No important decision should be made without first doing your homework, that includes the decision of deciding on an HVAC contractor. You’ll want to secure a contractor that will listen to you and make sure they are meeting all your home comfort needs.
HVAC installation isn’t a good candidate to be a DIY project. It’s important to find a contractor that is highly skilled in many areas. They will evaluate your home’s load calculation, pull permits to make sure local codes are met, check piping and a bunch of steps in-between. If your top-of-the-line system doesn’t receive a top-of-the-line installation, you’re more likely to get mediocre performance from your system.
The professionals at Age Heating & Cooling have put together some questions to ask to help you on your quest of finding your ideal HVAC contractor.
Do they have references or referrals?
Before you work with a company they should be able to furnish you with a list of recent customers that can verify the quality of their work. Once you receive that you can call and inquire about their recent HVAC projects, if they are satisfied with the results and if they would work with the company again in the future.
You can also check with sources like the ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) and the Better Business Bureau. Searching a contractor on BBB will allow you to see consumer ratings and will also show you any customer complaints lodged against a company. The ACCA is a non-profit that utilizes the expertise of over 60,000 professionals and 4,000 businesses. Contractors that belong to the ACCA are serious about their profession and will happily provide you with referrals.
One other option is enlisting the help of your friends on social media. These recommendations are given by people you know and trust. You’ll most likely not only get feedback on what contractors to use, but also who to avoid. If you’re looking for endorsements from your neighbors, nextdoor.com is literally a a social network comprised only of your neighbors.
Are they NATE-certified?
If your contractor is NATE-certified you can trust you’re getting a contractor that meets the highest standards in installation and service. NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is a non-profit organization for HVAC technicians. To achieve NATE-certification a technician has to pass specialized and real-world tests that were developed by a committee of the top industry experts.
Are they properly licensed and insured?
Almost every state requires licensure for HVAC contractors. This assists in protecting consumers from companies that use unqualified workers. A short online search will show you whether your state requires a license or not. If you live in a state the requires a license and your contractor doesn’t have one, look elsewhere to avoid any issues.
When to ask these questions?
The perfect time to locate a quality HVAC contractor is before you experience a breakdown. If you get your system checked when it’s functioning properly and get your yearly maintenance scheduled to keep it running properly.
Building a relationship based on trust and experience is important to us at Age Heating & Cooling in Sandpoint. Our professionals will gladly answer any questions you may have about home comfort. Give us a call at 208-578-4258 or set up an appointment with us using our online scheduler.