Everyone wants a good deal, right? Well, in order to get a good deal you should first understand what companies are more likely to charge you an arm and a leg. In the HVAC industry, high prices don’t always mean higher quality of service or higher quality system. In fact, larger companies with more overhead are generally less likely to give you 5-star service than the smaller, local companies despite the high prices that the larger companies charge.
In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to choose the right HVAC company and how to know if you’re calling an expensive HVAC company or a reasonably priced company.
Not All AC Quotes Are Created Equally
If you’ve gotten two or three estimates for an AC repair or replacement in Glendale, you’ve probably noticed something surprising — the prices can vary a lot. Sometimes by thousands of dollars. You might wonder, “What the heck? Why is this company’s quote so much more?” There are several reasons behind that high price and we’ll dive into a few variables below.
- Scope of Work
- Equipment Quality
- Labor Standards
- Warranty Coverage
- Marketing Costs
- Salesman Compensation
Keep in mind, we aren’t recommending always going with the cheapest. Instead, you should weigh your options and choose the company that provides the most value within your budget.
Licensing and Insurance
If a company comes in suspiciously cheap, you should first check to see if they are licensed through the Registrar of Contractors. If a company is operating with an ROC then they could damage something and not be held liable. While these companies are generally cheaper, you’d be taking a huge risk in dealing with them:
- Operating with minimal or no insurance
- Skipping permit requirements
- Outsourcing labor
A licensed and insured company protects you. Be mindful of this if you receive a shockingly low AC unit installation quote.
Link to Sundance ROC:
https://azroc.my.site.com/AZRoc/s/contractor-search?licenseId=a0o8y000000gymxAAA
AC Unit Sizing
When companies want a quick and cheap sale, they’ll often sell you the same size unit that you have without performing local tests.
This can result in you having a unit that is too small for your house. This will cause your unit to run longer than it needs to which shortens the life of your unit and costs you more on electricity.
A proper manual J load calculation includes:
- Square footage
- Window / Sun exposure
- Insulation levels
- Ductwork inspections
- Air leakage (doors, etc.)
Be sure to ask your technician, “Did you perform a manual J load Calculation?”
Equipment Quality
Not all brands and sizes of air conditioners are built the same.
Seer2 Ratings & Efficiency
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and it’s used to measure the cooling efficiency of your AC unit. Generally the higher the SEER2 rating, the more expensive the AC replacement is going to cost. These costs aren’t from the AC company but from the manufacturer.
| SEER2 Rating | Efficiency Level | Impact |
| 13-14 | Standard | Basic Efficiency |
| 15-16 | Mid-range | Moderately Efficient |
| 17-19 | High-efficiency | Very Efficient and Quiet |
| 20+ | Ultra high-efficiency | Extremely Efficient & Extremely Quiet |
You can learn more about SEER Ratings here:
https://www.carrier.com/residential/en/us/homeowner-resources/hvac-glossary/seer-rating
Installation Quality
Even the best AC unit will fail if it was poorly installed. Installation standards are key to determining your AC unit’s lifespan.
Proper AC installations should include.
- Nitrogen purge while brazing
- Proper vacuum pull
- Accurate refrigerant charging
- Duct sealing checks
- Electrical inspection
- Code-compliant workmanship
Cutting corners during installation saves time and saves money but will cost homeowners more in the long run. Be sure to ask about the installation process before signing any paperwork.
Warranty Coverage and Long-Term Support
We can’t express how important is it to read the warranty coverage before you agree to any AC installation. There are two types of warranties:
- Parts
- Labor
Sometimes lower quotes come with minimal or no warranties. If you get a very low quote, be sure to ask about warranties. This should be a very important step in your decision making process.
Questions to ask:
- What warranties does this AC replacement come with?
- How long has the AC company been around? Can I trust that they’ll stay in business for many years to come?
- Do they answer the phone in the middle of the Summer?
- What maintenance plan comes with the AC installation?
Company Structure and Overhead Differences
This is a big one that homeowners don’t often think about. Larger companies have significantly higher overhead and who pays for that high overhead? The customer!
Large companies have:
- Billboards
- TV Ads
- Radio Ads
- Large Office Spaces
- Fleet Expenses
- Commission-Based “Comfort Specialists”
- Sales-Driven Compensation Models
Some of these large HVAC companies spend well over $250k/month just on advertising. Those costs have to be covered somewhere and their prices for AC replacement will let you know immediately what you’re paying for — their marketing.
How Sundance is Different
We are a small, grassroots AC company in Glendale, AZ. In full transparency, we currently spend less than $1,000/month on advertising as most of our work comes from word-of-mouth referrals. We don’t need to spend a lot of money. For that reason, we give those savings back to our customers with affordable AC repair and replacement.
How we differ from large HVAC companies:
- Minimal marketing expenses
- Small team and small fleet
- No commission-based sales
Because our overhead is lower, we’re able to price competitively without cutting corners on installation. That’s a big difference!
What to Ask Before Choosing an AC Company in Glendale
Before making your decision be sure to ask:
- Are you licensed and insured in Arizona?
- Will you perform a load calculation?
- What labor warranty do you offer?
- Is installation included in this price?
- Will permits be pulled if required?
- What exactly is included in this estimate?
If you have multiple AC quotes, compare the quotes and compare the companies doing the installation.
The Bottom Line: AC Quotes Vary and so do AC Companies
The goal isn’t to choose the cheapest AC Company in Glendale.
It’s to choose the one that installs your system correctly, stands behind their work, and treats you fairly.
At Sundance Air Heating & Cooling, we believe in transparent pricing, quality workmanship, and honest recommendations — without the pressure tactics.
Whether you choose us or not, make sure you fully understand what you’re paying for.
Because in Arizona heat, quality matters.
