Before you approve a $10k+ AC quote, get a neutral second opinion.
We check whether attic heat, duct leakage, solar gain, insulation, or airflow could solve your comfort problem for less, before you sign a replacement contract.
Takes about a minute. No spam.
- Human-reviewed
- No referral fees on replacements
- Cheaper fixes ranked first
- Rebate and incentive review
The five things most replacement quotes skip.
Is the AC actually the root issue?
Or is it the envelope, the ducts, or solar gain?
Is the unit oversized or undersized?
A Manual J load calc, not a rule of thumb.
Are duct or attic issues being ignored?
A new unit blowing through leaky ducts saves nothing.
Are there cheaper fixes first?
Air sealing, duct mastic, and shade ranked by cost per degree.
Are rebates or financing missing?
Utility, state, and federal incentives often go unclaimed.
What a quote review looks like.
A real homeowner uploaded a $13,800 condenser and air handler quote. Here is the second opinion they got back.
Seal and insulate the attic before replacing equipment
House is from 1991 with R-19 batts and visible top-plate penetrations. Likely 25 to 35 percent of cooling capacity is being lost to a 130 degree attic.
- Est. cost
- $1,800 to $4,200
- Comfort impact
- High
- Bill impact
- Medium to high
Manual J calc missing from the contractor scope
The quote sized the new condenser at 4 tons to match the existing unit. An oversized AC in a leaky envelope short-cycles, worsens humidity, and shortens lifespan.
Ask the contractor to redo the load calc after envelope work.
Federal and utility envelope rebates not claimed
Up to $1,200 in IRA 25C credits and a local utility insulation rebate likely apply if envelope work is bundled.
Re-evaluate full replacement after envelope work
If the existing unit is under 10 years old and cools adequately after sealing, replacement may be premature.
Do not sign a $10k+ quote without a second opinion.
Upload your quote, your bill, and a few photos. We tell you if there is a cheaper, smarter fix first.
Takes about a minute. No spam.