Picking an HVAC contractor is an important decision that you shouldn’t decide upon without doing some investigating to make sure you’re making the right choice.

First, choose a contractor who will ask you about your wants and needs and more important, listen to you. With that tidbit, they should be able to offer up to four options from which you can choose.

When they set up your installation, is it when you wish to have it done, or when they can get to it? Will your contractor pull a permit on every job? Doing so will make certain that it meets all of your local codes.

HVAC system installation is not something you can do yourself and a successful installation requires a contractor that is skilled in a variety of areas, from load calculation to piping and a bunch of steps in between. You could get the top-of-the-line system, but if it’s installed incorrectly you may not get top-of-the-line performance.

Here are a couple other questions to help you make the best choice while researching your HVAC contractor.

Are they NATE-certified?

NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is the largest nonprofit certification organization for HVAC technicians. Certified technicians have verified their knowledge in the HVAC industry by passing real-world and specialized tests developed by a committee of industry experts. NATE-certified contractors have met the highest industry standards for knowledgeable installation and service. NATE certification will offer you peace of mind knowing your contractor has completed in-depth professional training.

Have you seen references or referrals?

A professional HVAC company will be able to provide you with a list of recent customers that you can refer to and verify the quality of their company’s work. Call their list of references and ask about their project and if they’d recommend their work.

There are also official sources online such as the Better Business Bureau and ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America). The BBB allows you to look at the consumer ratings of an HVAC contractor and you’ll be shown any customer complaints against a company. The ACCA is a nonprofit organization of more than 60,000 professionals and 4,000 businesses. Contractors found on ACCA are sure to be committed to their trade and will be able to provide referrals for previous work.

Another option is crowdsourcing referrals from your friends and neighbors or on your social media networks. These are normally the most useful recommendations because they are coming from people you know. You’ll find out who to talk to and which contractors to avoid. If you’re on nextdoor.com you can literally ask for recommendations from people right next door. Contractors rely upon positive word-of-mouth, so if someone you trust backs them it’s likely they’ll do great work for you too.

Have you verified they’re licensed and insured?

Not all states require licensure for heating and cooling contractors, but nearly all of them do. It’s easy to search online to find out if your state requires a license so you know whether or not to ask for one when receiving quotes from a contractor. The reason a lot of states require licenses is simply to keep you from using a company that uses less than qualified workers.

If you live in a state that requires licenses and the contractor you’re talking to doesn’t have one, it’s probably in your interest to look elsewhere to help avoid any potential issues.

When is the best time to ask these questions?

The best time to ask questions and pick an HVAC contractor is right now, before something occurs with your system. Get your furnace checked out while it’s running normally and arrange your yearly maintenance.

Your family’s health, comfort and safety is our business at Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling in Greater Richmond. Our HVAC pros would be happy to answer any and all of your questions. Call us at 804-302-6657. We look forward to becoming your partner in keeping your system running safely and efficiently.