What to Look for in an HVAC Contractor

October 21, 2020 Guest Post

At some point during your time as a homeowner, you’ll likely need to call in an HVAC contractor. Whether it’s your AC that isn’t working or your heat, it’s an HVAC contractor that will help get it running like new again. However, you shouldn’t just call the first name you come across. Performing work on an HVAC system is a big job, so you don’t want to leave it to just anyone. Here are some things you should look for any time you need to call in an HVAC professional.

 

Where They Are Located
The first thing you should look for is where this contractor is located. Your best bet is to try and find someone who is near your home. Local HVAC contractors will not only have more familiarity with your area, and the specific problems you might be facing because of it, but they can likely get to your home sooner rather than later. The further away the HVAC service provider is located, the longer it might take to get your repairs done. So, when you’re searching for someone to hire, keep in mind the distance between you.

 

Previous Customer Reviews
Next, you should always look at how previous customers rated their experience with any given HVAC contractor. Luckily, it’s easy to find reviews for contractors thanks to sites like Angie’s List and Google business listings. You can simply type in the HVAC contractor you are considering, then see how past customers rated their experience. If you find that many previous customers gave a poor rating, this is a sign that you should consider other options. There’s no way to tell how your experience will go with any contractor, but you can use other customers’ experiences to give yourself a better shot at a good one.

 

Using Modern Practices
A great thing to look for is whether the HVAC service provider is using modern practices. HVAC systems have changed over time and so too have the ways we repair and maintain them. You’ll want an HVAC contractor that not only knows how to work on these newer systems but can talk to you about the benefits of upgrading to one of them should you need to.

 

For example, if you use a waterless tank heater in your home, you’ll want HVAC contractors that know how to maintain it. Talk to anyone you’re considering about how they keep up to date with the latest technology or ask them specifically about the equipment you have in your home.

 

Lengthy Experience
While studying the latest methods is certainly beneficial, there are some things that only experience can teach. Therefore, when you’re considering your options, you should look to see how many years of experience they have. Is this a contractor that just started working this year, or have they been working on HVAC systems for over a decade? The longer someone has been in business, the more comfortable you can feel that they will be able to handle your job correctly the first time around.

 

Good Customer Service
How does the HVAC contractor interact with you? If you leave them a message, do they take several days to respond? Do they sound impatient when you ask questions about your system? It’s important to pay attention to how they treat their customers. If something goes wrong with your system, you don’t want to deal with a contractor that won’t return your calls or is rude. You can learn about their customer service experience through past reviews, but you should also pay attention to your own interactions with them and be on the lookout for any red flags.

 

The Total Cost
Finally, you need to consider the cost. Depending on the work you need to be done, you could be looking at a small bill or a rather large one. If the bill is on the larger end, it’s not a bad idea to get a quote from another provider and compare them against one another. Just because a contractor has received good reviews online, or has years of experience, doesn’t mean they are offering the best deal.

 

Take Everything into Consideration
When looking for an HVAC contractor, try not to focus on just one or two of the items above. Instead, you should factor them all into your decision. Will spending a little more get you better results? Is it worth waiting longer for repairs if it means getting a discount? These are the things you’ll have to decide for yourself, but you can only do this if you have all the facts.