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HVAC subcontractors design, install, and start up heating, cooling, and ventilation systems: ducted furnaces and air handlers, heat pumps, condensers, exhaust and fresh-air ventilation, and the controls that run them. On new construction the scope starts earlier than most GCs schedule it, because equipment selection and duct design flow from load calculations that should happen while the plans are still movable. The build itself lands in two or three mobilizations: duct and refrigerant rough-in once framing is up, equipment set, and startup and balancing at the end. Ducts are the largest thing in the ceiling, so many GCs give the HVAC sub first pass at rough-in routing and let plumbing and electrical work around the trunks. Ask early who performs the Manual J load calculation and the Manual S and Manual D equipment and duct design; some subs do this in house, others expect the builder to supply an engineered design, and the gap between those two assumptions is a common source of undersized ducts and comfort complaints. In California, permitted HVAC work also brings HERS verification, typically duct leakage testing and airflow checks by a third-party rater, so the schedule needs a test-and-fix slot before close-out milestones. Scope boundaries worth pinning down before award: line-voltage hookups usually belong to the electrician, gas piping to the plumber, and condensate routing, thermostat wiring, and roof or wall penetrations land differently on every job. In California, HVAC contractors typically hold a CSLB C-20 warm-air heating, ventilating and air-conditioning classification. Texas licenses the trade at the state level through TDLR's air conditioning and refrigeration contractor program. We recommend confirming license status and current insurance before contracting; both states publish free public lookup tools.
Frequently asked questions
Who should perform the Manual J load calculation, the HVAC sub or an engineer?
Either can, and both models are common: some subs run Manual J, S, and D in house, while others install to an engineered design the builder supplies. Problems start when each side assumes the other is doing it. Name the responsible party in the subcontract and ask for a room-by-room calculation rather than a rule-of-thumb sizing.
What license should an HVAC subcontractor hold in California or Texas?
In California the classification is CSLB C-20, covering warm-air heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems including heat pumps and ducted equipment. Texas licenses the trade at the state level through TDLR's air conditioning and refrigeration contractor program. We recommend confirming status through the free CSLB and TDLR lookup tools before award.
When should a builder bring the HVAC sub into the project?
At the design phase, once the envelope is defined but before framing, so loads, equipment, and duct routing get coordinated instead of retrofitted. On site, duct rough-in typically leads the mechanical trades after framing, with equipment set later and startup and balancing at the end.
What is HERS testing and how does it affect the HVAC schedule in California?
HERS verification is third-party field testing required on most permitted California HVAC work, commonly duct leakage and airflow checks by an independent rater. The builder usually contracts the rater, and failed tests mean the HVAC sub returns to seal and retest. Hold a test-and-fix window in the schedule rather than assuming a first-time pass.
How much does an HVAC scope cost on a typical project?
It varies by scope. The main drivers are the number of systems and their capacity, duct complexity and accessibility, equipment tier, heat pump versus gas equipment, and how much controls and ventilation work is carried. Comparing included scope line by line tells you more than the bottom number.
Which parts of the HVAC installation belong to other trades?
Line-voltage power to equipment is usually the electrician's, and gas piping is usually the plumber's, but both boundaries need to be stated rather than assumed. Condensate routing, thermostat and control wiring, and roof or wall penetrations are assigned differently from job to job, so put each in writing before award.