Our guide to new AC system costs in Florida covers the price ranges. This one covers the paper. When a Treasure Coast homeowner sends us two or three replacement quotes, the differences are rarely about the equipment being better. They are about what one contractor priced in and another left out, to be added later or skipped entirely.
Use this as a checklist. A quote that covers every item below is one you can compare honestly with the next.
1. The equipment, by model number
Brand and tonnage are not enough. The quote should name the outdoor unit and the air handler by model number, and state the SEER2 rating. Without model numbers you cannot check the efficiency, the warranty, or whether the two pieces are a matched system, which affects both performance and the manufacturer warranty.
2. A load calculation, not a like-for-like swap
Many older Florida systems were oversized when installed. A contractor who runs a load calculation (called a Manual J) may propose a different size than what you have. That is usually good news for humidity control and your bill. If the quote simply repeats the old tonnage, ask whether a calculation was done.
3. Permit and inspection
Florida requires a mechanical permit for a system replacement, and the permit should be a visible line on the quote. Unpermitted work surfaces at sale time and can complicate insurance claims. A quote with no permit line is either hiding the cost or planning to skip it.
4. Code items
Replacements often have to bring the installation up to current code: hurricane tie-downs for the condenser, a properly sized disconnect and breaker, a float switch on the drain, and a new line set or flush where the refrigerant changes. Each should be listed, priced or included, so it cannot appear as a surprise on the final invoice.
5. Duct and airflow work
If the ducts leak or the returns are undersized, a good contractor says so and prices the fix, or explains why it can wait. Replacing the equipment on top of bad ductwork wastes a share of the efficiency you are paying for. Our duct and airflow page explains what to look for.
6. Coastal considerations
Near the water, coil coatings and corrosion-resistant cabinets are worth asking about, because salt air shortens equipment life, as our coastal lifespan guide covers. If the quote does not mention them and the home is within a few miles of the Intracoastal, ask.
7. Removal and disposal
Old equipment has to be evacuated of refrigerant and disposed of properly. It is normally included; the quote should say so.
8. The warranty split
Parts warranties come from the manufacturer, commonly ten years when the equipment is registered by the deadline. Labor warranties come from the installer and vary widely. The quote should state both, and say who registers the equipment.
9. Payment terms and the schedule
A deposit is normal; full payment in advance is not. The quote should give an install date or window, and how long the job takes, often one day for a straightforward swap.
Questions worth asking before you sign
- "Is this a matched system, and is it registered for the full parts warranty?"
- "Which of these lines are estimates that could change, and which are fixed?"
- "Who pulls the permit and schedules the inspection?"
- "What happens if the inspector requires something not on this quote?"
- "Can I see the license number?" Then check it at myfloridalicense.com.
None of this makes the lowest quote wrong or the highest one right. It makes them comparable. When you are ready for real numbers from licensed, insured installers, we connect Treasure Coast homeowners with no obligation replacement estimates, and you can bring this list to the appointment.
Trade Winds Air is a referral service, not a contractor. Cost figures above are general published ranges for educational purposes; every real number comes from the licensed, insured contractor who inspects your system.