The HVAC system is one of the most important and expensive appliances for your home. The heating and cooling units of your home are responsible for maintaining a comfortable atmosphere inside the home. However, similar to any other appliance, AC and furnaces also need timely maintenance and replacement. It’s important to check the condition of your heating and cooling system before peak winter or summer to avoid experiencing an unexpected breakdown. And for that, you need a qualified heating and cooling service professional.
When it comes to repairing, replacing, or installing a new furnace or AC, you need an experienced professional. A local handyman may fix your problem temporarily but to ensure the safety of your appliance and keep your home comfortable all the time, it’s best to find a specialist. Whether you want to tune up an existing system or install a new unit, find a company specializing in installing and servicing heating and cooling units of all makes and models. Trusting a jack of all trades is risky because these professionals only provide a quick fix and could cause more damage to your appliance. To distinguish a reliable service from a deceptive professional, consider the following factors when looking for a heating and cooling service.
Verify Licensing
Before you start looking for a professional, find out if your state needs licensing for heating and cooling companies. However, even if there’s no licensing requirement, it’s better to give preference to licensed professionals. Industry licenses and accreditations indicate that the professional possesses the knowledge and skills needed to install and service an HVAC system. Choosing a licensed contractor reduces the risk of poor workmanship and scams. Make sure the professional has specialization in the services you need and at least 3-5 years of experience.
Ratings & Reviews
The website of the company can give you some information about the type of services they offer and what their customers have to say. But you should take a step further and read reviews on other independent sites and check ratings on their social media accounts. A reliable heating and cooling service will have plenty of positive reviews on sites like Yelp, BBB, and Google. Reviews will help you get details like their professionalism, timely service, reasonable prices, and complaints if any. On the basis of factors like license, experience, product knowledge, and reputation, you should shortlist 3-5 local services.
Compare Written Estimates
Contact shortlisted professionals and ask for written estimates. Genuine companies are always happy to provide on-site consultation and written quotes. Heating and cooling units don’t come cheap, so it’s important to find a skilled installer. If the appliance is not installed correctly, your product’s warranty can be void besides reducing its performance. So, so final hiring decision should be based on experience and skills, not the lowest price. You can compare prices to ensure that the company is not charging too high prices. But give preference to knowledge and proficiency over price to get safe and efficient installation services. But give preference to knowledge and proficiency over price to get safe and efficient installation services.