Take the time to hire the best contractor for the job.
It doesn’t matter if you are repairing or maintaining your current unit, or replacing an old unit – hiring the right contractor is the ticket to long-term system satisfaction. But, knowing where to start the contractor search can be confusing. The person you find through an internet search for “hvac contractor” obviously is a professional with a business, so they should have all of the skills necessary to do the job, right?
Well, although they are in the minority, there are contractors who present themselves are professionals, but do not use best practices. That is why it is important that you know what to look for in a contractor. Remember, it’s important to get several quotes when you are dealing with heating and air conditioning – especially if there is a new system installation involved.
Here are some ways to spot the very best HVAC contractors.
They look around your house before offering you a quote. If a contractor offers you a quote over the phone, or just jots a quote on the back of a business card without inspecting your home – run! How do they know the scope of the job? How do they really know the size of the equipment you need? How do they know which features will benefit your home? The list goes on and on.
They perform a load calculation before recommending the size of equipment. There are many things that go into calculating the right HVAC equipment size – not just your square footage. Plus, best practices for calculating how much heating and cooling power you need have changed over the years. They’ve gotten more involved, but better! So, simply basing requirements based on existing equipment may not be best practice. Remember, HVAC systems that are too small will constantly run, never reach your desired comfort levels and result in staggering utility bills. And, HVAC systems that are too large won’t run long enough, will not properly dehumdify your home and could result in less-than-ideal comfort levels.
They ask a lot of questions about what YOU are expecting from your home comfort system. How is a contractor going to know what you expect from your home comfort system without asking you? they should ask you what your main goal is – is it to get the most efficiency, reduce indoor allergens, increase comfort, etc?
They don’t just offer a rock-bottom price to land the sale. If a contractor offers a price that seems too good to be true, it probably is. There are a lot of costs that are involved with running and maintaining a successful heating and cooling business. These costs may be reflected in the cost of your system. You don’t want your contractor cutting corners when it comes to training, licenses, permits, and more!
They have a positive reputation with past clients. Listen to recommendations from family and friends. Check online reviews. Remember, it is hard to run from a negative reputation with past clients!
Remember, take the time to find the right HVAC contractor. There can be a temptation to rush the process, especially if you are stick in one of the peak heating or cooling seasons without HVAC. But, you won’t regret the time you take to hire the right contractor.
I like your tip on finding a heating contractor that will inspect your home before offering you a quote. I would imagine that finding someone who takes the time to understand your problem would be the best person for your repairs. My husband and I need someone to come fix our heating system so we’ll have to find someone who will inspect it before he gives us his estimate.