Installing a Goodman System: What Really Happens on Install Day (Tony’s Step-By-Step Breakdown)
Most install-day guides are sugar-coated, incomplete, or written by people who’ve never lifted a furnace into a crawlspace or hauled a condenser through a side yard.
Tony has installed hundreds of Goodman systems — from straightforward slab swaps to attic nightmares to multi-stage heat pumps in tight closets.
This is the real step-by-step breakdown of what actually happens on install day, what you need to be prepared for, and how a proper Goodman install sets your system up to last 15–20 years.
No fluff. No guessing. Exactly how the job goes.
1. The Arrival Window: What Happens Before Anything Gets Installed
Most professional HVAC crews arrive between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM, depending on your schedule and workload.
When Tony’s crew shows up, the first 15–20 minutes are spent on:
✔ Confirming equipment
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Goodman condenser model
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Coil/air handler/furnace match
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Line set size
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Breaker and disconnect rating
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Thermostat compatibility
✔ Home walkthrough
Tony re-checks airflow needs, return locations, duct issues, and clearances.
✔ Protecting your home
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floor coverings
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corner protection
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attic boards
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drop cloths
This isn’t the “real work” yet — but it prevents damage and ensures a clean install.
(Reference: Residential HVAC Load Calculation Standards)
2. Removing the Old System: The Part That Looks Fast but Isn’t
Most homeowners think removing old equipment takes 10 minutes.
Not even close.
Outdoor Unit Removal Includes:
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recovering refrigerant
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disconnecting electrical whip
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removing disconnect box if outdated
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cutting or disconnecting old line set
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pulling anchors or pad brackets
Indoor Removal Includes:
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cutting out old coil
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detaching the furnace or air handler
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disconnecting flue pipe (furnace setups)
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removing drain lines
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fixing old duct transitions
Old systems often have:
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rusted screws
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stuck coil pans
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collapsed duct boots
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oversized or undersized plenums
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leaky transitions
Tony removes everything carefully so the new Goodman system sits perfectly.
3. Setting the New Goodman Condenser
Goodman outdoor units weigh anywhere from 120 to 220 pounds, depending on tonnage and model.
Steps:
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Level the pad
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Add rubber isolation feet
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Position unit for max airflow
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Verify wall and fence clearance
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Anchor if needed
Proper clearance is huge — too tight and the system loses efficiency, pulls recirculated air, or overheats.
Tony never lets a new Goodman unit sit crooked or tight against siding. That’s rookie work.
(Reference: Mechanical Noise Prevention and System Balancing Principles)
4. Installing the Indoor Side — Furnace, Coil, or Air Handler
This is the most important part of the entire job.
Tony says:
“The outdoor unit gets all the attention, but the indoor setup decides whether the whole system performs or struggles.”
If You Have a Furnace + Coil Setup:
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Furnace set and leveled
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Coil mounted and sealed
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Transition piece built if needed
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Return drop sealed
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Flue pipe adjusted
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Gas line leak-checked
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Drain pan installed (attic units)
If You Have an Air Handler:
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Secure attic or closet mounting
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Verify left/ right discharge orientation
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Proper float switch
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Drain slope
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Sealed supply plenum
Proper airflow is non-negotiable.
If the return is undersized, Tony cuts in more return air — he won’t install a system that chokes.
(Reference: Air Distribution and Duct Sizing Reference)
5. Running or Reusing the Line Set
This step is where 80% of corner-cutting happens in the HVAC world.
Tony doesn’t reuse a line set unless:
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it’s the correct size
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it’s clean
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it passes pressure tests
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it meets code
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the routing is correct
If running a new line set:
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secure it properly
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avoid tight kinks
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insulate suction line fully
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route through walls/attic safely
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use proper penetrations
Bad line sets cause:
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poor efficiency
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compressor damage
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refrigerant leaks
Goodman systems perform beautifully when refrigerant flow is perfect.
6. Brazing, Pressure Testing & Vacuuming — The “Science Part” Most Homeowners Never See
This is where the install succeeds or fails.
Brazing (Connecting Copper Lines)
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nitrogen flowing through lines
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clean joints
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no overheating components
Pressure Test
Tony tests the system at 300–500 PSI with nitrogen to ensure absolute leak-free lines.
Vacuum
The system is pulled down to 500 microns or lower, eliminating:
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moisture
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contaminants
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air
If your installer shortcuts this step, your compressor’s life gets cut in half.
No exceptions.
7. Electrical Setup & Breaker Verification
Goodman systems require the correct:
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breaker size
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disconnect rating
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wire gauge
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grounding
Tony checks:
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proper polarity
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tightened lugs
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proper conduit
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thermostat wiring routes
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communication wires for variable-speed systems
Bad electrical = future service calls.
Tony builds it right the first time.
8. Charging the System — Where the Real Magic Happens
Once the vacuum holds and everything is connected, Tony charges the system.
Goodman units need precision refrigerant charge for:
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coil performance
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cooling capacity
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efficiency
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compressor lifespan
Charging is based on:
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subcooling
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superheat
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line set length
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ambient conditions
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metering device type
Tony never charges “by the can.”
Only by the numbers.
(Reference: Equipment Matching and System Compatibility Guidelines)
9. Duct Adjustments, Balancing & Airflow Tuning
This is where your comfort is won or lost.
Tony measures:
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static pressure
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CFM per vent
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return air capacity
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blower speed compatibility
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coil drop pressure
If airflow is low, he:
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increases return size
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adjusts blower
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seals ducts
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corrects transitions
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rebalances supplies
Homeowners don’t feel “2.5 tons of cooling.”
They feel correct airflow.
10. Thermostat Setup & System Commissioning
Tony installs and programs your thermostat to match:
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system type
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blower configuration
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heat pump logic
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staging
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humidity settings
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fan mode
Then he runs the system for 15–20 minutes to verify:
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coil temps
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pressures
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amp draws
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temperature split
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drain flow
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blower operation
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outdoor fan speed
The commissioning sheet is your proof the install was done right.
11. Final Walkthrough — Tony Explains the Important Stuff
Tony finishes by showing you:
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how to change filters
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how to set thermostat schedules
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where the shutoff switches are
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what noises are normal
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when to call for service
Install day isn’t complete until you know how to operate the system confidently.
12. Tony’s Final Verdict: What a Proper Goodman Install Day Should Look Like
A perfect Goodman installation is:
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clean
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precise
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pressure-tested
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airflow-balanced
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electrically sound
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fully commissioned
A bad install is:
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rushed
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untested
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under-charged
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over-charged
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noisy
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inefficient
Tony’s rule:
“A Goodman system installed right will run for 15–20 years. Installed wrong? You’ll feel it on day one.”
Get the right crew, and Goodman will treat you right for a long time.
Let's get Tony's match up guide for airflow and efficiency in the next blog.
