4 Things To Look For To Find An HVAC Contractor You Can Trust
Your home is likely the biggest investment you’ll ever make. Within your home, one of the most expensive and vital components is your HVAC system. Keeping your home’s environment comfortable and relaxing is hard work, involving multiple components working together, and when it goes down you’re faced with the potential of a large HVAC repair bill or worse - having the entire heating and cooling system replaced.
When it comes to spending that kind of money, the last thing you want is someone who will come in and perform unnecessary repairs or tack on extra fees and services you don’t need. You also need to make sure whoever does the work does it right so you find yourself in an endless cycle of breakdown and repair. In short, you need an HVAC contractor you can depend on.
But how do you know? What can you do to be proactive when choosing someone to work on your heating and air conditioning system? Read through the following tips to learn what to look for and the questions to ask before you hire someone.
1. Forewarned Is Forearmed
Hiring an HVAC contractor is just like hiring an employee for a business. You need to do your research ahead of time. Check with your state’s licensing board and department of insurance to see what requirements there are for each. There are times when a contractor may say they are licensed but might be operating without one. You should always double-check that they have the qualifications and certifications they claim to have and that everything is up to date.
2. The 3 ‘R’s’
Referrals, References and Reviews. One of the most valuable tools to find out if a contractor is worth their salt are others in your area. Talk to friends, neighbors or co-workers and ask for recommendations. Anyone you’re considering should also be willing to provide you with a list of customer references that you can check in case you don’t know anyone they’ve serviced. You can also contact local trade associations, the Chamber of Commerce, or the Better Business Bureau for ideas. Don’t forget to check online resources like Angie’s List or review sites like Google Reviews or Yelp.
3. Get A Home Evaluation
This is more relevant when it comes to installing a new HVAC system rather than just a repair, but your HVAC contractor should offer to do a full home evaluation so they can properly determine your needs. Every home is different when it comes to how it needs to be warmed or cooled, and if they’re offering a solution without investigating what your home requires they’re likely to sell you a system that’s too big - or too small. When they perform the evaluation they should be looking at things like total square footage, the type and quality of your insulation and window placement.
4. Get Everything In Writing
Nothing about this will ensure the contractor can do the work well, but it will at least guarantee they aren’t taking advantage of you. Don’t do anything without a written and itemized estimate that details the models of equipment being installed, the cost of labor, warranty information and any other associated fees you’ll incur. That way you’ll be able to compare information if you’re getting multiple bids and you can also make sure you’re only paying what was agreed at the time everything is done.
R.S. Andrews Is Ready To Walk The Long Road With You
Obviously, we at R.S. Andrews believe we can pass all of these tests, but it’s also important to us that our customers are taken care of in the best way possible, so if we can help you do your best due diligence, we will. You’re always welcome to ask us for any customer references or licensing information - we’ll be happy to provide. In the end, we want you and your home to be comfortable.