How To Make Sure Your HVAC Service Is Legitimate
Are you in the market for a new HVAC service, or have you hired one lately? Here’s how to make sure the service you get is legitimate.
If you’ve never worked with one before, it can be tough to pick the right HVAC service. After all, with so many firms out there, how can you identify a legitimate company?
Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to make the whole process easier. In this post, we’re going to take a look at what you can do to find an HVAC service that is legitimate and trustworthy.
Keep reading, and you’ll learn how to tell the good firms from the bad so that you don’t get left out of pocket.
Let’s begin!
Look for Licensing
In a lot of states, it is a requirement for HVAC contractors to be licensed. HVAC contractors will normally show you their documentation before they start working with you.
But you can also find out if an HVAC contractor is licensed by using specialist, state-run websites. The California Contractors State License Board is an example of a site that lets you check the licensing status of a contractor.
Some HVAC contractors might say that you need to have additional plumbing or electrical work was done to your building, for the HVAC installation to work properly. If they offer to do this work too, once again, check if they are licensed by the state to carry out this type of work.
Check if They Have Insurance
A good HVAC contractor/company will have insurance that protects your home in case something goes wrong. If they do not have any insurance, you will most likely be left to pick up the bill if the HVAC worker causes some damage to your house.
You should also check if they have some sort of ‘workers compensation’ insurance. This will ensure that they don’t hold you liable, in the event, they are injured while working on your property.
Luckily, it is mandatory in a lot of states for HVAC contractors to have both of these forms of insurance.
But you shouldn’t let that stop you from checking personally. If a contractor says they have insurance, you can validate what they’re saying by reaching out to the relevant ‘Contractors State License Board.’
Speak to People You Know
This is a good approach to take because such people will have already done a lot of the legwork for you. These people will have gone through the process of researching and vetting existing firms to work with.
They can also to tell you how good the work was. They’ll have lived with the results of the work for a while, and so will be able to form a reliable opinion.
Use the Web to Find an HVAC Service
If you do not know anyone personally that has had to use an HVAC company, such as Hays Cooling and Heating, you can also use the Internet to help you.
Search the name of your local area, alongside the word ‘HVAC,’ and you will be able to bring up a list of all the local HVAC companies.
When you do this, you will be able next to the names of companies.
Occasionally you may come across ‘1-star’ reviews – you need treat these reviews with caution.
People may leave a 1-star review out of spite. You need to check how the firm has responded to such a review and how credible their response is.
The quality of their response will let you know how seriously the company takes customer feedback. It’s worth noting that if there is only a single ‘1-star’ review, but the rest are 4 stars, and above, the company in question is probably reliable.
Seek Out References
If you find an HVAC service that looks promising, get them to send you some references.
These references should come with a phone number that you can use to contact these past customers. A quick conversation with them will help provide some clarity on whether a firm is good at what they do.
In some cases, people might also be willing to show you in person, the kind of work that was carried out.
Get Quotes From at Least Three Companies
Consulting with three companies can delay the start of an HVAC project. But doing so can help you work out what a project is supposed to cost.
If, after obtaining quotes from multiple companies, you find that one quote is exceptionally higher than the others – it’s likely a sign of overpricing.
Even when you think you’ve found a fair price, be careful when . Make sure a company is clear in every aspect of the project.
This includes clarity on what certain parts are going to cost and how long the entire project is going to take. If there is any ambiguity here, it can lead to costs creeping up over the duration of the project.
Pay Attention to How they Interact With You
If an HVAC company is using a lot of jargon, it can be a sign they’re not a 100% truthful with you. They might be trying to confuse you in the hopes that you just go along with everything they’re saying. If this happens, you may end up spending money on things you don’t need.
If you question a suggestion made by the company, they should be willing to explain their point of view. If you ask them to do so, and they become frustrated, it can be a sign that they are trying to take you for a ride.
HVAC Heaven?
In this post, we’ve taken a look at some of the things you can do to find an HVAC service that is legitimate and reliable. You might be worried all of this due diligence is going to increase the amount of time it takes for you to complete your HVAC project. This is an understandable point of view.
But as you’d probably agree – it’s better to do the hard work now, as opposed to looking back and wishing you did things differently.
Want to learn more about how you find reliable companies?
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