Two Fort Worth homeowners replaced their AC the same week last summer. Same equipment, same tonnage, same brand. One paid $9,800. The other paid $14,400. The difference was not the AC. It was that one of them knew how to read a quote and the other did not.
This is the post that fixes that. Below is a representative line-by-line breakdown of a real Fort Worth installation: a 4-ton Lennox 17 SEER2 gas system with an 80 percent furnace and horizontal coil, fully installed, priced at $10,223.39. That price is publicly listed on acfortworth.com right now. We are going to walk through every line so you can compare your own quote to it.
1. Equipment ($6,400 to $7,200 of the total)
This is the biggest line on any quote and the one most contractors hide behind a single word: "equipment." A real itemized quote names the brand, the tonnage, the SEER2 rating, and the model number. For this install: Lennox 4-Ton 17 SEER2 condenser, matching 80 percent gas furnace, horizontal evaporator coil. If your quote says "Lennox system" with no model numbers, you cannot verify what you are buying. That is the first red flag.
2. Install Labor ($1,400 to $1,800)
A full system swap takes a 2-person crew about 8 to 10 hours in a Fort Worth home with normal attic access. That math should be visible on your quote: hours times hourly rate, or a flat labor figure tied to a published rate sheet. Labor lines that say "installation" with no hour estimate are a soft spot where a few hundred dollars can disappear without anyone noticing.
3. Line Set Replacement ($300 to $500)
The line set is the copper refrigerant lines running between the outside unit and the unit in the attic. On a full replacement we always replace it. R-454B (the new refrigerant required on all 2026 installs) runs at different pressures than R-410A, and reusing old lines is a warranty risk. If your quote does not mention the line set, ask why.
4. Refrigerant Charge ($250 to $400)
R-454B at the correct charge weight for your specific equipment. Two warning signs: refrigerant priced "per pound" with no total weight listed, and quotes that still reference R-410A on new installs (that is illegal for new equipment starting January 1, 2026).
5. Permit Fee ($80 to $150)
Fort Worth, Keller, NRH, Benbrook, and Haltom City all require a mechanical permit for full system replacement. The fee varies by city, usually $80 to $150. If your quote does not include a permit, your contractor is either pulling it later (uncommon) or not pulling one at all (a serious red flag, and a problem when you sell the home).
6. Disposal of Old Equipment ($150 to $250)
The old condenser, coil, and furnace have to go somewhere. A clean quote includes haul-off. A quote that does not mention disposal means either it is buried in "miscellaneous fees" or you will be asked to deal with it yourself.
7. Warranty Registration ($0, but verify)
A 10-year parts limited warranty plus 5-year labor guarantee is standard on every install we do. The catch: the parts warranty must be registered with the manufacturer within 60 days of installation, or it defaults to a 5-year warranty. We handle that registration for you. Your quote should explicitly say so.
8. Startup and Commissioning ($200 to $400)
This is the final step where the technician checks refrigerant pressures, airflow, temperature splits, and thermostat operation before signing off. It should be a separate line, not bundled into "installation."
Add it up
Equipment + labor + line set + refrigerant + permit + disposal + commissioning = $10,223.39 in this example. Every line traceable. No "miscellaneous fees."
How to Read a Competitor's Quote
Pull yours up. Look for each of the 8 items above. If 3 or more are missing or grouped under vague labels like "system and installation," you are looking at an opaque quote. Common red flags:
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Equipment listed as one line with no model number.
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Labor with no hours.
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A line called "miscellaneous fees" over $200.
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No permit line at all.
Want a Second Opinion?
Text your current quote to (817) 765-6355. We will mark it up against ours, line by line. Free. No pitch. Our Texas license is TACLA70281C; verify at tdlr.texas.gov before you take our word on any of this.
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