Whether you’re looking for a lawyer, a dentist, a plumber, or yes, even a HVAC technician, it’s important to be certain that you’ve hired the right specialist for the job. Here, Joe Gratta of Atlantic Mechanical in Massachusetts shares his advice for what credentials that the HVAC company you choose should have.
Fully licensed
Just because the state you live in doesn’t mandate that HVAC contractors in your area need to be licensed doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make it a personal requirement for technicians who come to your home. If an HVAC technician is going to be working on your home, he should be licensed, Gratta says.
It’s also important that the company you are hiring has liability insurance and worker’s compensation. That way, if your home is damaged during a visit, or a technician gets injured while servicing your home, you won’t be held liable for paying for his medical bills. Don’t just assume that every company has met these requirements, he advises. You must ask for proof and even make copies for your own records so that you are fully protected.
Branding
The way in which a company markets and presents the business to potential clients tells you a lot about its success as well. For instance, if a company has a website, uniformed technicians and a labeled van, that sends a message that they are trying to be professional and are serious about creating a lasting and trusting brand. Additionally, you should inquire about the number of employees who are currently working for the business. If an HVAC company has numerous employees, that lets you know that they are financially successful and probably indicates that they have repeat clients who call them for all of their cooling and heating needs. If one or two people are doing everything from managing the business, to accounting and all of the manual labor, then it may indicate a few things about their level of professionalism, none of which describe the type of company you should hire. It may tell you that:
- The employees may be right out of trade school
- The company hasn’t been in business long and isn’t well-established
- The employees aren’t very experienced
- The employees don’t do the type of work that garners repeat customers
- The company is not financially able to expand
EPA Certifications
Another important factor that unfortunately many homeowners fail to make note of is the accreditation that the HVAC contractors have. Ideally, says Gratta, you should look for a company that is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This means that the company and the products they use comply with the regulations that the agency sets forth to reduce emissions, pollution, and energy costs. Non-certified appliances are not guaranteed to run as smoothly or work as efficiently as those that are approved by the EPA.
Guarantees and Warranty
Before you allow any HVAC technicians to work on your furnace or central cooling system, you should secure a solid contract. The document should clearly state that there is a warranty for the labor and the parts that are used to fix the system you have or install a new one. You need assurance that if something fails prematurely, or the same problem arises, the HVAC company will be responsible for making the necessary repairs at no cost.
Luckily, once you’ve found the right HVAC contractor who meets all of the above requirements and who performs work that meets your standards, you can guarantee that you’ll have great service henceforward.
