Advice for Hiring an HVAC Contractor

If you’ve spent any amount of time lately trying to resolve a customer service issue, you’re likely gained a greater appreciation for why it’s important to check out a supplier well before placing any orders. Sometimes the issue doesn’t have anything to do with negligence or poor service; a company can be experiencing growing pains, including layoffs and career changes on the part of key employees.

When it comes to choosing a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) contractor, though, the results of the work you hire that person to perform are very likely to affect your quality of home life for decades to come. Going through some preliminary steps before hiring an HVAC contractor can save everyone time, money and headaches down the road.

Here are some hiring ideas to consider, courtesy of Concord Municipal Light Plant in Concord, MA:

When it comes to hiring anyone to work on your home, it pays to ask for the recommendation of friends, neighbors and family members. Did you like how that roof next door came off and went on so easily and quickly, with no mess and no hassle from the contractor’s many vehicles? Compliment your neighbors on the work and ask how their experience was. Some companies pay a referral fee for securing new clients.

Consider national sources such the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. Chances are, these kinds of organizations have heard it all over the years and know the right questions to ask as well as the proper steps to take along the way.

Skim over some online reviews, but be careful about taking them as the hard-and-fast truth. Online reviews can be unreliable, especially if something sounds too good – or too bad – to be true. Like it or not, there’s still a fair amount of anonymity online, and you need to carefully consider the source of reviews on the Internet to determine if they’re legit.

Get in touch with a handful of contractors and invite them to your home so that you can discuss your needs and options with each. Sometimes, it becomes quickly apparent that all certain contractors want is a hastily signed agreement and a large amount of money upfront – something that becomes easier to spot when they’re standing in your home than when speaking with them over the phone.

As always, feel free to contact AC World with your HVAC question and concerns!