| Choosing a HVAC Contractor |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The best source of information about the quality of work, friendliness, and customer service
is the experiences of friends or neighbors.
2. Does the company fleet reassure you?
Contractors driving unmarked, beat up, dirty vehicles and likely to treat your home similarly.
In addition, these contractors may be skating on the edge of bankruptcy and unwilling or
unable to fulfill their warranty requirements.
3. Does the company have a physical address?
While many contractors may operate out of a home office when starting, they do have a
physical address. Fly-by-nights and moonlighters, who will not remain around to stand
behind their work, do not. They operate companies from cell phones.
4. Are company employees neat, clean, and professional?
Companies that provide employees with uniforms and insist on moderate levels of
grooming tend to take a more professional approach across the board. Fly-by-nights are
more likely to wear dirty jeans and tee shirts.
5. Does the company employ NATE certified technicians?
Similar to the ASE program for the automotive industry, NATE is the heating and air
conditioning industry’s technician certification program.
6. What equipment brands are carried?
Manufacturers of the better know equipment brands are selective about the contractors they
allow to sell and install their equipment.
7. Will the company guarantee a price before work begins?
Most contractors utilize a national flat rate pricing service today. The service uses national
standard times for repairs, allowing the contractor to offer a fixed price quote before work
begins, rather than an open-ended parts and labor estimate.
8. What warranties are offered?
Better contractors, who are more confident in their work, offer better warranties.
9. Is the contractor licensed?
Licensing is a minimum requirement. Under no circumstances should you allow an
unlicensed contractor to work on your equipment.
10. Is the contractor fully insured?
If an employee of an uninsured contractor is hurt on your property, you can be held liable for
medical expenses. Reputable contractors will provide copies of their general liability and
workers compensation insurance. If the contractor uses subcontractors (e.g., an electrician
or an insulation company), ask for copies of their insurance.
11. Is the company part of your community?
A company that’s involved in your community has a greater stake in their local reputation
than one not involved. Problems will arise from time to time and companies with a stake in
the community tend to put forth an extra effort to resolve problems.
12. Is the company part of a professional community?
Companies that belong to a trade association or business alliance are companies
committed to their craft. They care more. Quality is better. The level of professionalism is
higher.
2 Additional Considerations When Replacing Equipment
Because of the investment, replacing a heating and air conditioning system necessitates
more due diligence. The best company to select for a replacement is a contractor who has
performed satisfactorily for you in the past. An established, successful relationship is
always the best gauge of what you can expect in the future. Relationship or not, here are a
couple of items you should insist upon.
1. Is the company willing to provide references?
If you do not know anyone who has done work for a company, ask for references. The
contractor should be willing to provide you with three to five recent customers you can call.
2. Will the company provide you with a copy of a “load calculation?”
A load calculation is a method of sizing equipment. It’s often called a “Manual J®” for the Air
Conditioning Contractors of America’s Manual J®, the standard for sizing residential
equipment. Once measurements are taken, load calculations can be conducted quickly
using computers. Contractors should be able to show and review the load calculations and
provide you with a copy if you authorize the company to proceed with the replacement.
3 Things to Beware
Be especially careful about the following three pitfalls.
1. Beware the lowest price
You want to spend the least amount possible, which often eliminates the lowest price.
Cheap contractors typically cut corners, which costs more in the long run. Cheap
contractors cannot afford to fix mistakes, resulting in the need to pay twice. Often the lowest
price is not the lowest at all.
2. Beware the yellow pages
Selecting a contractor from the yellow pages is tantamount to throwing a dart. Maybe you
will get lucky. Maybe not. The yellow pages should be used as tool of last resort.
3. Beware anything that sounds too good to be true
Usually, something too good to be true really is too good to be true.