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 more important, listen to you. With that information, they should be able to show you up to four options from which you can choose.

When they schedule your installation, is it when you want it done, or when they can fit you in? Will your contractor pull a permit on every job? Doing so will make sure 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 many areas, from load calculation to piping and a bunch of steps in between. You could get the highest rated system, but if it’s not installed correctly you may not get the best performance.

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

Do they have NATE-Certification?

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 thorough tests created by a committee of industry professionals. 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 rigorous professional training.

Can they provide 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 verify 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 committed to their work and will be able to give referrals for previous work.

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

Are they properly licensed and insured?

Not all states require licensure for heating and cooling contractors, but almost 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 getting quotes from a contractor. The reason most 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 get around any potential problems.

When do I bring up 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 properly and set up your yearly maintenance.

Your family’s health, comfort and safety is our business at McFadden Heating & Cooling in Dresden. Our HVAC pros would be happy to answer any and all of your questions. Call us at 519-683-2339. We look forward to becoming your partner in keeping your system running safely and efficiently.