Start with conditions, not a product
Builder-grade equipment from the 1990s and 2000s was often sized to a spec sheet, not to the actual house — replacement is the moment to correct duct leakage, weak returns, and capacity that never matched the load.
Build a complete scope
- Existing conditions and likely cause
- Preparation and protection
- Materials, compatibility, and installation details
- Permits, testing, cleanup, and restoration
- Exclusions, warranty terms, and change-order process
Cary context
Cary's subdivisions were built in waves over four decades, so a house and its original HVAC system are often much closer to their design life than the neighborhood's overall age suggests.