8 Tips For Hiring A Heating And Air Conditioning Professional
Your friends at One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, combined with information from the folks at ENERGY STAR came up with eight tips that you should consider when choosing a heating and air conditioning professional.
1. Study up — Find out about license and insurance requirements for contractors in your state. Make note of any uncomfortable rooms. This will help potential contractors better understand your heating and air conditioning needs.
2. Ask for referrals — Ask friends, neighbors, and co-workers for contractor referrals. You can also contact local trade organizations for names of members in your area. The internet is a place many people go to read up on companies. If you do choose to use the internet, make sure the sites you are using are reputable.
3. Call references — Ask contractors for customer references and call them. Ask about the contractor’s installation or service performance, and if the job was completed on time and within budget.
4. Find special offers — A heating and cooling system is one of the largest purchases you’ll make as a homeowner. Keep your costs down by checking around for available rebates on energy-efficient qualified heating and cooling equipment.
5. Expect a home evaluation — The contractor should spend significant time inspecting your current system and home to assess your needs. A bigger system isn’t always better; a contractor should size the heating and cooling system based on the size of your house, level of insulation, and windows. A good contractor will inspect your duct system (if applicable) for air leaks and insulation and measure airflow to make sure it meets manufacturers specifications.
6. Get written, itemized estimates — When comparing contractors’ proposals (bids), be sure to compare cost, energy efficiency and warranties. A lowest price may not be the best deal if it’s not the most efficient because your energy costs will be higher. Always try to compare “apples to apples.”
7. Get it in ink — Sign a written proposal with a contractor before work gets started. It’ll protect you by specifying project costs, model numbers, job schedule and warranty information.
8. Check for fine print — There shouldn’t be a ton of fine print on a heating and air conditioning contract. The more fine print that you see, the more skeptical you should become. That doesn’t mean that all fine print is bad, but your radar should go up the more your eyes have to squint to read the fine print.
Call us at (757) 868-7600 or send us a message through our online form if you have any questions about our services or if you’d like to schedule a FREE, no-obligation appointment with one of our Comfort Advisors.
