There will inevitably be a time when you’ll need to replace your furnace, air conditioner, or some other HVAC unit. In addition to knowing how much everything will cost, you surely want to have an approximate timeframe for how long the installation will take. Unfortunately, estimating the total time of an HVAC installation isn’t always easy since there are a variety of factors that can affect how long it takes. The average time is typically around three days, but some installations may only take a day while others could take a week or more.
Factors That Can Affect Installation Time
Most HVAC technicians won’t be able to give you an accurate time estimate until they’ve first visited your home and inspected your existing HVAC system and the area where the new unit will be located. This is because they first need to know what they’re dealing with and what work will need to be done. For instance, is your ductwork still in good condition or will it also need to be repaired or replaced? Is your existing blower and/or evaporator coil compatible with the new unit and still working properly? All of these factors are important to consider since they’ll play a major role in what work is needed and how long it will take.
The size of your house also plays a major role for a few different reasons. If you have a larger home, you may end up needing two separate units or a zone-control system installed to make your existing HVAC system more effective.
Part of the reason that HVAC installations usually take more than a day is the technician will first need to evaluate your home to determine what size of unit you need. This involves quite complex calculations that take into account the size of the house, the level of insulation, how many people live in the property, the number and size of your windows and doors, and more.
Average Time to Replace an HVAC Unit
The type of unit you’re having installed is an important factor. Some units, like central air conditioners and heat pumps, usually take longer to install than other HVAC units. This is because the technician may need to run new refrigerant lines for your AC unit or heat pump, and this process alone can easily take a day or more. Even if the existing lines are in good shape, they’ll still need to braze and solder the lines to connect them to the new unit, which takes at least a few hours. Once that’s done, the system will need to be charged with refrigerant and tested for leaks, all of which takes time.
If you’re simply replacing a furnace, it will typically take around eight hours to remove the old unit and install the new one. Installing a new ductless mini-split can usually be done in a day, whereas replacing an old mini-split with a new unit may only take a few hours. However, this depends on whether you already have a suitable concrete pad for the outdoor mini-split condenser to sit on. If you don’t have a suitable pad, then you’ll need to have one poured, and then wait for three days or so for the concrete to fully harden and cure before the unit can be mounted. This is also true if you’re looking to install a central AC system in a house that previously only had central heating.
Average Time for a Full HVAC Installation
Full HVAC installations will obviously take quite a bit longer since the technician will not only need to install the heating or cooling unit itself but also mount and connect the ductwork, wire the thermostat, and more. In this situation, you’re typically looking at around a week of work to install a full system in a new construction project depending on the size of the house. If you’re looking to replace an entire existing HVAC system, it could take as long as two weeks since the technicians will first need to remove the old ductwork and equipment.
There are so many different factors that can affect how long an HVAC installation will take. The only way to know for sure is to have a technician inspect your home and evaluate your heating or cooling needs to see how much work is required. If you’re looking to upgrade or replace an existing HVAC unit or need a full system installed, you can trust the technicians at Dr. HVAC Inc for everything you need. We specialize in all types of heating and cooling installations as well as HVAC repairs and maintenance. For more information or to schedule a consultation or service call in the Margate area, contact us today.
