Finding a reliable and professional heating and air conditioning company is an important resource for every home owner to have. Ensuring that the home is at a reasonable and comfortable temperature year-round is important to maintain a good quality of life. Many HVAC companies have long-standing reputations within their communities and are trusted experts to their customers. Licensed companies maintain very high standards and are skilled in their crafts, and can be found through the municipal tradesmen registrations. Word of mouth is another great way to find a reliable and dependable heating and air conditioning company. It does not take long for word about a professional company to build and especially in small communities the best companies are quite well-known. Conversely, companies that are not professional or do not do a good job become known for their incompetence.
Depending on the location, most heating and air conditioning companies do have to be licensed. While this will vary from location to location, it is always a good idea to choose a reputable company that is licensed. Tradesmen have various organizations that they require certification.
References are a very effective way of learning more about an HVAC company prior to hiring them. Bear in mind that these references are hand selected and likely customers that experienced very favorable results with the contractor. Asking for referrals as well should cover all the bases. Once a reliable HVAC company has been found, giving positive referrals is helpful.
Most long-standing HVAC companies will offer monthly specials and the like to their returning customers as well as to potential customers. Manufacturers can also offer rebates and other discounts on equipment costs. The Energy Star government website lists many different specials and rebates for heating and air conditioning systems as well as referrals for local companies.
Having a signed contract in place is a very good idea whenever any work is being done on the home. The contract needs to stipulate all of the work that is to be done along with the make and model numbers for any equipment or machinery.
Before a contractor can give any estimate or fix a problem they will need to look at the entire home and gain an understanding of all of its systems. Many HVAC systems also rely on the plumbing and electricity networks to function properly.
Air conditioning systems should be checked and cleaned each year, typically in the spring before they are needed to combat the heat of summer. Heating units should also receive the same annual check-up, ideally in the fall before heavy use.
Annual checks usually include air filter replacement and a cleaning and check of the system. These service calls are generally priced between $70 and $100. Many contractors will offer a discount if annual visits are pre-scheduled and paid for ahead of time.
Price guarantees can be stipulated in the contract, however, if there are unforeseen problems or issues the price to deal with those will not be included in the contract price. There price for labor and equipment should be agreed ahead of time before work begins.