Choosing the right HVAC contractor for your home is one of the most important tasks you’ll ever have to do. You need a professional that’s not only qualified but also trustworthy, reliable, and competitively priced.
However, knowing where to start searching for an ideal candidate with many different companies can be hard.
To help simplify things and make sure you get exactly what you’re looking for in a contractor, we’ve put together this guide outlining all the steps you should take as well as some helpful tips along the way.
Check for Licensing and Certification
When looking for an HVAC contractor, one of the first things you should do is check for licensing and certification. But what exactly are these things?
Licensing is the legal requirement that all contractors in your area must follow to perform work on homes or businesses legally. In Pennsylvania, if your contractor doesn’t have a license, they can’t legally do any repairs or installations on your property. If they do so, they could be fined up to $1 million by state regulators!
Similarly, certification requires specific training before an individual can become an HVAC technician. Once certified through their respective associations, such as ACSA, individuals will receive additional knowledge about air conditioning systems and how best fit them into different home layouts. This ensures that each installation project is done correctly without causing damage or failure later down the line, which would cause an additional cost.
Inquire About the Company’s Experience and Expertise
You should also ask about the company’s experience and expertise with your specific system. This can be helpful when it comes to finding a reputable contractor who will work efficiently and do an excellent job on your HVAC needs.
For example, if you have an older model home or apartment building, you may want to talk with a company that specializes in installing newer models of HVAC equipment.
Experience and expertise are vital in ensuring adequate HVAC repair within time. Hence, it is best to ask questions and be sure. When hiring HVAC Services in Harleysville, PA, you can also ask when the company was established and how many staff they have to gauge their experience and versatility. You can also ask questions about HVAC systems and their problems to understand the staff’s knowledge.
Get Recommendations From Friends and Family
The next step is to ask your friends and family if they have any recommendations. They may know someone who has used an HVAC contractor in Pennsylvania or has had problems with one of the contractors in Pennsylvania. Ask them if they have ever used this particular company before, and then ask them the following questions:
- Do you recommend this particular contractor?
- Was there ever an issue with this company?
- What was it like working with this company?
Read Online But Genuine Reviews
The best way to find the best HVAC contractor in Pennsylvania is by reading online reviews. Do not rely solely on these reviews, however. You should also consider any negative comments posted by people who have never used a company before or who don’t like them.
Additionally, you should ensure that all your sources are legitimate and reliable, especially if they come from competitors’ sites! One way to do this is by checking out their social media accounts.
Suppose they have any followers at all. In that case, there’s a good chance some people who aren’t potential customers will see what they’re posting about and might even get inspired enough about their services/products to write up their positive reviews later down the road!
Get an Estimate in Writing
When hiring a contractor, you want to be sure that the estimate is clear and easy to understand. There are several things you should look for:
- A written estimate that includes labor, parts, and materials. This will help ensure that your HVAC technician follows through on their promises.
- It clearly explains how much time it will take to complete the job. Be sure the estimator explains how long each step will take, so there are no surprises later on when they start working on your house!
- A list of any additional fees associated with their services, such as travel expenses.
Inquire About Service Contracts and Warranties
Service contracts are a way for you to get the best possible price on repairs, but they also protect your HVAC system. A service contract is an agreement between you and the contractor.
It guarantees that the contractor repairs or replaces your equipment if it breaks down without prior notice. Service contracts are often expensive, up to $1,000 per year, but they can be worth it if you have trouble finding someone willing to work with you on such short notice or when emergencies arise.
Ask About Replacement Parts
Replacement parts are needed to keep your home comfortable during extreme weather conditions or other emergencies that may occur outside of routine maintenance schedules.
Replacement parts include filters, fan motors; heat exchangers; condensers; AC compressors; furnace burners/blowers—and anything else necessary for the proper operation of your system!
Ask About Installation and Maintenance
Maintenance services are available, and the cost of these depends on the type of system you have. In many cases, maintenance costs will be included in your HVAC contract agreement.
If you have an older system requiring more frequent repairs or replacements than newer models, ask what parts are replaced each year and how often they need to come out for repair.
Repairs can also be costly depending on what needs fixing; if your air conditioner is leaking water into your home due to a clogged drain hose or another issue with one of its components, this could cost hundreds of dollars per hour even though there may not seem like much damage done at first glance.
Clarify About Sub-Contractor and Insurance Coverage
The first step to finding the best HVAC contractor in Pennsylvania is to clarify whether the contractor uses sub-contractors. Sub-contractors can be an excellent way for a contractor to save money, but they also may not have the same level of experience or expertise as your primary contractor. You should ask questions like:
- Do they use sub-contractors? If so, how many?
- Have any companies ever had problems with their work and caused damage or other issues on their clients’ properties?
- What are their references like, especially if this is someone you’ve never worked with before or met in person before today, or even heard about? What kind of past experiences do these references have with this particular company? Do they like working with them personally and professionally; if so, then maybe this is worth considering further because otherwise, it might come down to trust instead.
Find Out How It Handles Complaints
When hiring an HVAC contractor, asking how the company handles complaints if something goes wrong with your system after the job is done is essential.
If you have any issues with your new heating or cooling system, ask whether they offer any warranties or guarantees on their workmanship and parts.
You also want to ensure that if there are any problems in the future with parts or repairs on your system, they can be handled quickly and efficiently by their technicians.
Conclusion
The best way to find a good HVAC contractor is by doing your homework. Check out the company’s website, look for reviews online, and ask friends and family if they have any recommendations.
You should also ensure they are licensed and insured before signing contracts. When speaking with potential contractors, ask as many questions as possible to know precisely what kind of service you can expect from them.
