No important decision should be made without first doing your homework, that includes the decision of choosing an HVAC contractor. You’ll want to seek out a contractor that will listen to you and make sure they are meeting all your home comfort needs.
HVAC installation is not something you want to try to DIY. It’s important to find a contractor that is highly skilled in multiple areas. They will evaluate your home’s load calculation, pull permits to guarantee local codes are met, check piping and plenty 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 subpar performance from your system.
The experts at B & B Heating & Cooling have put together some questions to ask to help you on your pursuit 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 furnish you with a list of recent customers that can verify the quality of their work. Once you receive that you can call and find out about their recent HVAC projects, if they are satisfied with the results and if they would choose 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. Searching 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 know-how of over 60,000 professionals and 4,000 businesses. Contractors that are a part of ACCA are serious about their profession and will happily provide you with referrals.
An additional option is requesting 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 social network of your neighbors.
Are they NATE-certified?
If your contractor is NATE-certified you can have confidence that 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 put together by a committee of the top industry experts.
Are they properly licensed and insured?
Almost all states require licensure for HVAC contractors. This helps protect consumers from companies that use unqualified workers. A simple online search will show you whether your state requires a license or not. If you reside in a state the requires a license and your contractor doesn’t have one, look elsewhere to avert any issues.
When to ask these questions?
The ideal time to locate a quality HVAC contractor is before anything breaks down. 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 B & B Heating & Cooling in Florissant. Our professionals would be happy to answer any questions you may have about home comfort. Give us a call at 314-325-7552 or set up an appointment with us using our online scheduler.