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Before you sign that HVAC quote, get someone in your corner.

Upload the quote(s) your contractor gave you. We'll check the sizing, the equipment, the price, and the fine print — and hand you back a plain-English report and the exact questions to ask before you commit.

We work for you, not the contractor. HVAC Referee is independent — we don't sell equipment, install anything, or take referral fees from contractors or manufacturers.

How it works

Three steps, most reports back within 24 hours.

1

Upload your quote

A PDF or a photo of the paper quote works fine. Add up to 3 competing quotes if you're comparing bids.

2

Pick a review level & pay

Choose Basic, Standard, or Premium Compare based on how deep a look you want. Secure checkout via Stripe.

3

Get your report

A clear grade, the specific red flags we found, and the questions to bring back to your contractor.

Why a referee, and not just another opinion

Your contractor is trying to close a sale. The equipment brand's warranty language protects the equipment brand. Neither one is lying to you exactly — but neither one is working only for you either. HVAC Referee doesn't sell equipment, doesn't install anything, and doesn't get paid more if you buy a bigger system. We check the numbers against a published rubric and tell you plainly what we'd want to know if it were our house.

What we actually check

Every review runs through the same rubric — no guesswork, no upsell.

Sizing & load calc

Is the system actually sized for your home, or just swapped 1-for-1 with whatever was there before?

Equipment & efficiency

Model numbers, SEER2/efficiency ratings vs. the DOE minimum for your region, and current refrigerant type.

Price vs. benchmark

Your price checked against current national benchmark ranges for the size and tier of system quoted.

Warranty & financing

Parts vs. labor warranty length, registration deadlines, and the real APR/total cost if financing is offered.

Scope of work

Permits, disposal, startup & commissioning — the line items that get quietly left off.

Sales tactics

Artificial urgency, vague "code compliant" claims, and equipment-substitution clauses.

Ready for a second opinion?

Reports start at $39. See what's included at each level.

View pricing