No important decision should be made without first doing your homework, that includes the decision of choosing an HVAC contractor. You’ll want to secure a contractor that will listen to you and make certain they are meeting all your home comfort needs.
HVAC installation isn’t a good candidate to be a DIY project. 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 make sure local codes are met, check piping and a whole slew of steps in-between. If your top-of-the-line system isn’t getting a top-of-the-line installation, you’re more likely to get inferior performance from your system.
The professionals at ACE Solutions have put together some questions to ask to help you on your quest of finding your ideal HVAC contractor.
Do they have references or referrals?
When deciding 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. Looking up a contractor on BBB will allow you to see consumer ratings and will also show you any customer complaints lodged against a company. The ACCA is a non-profit that employs the expertise of over 60,000 professionals and 4,000 businesses. Contractors that are a part of ACCA are serious about their profession and will enthusiastically provide you with referrals.
One other option is asking for the help of your friends on social media. These recommendations are received 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 your neighborhood’s own social media site.
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. 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 provides protection for consumers from companies that use inexperienced workers. A quick 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 avert any issues.
When to ask these questions?
The perfect time to find a quality HVAC contractor is prior to a breakdown. If you get your system checked when it’s functioning properly and get your annual maintenance scheduled to keep it running properly.
Building a relationship based on trust and experience is important to us at ACE Solutions in Hasbrouck Heights. Our professionals will gladly answer any questions you may have about home comfort. Give us a call at 201-579-2562 or set up an appointment with us using our online scheduler.