is your attic well-ventilated?

Air conditioners often last a decade or more, which means that having an AC replaced is something you're only likely to do a couple of times in your life, at most. The first time you have an AC replaced, you may be particularly unsure of what to expect. Knowing these four key things should really help.

The indoor and outdoor units are usually replaced at the same time.

When someone talks about replacing an air conditioner, they are usually referring to replacing both the indoor and outdoor components. These usually come in a matched set, so it would be unusual to replace one and not the other. If an HVAC company gives you a price for AC replacement, you can assume it includes replacing both the compressor and the evaporator.

The project should only take a day.

Replacing an air conditioner does require a lot of specialized knowledge and skills, but it is not that difficult or time consuming for someone who knows what they are doing. You can expect the HVAC team to finish within a day in most cases. If you have your furnace replaced at the same time, which is common, then it might take two days.

Your AC should come with a warranty.

The new AC your contractor installs should come with a warranty from the manufacturer. Some HVAC contractors also add on their own warranty to cover any labor. If the HVAC contractor does not tell you about the warranty when replacing your AC, don't hesitate to ask. It's a good idea to establish what's covered, what's excluded, and how long the warranty will last before the HVAC contractors leave.

You might need changes to your ductwork.

Your main duct needs to connect to the new air conditioner. In most cases, an HVAC contractor will try to select a new AC unit that's about the same size as your old one. This minimizes the work they need to do on your ducts. However, if this is not possible and the new AC is a radically different size or shape than your old one, then the HVAC contractor may need to extend your ducts or cut them back.

Now that you know the information above, you should be better prepared to have your air conditioner replaced. Let the HVAC contractors handle the hard part. As long as you have a basic understanding of what they are doing, you're golden.

Contact a company like Countryside to learn more.