A full HVAC replacement — both the heating system and the cooling system, typically in a single coordinated installation — is the largest mechanical investment most homeowners make in a south Salt Lake Valley home. The decision to replace is usually triggered by a failed component (compressor, heat exchanger, blower motor) on a system old enough that repair cost approaches replacement cost, or by a pre-planned upgrade from an aging 80% AFUE furnace and aging R-22 condenser to a current-generation high-efficiency system. Either way, the decision deserves the same engineering rigor as a new system installation: a documented load calculation, altitude-corrected equipment selection, a permit, and a commissioning process that confirms the installed system actually performs to its specifications.
We provide free in-home HVAC replacement estimates that include a documented ACCA Manual J load calculation, not a “same-size replacement” proposal based on the nameplate of the unit we are replacing. The existing system’s nameplate is not evidence that the system was correctly sized when it was installed.
The industry rule of thumb — multiply the system’s age in years by the repair cost; if the result exceeds $5,000, replacement is likely more economical than repair — is a starting point, not a complete analysis. For south Salt Lake Valley homes, the calculation has additional inputs:
For proactive replacement of a functioning but aging system, the economics are driven by three factors:
The estimate visit includes an ACCA Manual J heating and cooling load calculation at the actual installation address. We collect:
We also assess the existing duct system for Manual D compliance and identify any duct modifications the replacement requires. We inspect the existing venting (B-vent condition for 80% AFUE replacements, or new PVC routing requirements for condensing system upgrades). We note the CSST bonding status and include bonding in the installation scope if it is incomplete.
The estimate is itemized: equipment cost, labor by phase (removal, installation, electrical, venting, refrigerant work, commissioning), permit fees, any required duct modifications, and venting materials. We do not bundle these into a single number that obscures where the costs are.
Installation follows the same sequence documented on our individual Furnace Installation and AC Installation pages, combined into a single crew day (or two-day installation for systems requiring significant duct modification or new PVC venting routing):
For full system replacement, we configure the heating and cooling systems as matched pairs where possible to maximize AHRI efficiency ratings and communicating system integration:
Free in-home HVAC replacement estimates across Draper, Sandy, Bluffdale, Riverton, South Jordan, and Herriman. The estimate includes a Manual J load calculation and a side-by-side efficiency payback comparison, not just a price quote.