It can be a real wallet killer when you need air conditioner repairs. Your air conditioning is the biggest and most important energy user in your home, and air conditioner repair ain’t cheap. This why it is so crucial to find an air conditioner repairman who you trust.
If your air conditioner repairman does a poor job, you’re looking a world of problems: you might have to pay more money for different air conditioning contractors to come straighten out the mess. Your home might sustain damage due to the shoddy work. If your HVAC system leaks, it can cause mold or rot that are dangerous to both your health and the structural integrity of your home. Their poor workmanship might contribute to energy loss that costs you hundreds of bucks every month.
Now that we’ve established why it is so important to use a good HVAC contractor, check out our list of tips for finding one.
Five Tips for Finding an HVAC Contractor
- Do your homework.
The more you know about your HVAC system, the more you’ll know if you’ve found a contractor you can trust. Before ever contacting an air conditioning repair contractors, learn the make and model of your HVAC system, and check out the maintenance history. It’s not a bad idea to Google the symptoms your HVAC system is experiencing, to identify if they are common issues with your model HVAC system. When you understand the work that needs to be done, you are empowered to find an HVAC contractor that you know knows what they’re doing. If it’s all Greek to you, that HVAC repairman can tell you absolutely anything and you have no choice but to believe them. - Read Up on HVAC Contractor Requirements in Your Area
The licensing and insurance requirements for HVAC contractors vary from one state to another. Understanding these requirements will give you a baseline for what to look for in a qualified contractor. When you contact potential HVAC contractors, ask about these required credentials, and then contact the governing boards and verify them (unfortunately scammers who work under false license and insurance numbers aren’t a myth). If you’re extra cautious, it’s not a bad idea to check on additional associations for contractors or certifications the contractor might have. Every credential they have above the minimum requirement is more verification that your home is good hands. - Get Referrals From People Who Love Their HVAC Guy
As they say, word of mouth is the best form of advertisement. If a contractor has done a great job for your friend, coworker, neighbor, and so on, there’s a good chance they’ll do a great job for you. If you don’t know anyone who knows anyone, try contacting local trade organizations or property management companies for referrals. Or hit up the good ol’ interwebs. You’ll definitely find a referral there. - Look For Special Deals
We are not suggesting you should choose an HVAC guy on price alone; that’s a terrible idea. However, if you narrow your search down to a few qualified HVAC contractors, and one has a special promotion going, it might be a tipping point that helps you choose the right guy.
We’ll throw this in for free: If you have to replace your entire unit, definitely read up on manufacturer’s rebates and tax credits. Your HVAC system is going to cost a pretty penny, there are tons of ways to save the Benjamins! - If You Like It, You Shoulda Put it in Writing
The HVAC contractor you talk to can promise you the moon, but it’s not worth the paper it isn’t written on if it isn’t written on paper. Make sure that the bid you get for your HVAC repairs include any pertenent information about the job. In addition to the cost for the work, you want the bid to include the following information (at a minimum):- Licensing and insurance numbers (see our previous point about why this is important).
- A detailed list of the work that is included in the bid. Make sure everything that you and the contractor discussed are in writing.
- The parts and materials being used in your repair.
- Warranties on parts and labor.
- Time frames that the work will be completed.
Do you have any other tips? Please share in the comment section below!