What to expect during an HVAC changeout: our day-by-day process.

What is an air conditioning changeout?

An air conditioning changeout replaces the cooling half of an existing system: the outdoor condenser and the matched evaporator coil that sits on your furnace, with the refrigerant line set either reused or replaced. The ductwork stays, and so does the furnace if it has years left. In the Vancouver metro, an AC-only changeout runs $7,400 to $16,800 installed in 2026.

Here is what a typical AC changeout touches:

• Replaced: the outdoor condenser. Sized from a load calculation, not from the old unit's label.
• Usually replaced: the indoor coil. The coil and condenser have to be an AHRI-matched pair to hit the rated SEER2. The systems we install now run on R-454B refrigerant, and manufacturer instructions for R-454B equipment say an R-410A coil has not been evaluated for R-454B, so on most changeouts the coil is replaced too.
• Reused or replaced: the line set. The copper lines can stay if they are sized right for the new unit. Those same instructions require an old line set to be purged and flushed with nitrogen before reuse, and recommend replacing it where possible. Ask which way your quote goes.
• Usually stays: ducts, registers and the furnace. The furnace blower moves the cooled air, so it has to be healthy enough to carry the new coil. If it isn't, the job becomes a full system replacement.
• Sometimes added: electrical. A new dedicated circuit runs $300 to $700; a 200A panel upgrade runs $3,000 to $5,000 in Vancouver.

One thing that is not a changeout: if only the outdoor unit failed on an R-410A system, EPA rules still allow a technician to replace it with a similar R-410A component. That is a repair. Our AC installation cost guide covers pricing, and the install itself is on our AC installation in Vancouver, WA page.

AC changeout vs heat pump changeout.

A heat pump changeout swaps the same two pieces as an AC changeout, the outdoor unit and the matched indoor coil, so install day looks almost the same. The difference is that a heat pump also heats. Installed at 2026 prices, a ducted heat pump runs $8,800 to $27,200 in Vancouver and a straight AC $7,400 to $16,800.

If you keep a gas furnace as backup behind a heat pump, that pairing is called dual fuel. On rebates, Clark PUD's heat pump rebates only apply to homes that heat with electricity today, so a gas-furnace home gets $0 either way, and the ducted rebate also requires a Contractor Network installer, which we are not. Our heat pump cost guide covers heat pump pricing, and new homes and ADUs are covered on our builder page.

Step 1: The initial call or quote request.

You reach out, by phone, by our online quote form, or through a referral. We ask a few questions: what is currently installed, how old it is, what the main concern is (failing equipment, upgrade, rebate-driven replacement), and when you are looking to have work done.

If it sounds like new-equipment territory, we schedule a site walk. If it sounds like a repair, we schedule a service call. If it sounds like a question we can answer over the phone, we answer it over the phone, there is no obligation to book anything.

Step 2: The site walk.

The site walk is a 45-90 minute visit from one of our estimators. Here is what happens:

• We inventory existing equipment. Model numbers, serial numbers, refrigerant type, age, condition.
• We measure the home. Conditioned square footage, ceiling heights, window areas and orientations, insulation levels (where we can see them), air leakage cues.
• We inspect ductwork if applicable. Size, condition, leakage signs, returns, supply register distribution.
• We look at the electrical. Panel capacity, available breaker space, service amperage. A heat pump install sometimes requires a panel upgrade, better to find that out now than during install.
• We ask you questions. Comfort concerns (which rooms run hot or cold), noise preferences, air quality concerns, budget framing, timeline, whether you plan to stay in the home, whether you have plans for major renovations.
• We walk you through options. We explain what different equipment tiers mean for your situation and budget.

The estimator's notes go back to the office, where a detailed load calculation and written quote are prepared.

Step 3: The written quote.

You receive a written proposal within 1-3 business days. A proper quote is a document, not a phone call. It includes:

• Manual J heat load calculation showing your home's actual heating and cooling requirements
• Specific equipment model numbers and AHRI-matched pairings
• Efficiency ratings (SEER2, HSPF2, AFUE) for the exact matched set
• Line-item labor
• Permit fee separately
• Ductwork modifications if needed
• Electrical work if needed
• Equipment disposal
• Warranty summary (manufacturer's + our installation warranty)
• Rebate analysis for your specific equipment
• Financing options if requested
• A total price, the actual number you will pay

We don't do verbal quotes, "rough numbers," or hand-shake deals. If you want to shop around or think it over, you have the document to compare with other bids.

Step 4: Scheduling.

Install day is typically 1-3 weeks after you approve the quote, depending on equipment availability and our schedule, and sometimes longer in peak season (July for cooling, December-January for heating). We pull the mechanical permit from Clark County (or your city) during this window.

For non-emergency replacements, we often recommend scheduling for shoulder seasons (April/May or September/October) when we have the most scheduling flexibility.

Step 5: Install day.

Most residential changeouts take one full day. A two-person install crew arrives between 7:00 and 8:30 AM. Here is the typical sequence:

1. Protective prep. Floor runners, plastic over any work areas inside your home. Shoe covers.
2. Old equipment removed. Refrigerant recovered per EPA rules. Old components disconnected and carried out.
3. New equipment staged. Outdoor unit placed, indoor air handler or furnace set, new lineset run if needed.
4. Ductwork connections. Transitions, plenums, and any needed modifications.
5. Refrigerant charge and test. Vacuum pulled on the refrigerant lines, leak test, proper charge measured in.
6. Electrical and controls. New disconnect, new thermostat, low-voltage wiring verified.
7. Startup and commissioning. System runs, supply and return temperatures measured, airflow balanced, refrigerant pressures verified, error codes checked.
8. Cleanup and walkthrough. All packaging removed, floors vacuumed, tools loaded. Then the foreman walks you through what was installed, shows you the new thermostat, explains the maintenance schedule, and hands you the manufacturer literature.

You should be comfortable with the system before the crew leaves. If something doesn't feel right, say so, they will check it before they go.

Step 6: Permit inspection.

Within 2-4 weeks after install, a jurisdiction inspector (Clark County, City of Vancouver, etc.) comes out to verify the work. We are there with them if you want us there; otherwise you just let them in to look at the equipment. They check that the install matches the permit drawings and code requirements.

If anything is flagged, we fix it at no charge. Inspection passes, permit closes out, and the equipment is officially installed. This is the point at which we file any utility rebate your job qualifies for.

Step 7: Rebates and paperwork.

We file any utility rebate your job qualifies for within 30 days of permit closeout. On a ducted changeout through us, Clark PUD pays $0: every Clark PUD heat pump rebate requires a home heated with electricity today, and the ducted rebate goes only through Contractor Network installers, which we are not. The rebate we do file is Clark PUD's flat $900 ductless rebate, one per home, for electrically heated homes. The federal 25C heat pump tax credit expired at the end of 2025; see our current rebates and incentives guide for what is still available in 2026.

What can go wrong (and how we handle it).

Sometimes things come up mid-install. The original ductwork is worse than the site walk suggested. The electrical panel needs more work than expected. A refrigerant line routing gets complicated. When this happens, we stop, explain what we found, give you options with pricing, and wait for your call on how to proceed. We don't surprise-bill changes, everything gets your approval first.

Ready to start? Request a quote and we will walk you through step 1.

Questions homeowners ask.