The equipment and work
Compare the proposed models, sizing rationale and complete installation scope. For a furnace, ask about venting and controls. For a heat pump, ask about the matched indoor and outdoor units, electrical work and backup heat.
FREE HVAC QUOTE CHECK / BY B.C HVAC
Before you
say yes.
Check your furnace, heat pump or HVAC quote before you commit. Eight free questions about the scope, extras and written terms.
01 / BEHIND THE PITCH
The claim.
The catch. The question.
Seven claims worth challenging. These are illustrative sales statements, not allegations about a particular business. The explanations distinguish a misleading promise from a legitimate offer with clear conditions.
01The disappearing discount“This price is only good if you sign today.”
How the pitch works
A deadline moves your attention from the quality of the offer to the fear of losing it. If the deadline is invented—or keeps resetting—it can stop you comparing scope and price.
What the evidence says
Real quote expiries and stock limits exist. The Competition Bureau flags false time limits and resetting countdowns as deceptive urgency cues. A deadline needs a truthful reason.
THE QUESTION TO ASK
“What changes after today, why, and where is the expiry written? Can I take the complete quote away to review?”
02The price that grows“That’s the whole price. The rest is standard.”
How the pitch works
A low headline number wins the comparison before the scope is clear. Mandatory extras revealed later make a different offer look cheaper at first glance.
What the evidence says
The Competition Bureau identifies unattainable advertised prices caused by added mandatory fees as drip pricing. Separately, genuine changes or optional work can cost more; those possibilities need to be clear before you commit.
THE QUESTION TO ASK
“Please show the complete price, taxes, exclusions and unresolved allowances. Which extra charges are unavoidable, and how do I approve any additional work?”
03The rebate presented as a certainty“The government will cover it. Everyone qualifies.”
How the pitch works
Subtracting a hoped-for rebate makes the purchase feel smaller before eligibility is established. The risk is treating a conditional benefit as money already approved.
What the evidence says
B.C. rebate programs have specific eligibility, equipment and contractor requirements. The Energy Savings Program also requires pre-registration. A contractor’s headline offer is not your program approval; check the current rules directly.
THE QUESTION TO ASK
“Which official program applies to my home? Show my eligibility, any approval needed, the registered contractor and the price before and after the proposed rebate.”
04The bigger-is-better upsell“A bigger heat pump is always the safer choice.”
How the pitch works
Extra capacity sounds like extra protection. Without a design explanation, you cannot tell whether the larger system matches your home or simply increases the quoted capacity and price.
What the evidence says
Natural Resources Canada treats sizing as a design task and identifies oversizing as a pitfall. The selection should account for the home’s heating and cooling needs, climate and any planned improvements.
THE QUESTION TO ASK
“What heating and cooling load calculations support this size? How does this model meet the design conditions, and how will any backup heat work?”
05The savings without the assumptions“Your energy bill will drop by this much. Guaranteed.”
How the pitch works
A precise savings figure can make an estimate sound measured. Without the baseline and assumptions, you cannot tell whether the projection describes your home.
What the evidence says
Heat pump operating costs depend on factors including the system, climate and relative energy prices. An efficiency rating alone does not establish your dollar savings. A meaningful guarantee needs written conditions and a remedy.
THE QUESTION TO ASK
“Which bills, energy rates, temperatures and backup-heating assumptions support this estimate? What exactly is guaranteed, and what happens if it is not achieved?”
06The warranty with a missing half“It has a ten-year warranty, so you’re fully covered.”
How the pitch works
One reassuring number can blur different promises: manufacturer parts, contractor labour and the cost of a service visit. A covered part does not necessarily mean a no-cost repair.
What the evidence says
Coverage depends on the actual policy. For example, Carrier’s Canadian warranty guidance distinguishes parts coverage from possible labour and service charges, with registration conditions for some coverage. Read the terms for your own equipment and installer.
THE QUESTION TO ASK
“Who covers parts, labour, diagnosis and service calls, and for how long? What registration or maintenance is required, and who handles the claim?”
07The health promise used to close“Duct cleaning will prevent health problems.”
How the pitch works
Concern for your household can turn a cleaning recommendation into an urgent emotional purchase. A claim about health needs evidence beyond a photograph of dust.
What the evidence says
The U.S. EPA says duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems and recommends considering it when conditions warrant it. That does not mean cleaning is never useful; it means the reason and scope should be specific to the system.
THE QUESTION TO ASK
“What condition did you actually find in my system? Show me the evidence, explain the recommended scope, and separate cleaning outcomes from health claims.”
The standard is simple. A clear scope. An explained recommendation. Written conditions. Answers you can verify.
Put your quote through the checkPublished by B.C HVAC · Sources reviewed October 8, 2026 · Source organizations do not endorse this briefing.
02 / YOUR QUOTE, IN WRITING
Turn the briefing
into better questions.
Keep your quote beside you. Answer eight questions and take away a message you can send to the company that provided it.
YOUR FREE, GUIDED CHECK
Check My Quote
Eight focused questions. Keep your written quote beside you.WHAT TO LOOK FOR
How to compare furnace and heat-pump quotes.
The complete price
Ask which access changes, permits, removal and commissioning are included. Keep potential rebates separate from the amount payable until eligibility and approval are confirmed.
The written terms
Compare payment and scheduling terms, manufacturer coverage, labour coverage and maintenance requirements. This check identifies questions; it does not verify technical suitability or decide whether a price is fair.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Take the questions back. Compare the answers.
You can use the result with any company. If you would like a B.C HVAC installation proposal, request a free in-home estimate in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley or Sea-to-Sky; availability is confirmed for your address.
Request a free in-home estimateBefore you use the result.
Can I check a quote from another HVAC company?
Yes. Use the same checklist for any company. You do not need to be a customer or book with us to use it.
Does this tell me whether an HVAC quote is overpriced?
No. A price cannot be judged without the equipment, property conditions, labour and complete scope. This tool identifies details you want clarified so you can compare what each offer actually includes.
How do I use the quote check?
Keep your quote beside you and answer eight questions. Your answers stay in the open page and are cleared on reload. Standard website activity measurement follows our privacy policy; quote answers are not included.
What if everything is clear in writing?
The result will say so. This is a clarity checklist, not a test designed to make another company's quote fail. Clear paperwork does not itself verify technical suitability, credentials or workmanship.
Can I save the questions or share the check?
Yes. Copy the questions into your own message, print or save your result as a PDF, or share a clean link to the tool. Sharing the link does not share your answers.