What to Know Before Choosing an HVAC Technician

Selecting an HVAC contractor is an important decision that you shouldn’t decide upon without doing some investigating to make certain you’re making the correct choice.

First, select a contractor who will ask you about your wants and needs and then listen to you. With that noted, they should be able to show you up to four options from which you can select.

When they arrange your installation, is it when you want to have it done, or when they can squeeze you in? Will your contractor pull a permit on every job? Doing so will make sure that it meets all of your local codes.

HVAC system installation is not a DIY job and a successful installation requires a contractor that is skilled in a number of areas, from load calculation to piping and a bunch of steps in between. You could get the best system, but if it’s installed incorrectly you may not get ideal performance.

Here are a few other questions to help you make the best selection while researching your HVAC contractor.

Are they NATE-certified?

NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is the largest nonprofit certification organization for HVAC technicians. Certified technicians have proven their knowledge in the HVAC industry by passing real-world and specialized tests designed by a committee of industry experts. NATE-certified contractors have met the highest industry standards for knowledgeable installation and service. NATE certification will give you peace of mind knowing your contractor has completed intense professional training.

Can they provide references or referrals?

A professional HVAC company will be able to provide you with a list of recent customers that you can refer to and tell you about the quality of their company’s work. Call their list of references and ask about their project and if they’d recommend them to you.

There are also official sources online such as the Better Business Bureau and ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America). The BBB allows you to check out the consumer ratings of an HVAC contractor and you’ll be shown any customer complaints against a company. The ACCA is a nonprofit organization of more than 60,000 professionals and 4,000 businesses. Contractors found on ACCA are sure to be dedicated to their work and will be able to offer referrals for previous work.

Another route is crowdsourcing referrals from your friends and neighbors or on your social media networks. These are usually the most beneficial recommendations because they are coming from people you know. You’ll find out who to talk to and which contractors to avoid. If you’re on nextdoor.com you can literally ask for recommendations from people right next door. Contractors rely upon positive word-of-mouth, so if someone you trust recommends them it’s likely they’ll do great work for you too.

Have you verified they’re licensed and insured?

Not all states require licensure for heating and cooling contractors, but practically all of them do. It’s easy to search online to see if your state requires a license so you know whether or not to ask for one when receiving quotes from a contractor. The reason a lot of states require licenses is simply to keep you from using a company that uses less than qualified workers.

If you live in a state that requires licenses and the contractor you’re talking to doesn’t have one, it’s probably in your interest to look elsewhere to help get around any potential problems.

When is the best time to ask these questions?

The best time to ask questions and pick an HVAC contractor is right now, before something goes wrong with your system. Get your furnace inspected while it’s working properly and schedule your annual maintenance.

Your family’s health, comfort and safety is our business at Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning in Warrenton. Our HVAC pros would be happy to answer any and all of your questions. Call us at 636-456-5041. We look forward to becoming your partner in keeping your system running safely and efficiently.