No big decision should be made without first doing your homework, that includes the decision of choosing an HVAC contractor. You’ll want to find 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 find a contractor that is highly skilled in many areas. They will evaluate your home’s load calculation, pull permits to ensure local codes are met, check piping and a whole slew 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 inferior performance from your system.
The professionals at Lycoming Heating Company have put together some questions to ask to guide you on your journey 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 verify the quality of their work. After obtaining that you can call and inquire about their recent HVAC projects, if they are pleased with the results and if they would hire 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. Finding 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 enlists the knowledge 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.
Another option option is asking for the help of your friends on social media. These recommendations are coming from people you know and trust. In most cases you’ll 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. 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?
Just about every state requires licensure for HVAC contractors. This helps protect consumers from companies that use unqualified workers. A short 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 prevent any issues.
When to ask these questions?
The ideal time to secure a quality HVAC contractor is before anything breaks down. If you get your system checked when it’s operating properly and get your regular maintenance scheduled to keep it running properly.
A relationship built on trust and experience is important to us at Lycoming Heating Company in Williamsport. Our professionals will gladly answer any questions you may have about home comfort. Give us a call at 570-326-4450 or set up an appointment with us using our online scheduler.