value of a typical HVAC Maintenance project are summarized below. Use higher estimates for larger metropolitan areas and the lower estimates where home prices are below the national average. Adjust costs for substitutions or refinements in the last section. For size differences of up to 25%, scale total costs in direct proportion to the size of your project. Use the adjusted costs as a basis for setting a material budget and for comparing contractor bids (if you choose to have a professional perform the work).

Project description	Common home heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) maintenance and service projects. Projects include modernization, restoration, addition and repair.
Project size	Average HVAC service call
Material and labor cost	$662 - $772
Do-it-yourself assessment	This is not a project recommended for the do it yourselfer. A successful HVAC Maintenance requires the work of skilled trade contractors as well as special materials, tools, fabrication and installation techniques. Do it yourself mistakes may be expensive to remedy and will likely reduce the marketability and value of your home.
First year Return on Investment - ROI	Returns vary widely and are affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality HVAC Maintenance project in an appropriate neighborhood can return as much as 77% - 91% of its initial cost.
Long term Return on Investment - ROI	Returns vary widely and are affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality HVAC Maintenance project in an appropriate neighborhood can return as much as 77% - 91% of its initial cost.
Green rating	HVAC Maintenance projects can employ renewable resources and environmentally friendly construction materials. Efficient lighting, HVAC, insulation and appliance choices can significantly reduce the energy footprint of your home.

HVAC Maintenance - Proven Ideas and Project Tips

Review these tips, design suggestions, options and lessons learned before finalizing your HVAC Maintenance project plan.

Consider eco friendly appliances with the Energy Star certification
Match appliances and fixtures to electrical circuit, hot water and gas capacities
Perform major HVAC Maintenance work with permits to help protect value at resale time
To keep HVAC Maintenance costs low, do not move walls or relocate plumbing fixtures or electrical boxes

HVAC Maintenance - Project Plan and Details

The following list includes major work tasks commonly performed during HVAC Maintenance. Use this list to understand the timing and sequence of different steps in the HVAC Maintenance project. Click any Task name for a complete written specifications, FAQs and quality checklist for the task - this essential information will help you control HVAC Maintenance project cost and quality.

Task

Service Provider

Duration

Do-it-yourself difficulty

Target cost

Install Duct

HVAC Contractor

1 to 2 d

Level 3 - Complex, Difficult

$43 - $75 per linear foot

Install Exhaust Duct

Plumber