Only work with HVAC contractors who are licensed to work in your state. Licensing for HVAC contractors is done at either the state or the local level. This varies significantly from state to state, so you should check with your local building inspector to see how it's done in your area. HVAC is a very complicated industry, so you should not be willing to hire a contractor who does not have these licenses.

Always get an estimate before you get started on any HVAC projects. Your contractor should be able to provide you with a reasonably secure estimate for a job like this. If possible, you should contact many different contractors for estimates. When you do this, you will have many more opportunities to get a lower price. This type of shopping around can end up saving you quite a lot of money in the end.

Most HVAC contractors will expect some type of deposit before they get to work. This is a standard, reasonable request that you should feel comfortable fulfilling. However, you should never pay more than 25 or 30 per cent as a deposit for any work.