I always prefer a helper but if location is easily accessible, it is not necessary. Obviously, the installer has to be multi talented, gas and electric lines, ductwork transition, controls, Should be a one day install. Lots of wasted time though fetching supplies/tools/misc from company truck/van.

Today's furnaces are compact and easier to handle than the old beasts.

IMO

One guy that is capable, could do it ...... But speaking from experience. It isn't fun. Should not change the product you get as long as the 1 guy is an experienced installer. I wouldn't worry just on the basis of amount of installers.

When I had my AC/Heat replaced, two guys showed up. One did the inside, the other the outside. But more showed up during the day to do electrical and run a new AC lineset. But they didn't stick around.

AK

From one Chicagoan to another - two installers is the norm. Of course it depends on the company and the resources that are available to them.

Back in April I had my Furnace and A/C replaced. 2 guys arrived at 8:30 am, on the day of install, and two guys left at 4:30 pm. Another one showed up the next day for an hour or so to charge the A/C.

With which piece of equipment did you go?

Good luck!

Thanks everyone. It was only the furnace, not the AC too. I was told it would take 4 hours, but it took close to 7-1/2 hours. And there was no problem with the installation; it just was a lot for one guy to do. I was very frustrated, since I had thought I would have those 3 hours in the late afternoon to do other stuff. Plus, when the guy was finally finished, he couldn't wait to get out of there, so he never gave me the demonstration he promised of showing how the furnace would go from the low stage to the high stage. Now I am not sure it's doing that, maybe it's just going on/off with no 2-stage function. He also didn't put the furniture back where it was, but I can do that myself. I'm not happy that they sent only 1 guy, but now I guess it's water under the bridge.

Note to others - make sure to have in the quote a specification on how many guys will be doing the installation. I just had the contractor's word it would be 2 guys, and didn't think anything about it until they surprised me this morning with one guy. Lesson learned.

sometimes when changing equipment there can be unforeseen obstacles causing more work to complete the install. When doing major work on your house you should always allow extra time for these situations. I can change out a upflow furnace by myself if it is in the hallway or garage. An attic installation would need two people. I think some people are just impatient and need instant gratification, however in your defence the contractor or installer should have communicated this better. Then there is the possibility that it was explained to you but you just heard what you wanted to hear, which is pretty common with your stuck up types. I am not saying you are stuck up but maybe you should relax a little more.

Heatseeker, that was out of line. The contractor told me several times there would be 2 guys doing the installation, and that it would take 3-4 hours. What the hey are you talking about "there is the possibility it was explained to you but you just heard what you wanted to hear". I do not know where you got the "instant gratification" idea.

You are angry about something, and decided to direct it at me. I guess that can happen on a forum, that you get people like you looking for a way to vent their resentment.

BTW, the furnace failed last night. Woke up about 2 AM cause the house was so cold. They sent someone to repair it at 7 AM. It turns out the furnace wasn't getting the voltage properly. The guy who installed didn't tighten all the wires so they loosened, and also only put one screw on the door to the furnace, so that made an error message happen. So, the installer, after 7-1/2 hours work, as I mentioned, got careless. Had there been 2 guys, as originally promised, that wouldn't have happened.

We usually use 2 guys,one can do it if he has help moving the equipment. It Does go a lot faster with two. If it is more than a switch out, where you have to do duct work or something, I would always use two.

I would think a good contractor would send two people in order to have the least amount of down time of the furnace in the middle of the winter. Having no heat for 7 hours during January in Chicago is not something most people would want to experience.

I am going to assume they were short handed due to a no heat emergency at somebody else's house. In my opinion the contractor should have given you the option of rescheduling the installation to another day when a second person would be available.

I am not angry I was just laying out the facts, if they do not apply do not take that way. Oh and remember you get what you pay for and obviously you went with the lowest bid, right. How many estimates did you get before making the decision to go with that contractor? What type of unit is it?

1 guy 2 guys.... I do have to slide in alongside heatseeker just a little. You're wound up! BUT ... the customer is always right! I've been installing complete systems, replacements and upgrades completely alone for 34 yrs. But in your instance the man should have told you perhaps that though you'd have heat it would be a full day and possibly a finish up the following. Then if you wanted
a faster job .... with 2 guys .... you could have looked elsewhere.

No the customer isn't right. But, you can kiss their *a** and become a liar. Or, you can tell a customer the truth. Offending a customer may lose their future business and their friends business,[great!] but I dont want those type of customers. Their bedbugs. Never can satisfy them. We should have a angies-list for customers!

op one competent guy can do install.
but 3-4 hour time allocation is almost always
asking for trouble. things go wrong, existing
equipment, electrical ...gas...tstat

I worked for a short while (tg) for an ac company.
I'd tell homeowner 6 hours with two guys,
company owner would call homeowner and say 2-3 hours
one guy. always always had to call second and sometimes
third guy to help install within 6 hours.

lots of things to address, lots of things to go wrong.
sometimes tech gets frustrated and things happen like
on your job.
with more than one guy there is more attention to detail
as one does not have to do everything.

hope your unit performs with no further problems.
best of luck