It is tricky but not impossible to locate a good HVAC technician and company. Be upbeat and stay positive. There are so many contractors to chose from. Here are some ideas of what a HVAC company should have before you consider doing business with them.
1) The company has a good reputation. Check out places on social media and read the reviews. Yelp, Angie’s List, Facebook and Google are places to start and review businesses. Read as many reviews as you can and see if they are consistent. Have any of your friends or relatives used any HVAC company lately ? You might also want to head to the Better Business Website to see if they are listed. The BBB rates businesses on a scale of A+ to F. Not every Heating and Cooling company choses to become a member of the BBB though. Has this HVAC company been in business for a while ? Are they a division of another local business?
2) The company has properly certified employees.
An HVAC company often hires certified technicians. Check to see what credential they have. This tells you that the company hires technicians who are efficient, knowledgeable and professional.
3) The company comes out to survey your home and then estimates the cost.
A contractor should always come out to your place to survey your home. They should be looking around at your air ducts to check for leaks before they write up an estimate. Companies should not be giving you an estimate over the phone. You do not want to deal with someone who suggests a price and then when they arrive at your home the price is jacked up. They really need to have looked in every room and understand your living spaces and check how your ductwork flows.
4) The HVAC company will NOT discourage you from considering buying higher efficiency equipment.
In advance of their appointment, ask what brands they carry and why they carry them. Ask if they work with multiple brands. Do they use one brand all the time or not. Ask what is the latest technology and get a feel for whether they seem up with it. A quality contractor will always be able to install the latest energy efficient models and can explain to you how much money those models can save you.
5) The service manager or technician will talk to you about what your annual heating and cooling costs will be with another unit. A good company/contractor should be using heat load and cooling load calculations to estimate what your home’s annual energy bills would be for the mechanicals they are suggesting you purchase and install.
6) The company will probably not have the lowest prices.
Quality does not come cheap. Quality materials and trained HVAC technicians cost. Companies have to pay for equipment, trucks, healthcare, insurance and marketing. Do not search for a rock bottom price. You might wind up with someone who is uninsured and unlicensed. You want properly installed equipment, a personable technician, and a very positive experience as this equipment is one of the biggest investments you will make in your home. Narrow your choices down to 3 and hopefully you will get a sense of who you can work with.
7) They belong to a professional association
Visit their website and see if they are affiliated with professional organizations.
8) They offer 24/7 emergency service. It is important to look into what other services they offer besides new HVAC equipment. Can they come out and blow out the lines ? Can they change out the filters ? Do they hand you a business card and tell you they handle emergencies ? Do they also work as plumbers or just heating and cooling ?
9. The company has payment options. Many Heating and Cooling companies will offer you financing on a big purchase. Check all this out in advance. Ask what credit cards they take.
10.) The HVAC company will determine if your current mechanicals were the correct product to begin with. A quality heating and cooling contractor will review what your residence requires for excellent ventilation. Do not be surprised if they suggest that who ever installed the old equipment “did it wrong”. Poorly sized heating and cooling equipment contributes to higher energy bills. So does old equipment. A technician needs to really take proper measurements and get a sense for the flow of air. They should really be asking themselves if the present system is the correct system and is properly sized. They should not just be there to plug out and plug in something new before making an assessment. Is there mold ? Is there a place that never is warm or never cools down ? Do your ducts need cleaning ? Share this type of information with them so they better understand your needs.
9) The company will sell “Energy Star
related products. Ask specifically if they do because that means they are of good quality.
10) The company has a local office or shop. Not every HVAC contractor has a brick and mortar business and many work out of their homes but a contractor that does have an office tells you that that company might have been in business for a while and intends to stay in business. They are doing well enough to own or rent a facility. Some have small showrooms that showcase the brands they sell.