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

First, find a contractor who will ask you about your wants and needs and then listen to you. With that information, they should be able to show you up to four options from which you can select.

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 ensure 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 number of areas, from load calculation to piping and a bunch of steps in between. You could get the best system, but if it’s improperly installed you may not get the best performance.

Here are a few other questions to help you make the best decision while finding your HVAC contractor.

Are They Certified?

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

Do they have references or referrals?

A professional HVAC company ought to be able to provide you with a list of recent customers that you can talk to and tell you about the quality of their company’s work. Chat with their list of references and ask about their project and if they’d recommend them to you.

There are also official sources online such as the Better Business Bureau and ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America). The BBB allows you to check out the consumer ratings of an HVAC contractor and you’ll have the ability to see 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 serious about their profession and will be able to offer referrals for previous work.

Another route is crowdsourcing referrals from your friends and neighbors or on your social media networks. These are typically the most valuable 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 practically all of them do. It’s easy to search online to see 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 protect 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 better to look elsewhere to help circumvent any potential issues.

When do I bring up these questions?

The best time to ask questions and choose an HVAC contractor is right now, before something happens to your system. Get your furnace checked out while it’s operating as usual and arrange your yearly maintenance.

Your family’s health, comfort and safety is our business at Air-Right Energy Design in Manassas. Our HVAC pros would be happy to answer any and all of your questions. Call us at 703-260-1148. We look forward to becoming your partner in keeping your system running safely and efficiently.