# HVAC commissioning: what to request before accepting a replacement

Canonical: https://www.savpwr.com/knowledge/hvac-commissioning-checklist
Market: United States
Author: SAVPWR Editorial (VDX Logic LLC)
Published: 2026-11-09
Sources checked: 2026-11-09

## What evidence should I receive after a new HVAC system is installed?

Request an equipment-specific commissioning record, confirmation of installed components and documentation of applicable inspections, controls and operating checks. A system starting up is not the same as documented performance verification.

## Verify equipment identity

Compare installed indoor/outdoor components and controls with the approved proposal and applicable matched-system record. Ask how substitutions were approved. Store serial and model records privately with warranty and service documents. [1][2]

## Request measured checks

Airflow and refrigerant-related verification should follow manufacturer procedures and appropriate conditions. Depending on the equipment, the record may also cover drainage, controls, staging, backup heat and safety-related checks. This article is a homeowner acceptance framework, not a technician’s test procedure. [1][3]

## Close the documentation loop

Obtain manuals, maintenance instructions, warranty registration responsibilities and any required permit or inspection records. Make unresolved items explicit, including weather-dependent tests that could not be completed at the visit. Ask who returns, by when and how completion will be documented.

## Decision exercise

Use three status columns: completed with evidence, deferred with a named follow-up, and not applicable with explanation. Apply them to model matching, airflow, charge verification, drainage, controls and required inspections. A blank checkbox is not a measured result; request the relevant record.

Numbers are illustrative assumptions, not forecasts.

## Preparation checklist

- Check installed models against the approved scope.
- Ask for equipment-specific measurements and settings.
- Document deferred work and follow-up responsibility.

## Can an AHRI certificate replace commissioning?

No. A rating record describes a certified combination; commissioning concerns the actual installation and operation.

## Sources

[1] PNNL — Heat Pump Quality Installation and Commissioning: https://basc.pnnl.gov/resource-guides/heat-pump-quality-installation-and-commissioning
[2] AHRI — Directory of Certified Product Performance: https://www.ahrinet.org/certification/ahri-directory
[3] ENERGY STAR — HVAC Quality Installation: https://www.energystar.gov/saveathome/heating-cooling/hvac-quality-installation

AI-assisted preparation; no licensed professional review is claimed. Editorial policy: https://www.savpwr.com/editorial