No big decision should be made without first doing your homework, that includes the decision of deciding on an HVAC contractor. You’ll want to seek out a contractor that will listen to you and make certain they are meeting all your home comfort needs.
HVAC installation is not something you want to try to DIY. It’s important to secure a contractor that is highly skilled in many areas. They will work out your home’s load calculation, pull permits to guarantee local codes are met, check piping and a bunch of steps in-between. If your top-of-the-line system doesn’t get a top-of-the-line installation, you’re more likely to get inferior performance from your system.
The professionals at Bell Air Conditioning Inc have put together some questions to ask to guide you on your quest of finding your ideal HVAC contractor.
Do they have references or referrals?
If you’re looking to work with a company they should be able to provide you with a list of recent customers that can corroborate the quality of their work. From there you can call and ask them about their recent HVAC projects, if they are happy with the results and if they would work with the company again in the future.
Some other sources to check with are the ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) and the Better Business Bureau. Looking up a contractor on BBB will allow you to look through consumer ratings and will also show you any customer complaints lodged against a company. The ACCA is a non-profit that employs the knowledge of over 60,000 professionals and 4,000 businesses. Contractors that are members of ACCA are serious about their profession and will gladly provide you with referrals.
An additional option is requesting the help of your friends on social media. These recommendations are coming from people you know and trust. You’ll probably not only get feedback on what contractors to use, but also who to avoid. If you’re looking for suggestions from your neighbors, nextdoor.com is literally a social network 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. Before becoming NATE-certified a technician has to pass specialized and real-world tests that were created by a committee of the top industry experts.
Are they properly licensed and insured?
Almost every state requires licensure for HVAC contractors. This helps protect consumers from companies that use less than qualified workers. A simple online search will show you whether your state requires a license or not. If you are living 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 secure a quality HVAC contractor is before you experience a breakdown. If you get your system checked when it’s running properly and get your annual maintenance scheduled to keep it running properly.
Relationships built on trust and experience is important to us at Bell Air Conditioning Inc in Temple/Belton. Our professionals would be happy to answer any questions you may have about home comfort. Give us a call at 254-307-9572 or set up an appointment with us using our online scheduler.