Six guides
Read before you sign: six guides for the buyer
You may be comparing quotes this week and wondering what a good one looks like. These guides cover the size, the quote, heat pumps, money, the gas rule and the permit. Read one, then call or send your details for the questions and an introduction.
Three questions
Three questions to ask before anyone prices your system
The load worksheet
Will you do a load calculation and give me the worksheet?
Chimney and water heater
What happens to my chimney and my gas water heater?
The worksheet
What any quote should show
| Ask on every quote | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A load worksheet for your house | Quote A answer | Quote B answer | Quote C answer |
| 2How the new unit will vent | Quote A answer | Quote B answer | Quote C answer |
| 3What happens to the water heater | Quote A answer | Quote B answer | Quote C answer |
| 4Duct or pipe changes, listed one by one | Quote A answer | Quote B answer | Quote C answer |
| 5Who pulls the permit | Quote A answer | Quote B answer | Quote C answer |
| 6What is removed and hauled away | Quote A answer | Quote B answer | Quote C answer |
| 7A start date and a payment schedule | Quote A answer | Quote B answer | Quote C answer |
We tell you what to ask before anyone prices a new system, then introduce a local contractor who does the work.
Start your worksheet
Tell us about the house and the system. You get the three questions, and a local contractor only if you say yes.
Credit: $100 off your first job
The $100 comes off once your installation is booked through us.
- We fund the $100; the contractor's quote is unchanged.
- One credit per customer at each property.
- Book the job by December 31, 2026.
- Mention the credit when you book.
Guides
Six guides, one question each
- LoadWhat Size System Does Your House NeedHow a load calculation sets the size, and why the label is not it.
- QuoteWhat a Replacement Quote Should ContainThe lines a quote should list, and what a blank means.
- Heat pumpHeat Pumps at Ten BelowThe balance point, the backup and the size that decides a winter.
- PayingPaying for a New System in Onondaga CountyWhat exists, what ended and what to confirm before signing.
- PolicyWill New York Make You Replace Your Gas FurnaceWhat the all-electric rule covers, and what it leaves alone.
- PermitPermits and Who Pulls Them in Onondaga CountyHow permit rules and licenses differ by town and village.
Spec FAQ
Questions before you ask for quotes
| You ask | Short answer |
|---|---|
| F1 Where should I start? | Start with the sizing guide. Then read the quote guide before your next conversation with a contractor. |
| F2 How current are the facts? | The facts name their sources. Incentives and rules change, so confirm anything that affects a decision before you sign. |
| F3 Do these guides replace a contractor's advice? | No. They tell you what to ask. The contractor looks at your house and gives you a quote. |
The Heating and Cooling Syracuse pledge
- Asking us is free, and so is the introduction.
- You get the three questions before anyone quotes.
- You decide whether a contractor visits.
- Your $100 comes off the way our Terms set out.
The contractor you choose answers for the installation itself.
Heating and Cooling Syracuse, (315) 640-3590 Full start-up terms
Credit: $100 off your first job
The $100 comes off once your installation is booked through us.
- We fund the $100; the contractor's quote is unchanged.
- One credit per customer at each property.
- Book the job by December 31, 2026.
- Mention the credit when you book.
Notes
Notes on reading the guides
Each guide leads with the decision and ends with what to ask. They are written for a homeowner, not a contractor, and they name their sources.
If you read only one, read the guide on sizing. Its question, will you do a load calculation and give me the worksheet, works with every system.
How the guides fit together
The sizing guide and the quote guide work for every system. The heat pump guide goes deeper on cold weather. The money guide lists what exists and what has ended, and the gas guide answers the question many readers type first. The permit guide helps when a bid is silent about the paperwork.
Ready to compare quotes?
Read in the order that suits you. If you have a quote in hand, start with the quote guide and tick off each line. If you have no quote yet, start with sizing, because it is the question to ask before you have one.
Every guide ends with what to do next, and every one lets you send your details for the three questions and an introduction to one local contractor. Nothing here asks you to book.
Start with the three questions.