What Makes a Good Heating Contractor?

Whether you’ve just acquired a house and you’re looking for a reliable contractor to service your HVAC system, or you have an older house, and are thinking about a replacement system, you need a reliable air conditioning and heating contractor.

Think honesty, reliability, and expertise: but how do you find all these qualities rolled into one company? Here are a few tips to get you started:

Shop around. Ask for recommendations and references.

Ask friends, family and business associates about their HVAC contractors, then call the contractor and ask for references. Call references and ask if HVAC jobs were completed satisfactorily, on time and for within the estimated cost provided.

You can check online testimonials but keep in mind, these aren’t always honest. And, when they are negative, there may be two sides to the story. If you’re concerned, ask the contractor about the negative reviews and see if you’re satisfied with the explanation.

Ask about licensing, bonding and insurance.

HVAC contractors must be licensed in Texas. Ask if your prospective contractor is licensed. Then ask to see certificates for bonding and insurance.

Bonding involves putting down a certain amount of money with a surety company prior to doing a job. The money will cover expenses if the consumer has to file a claim in case the job isn’t done, or in case of theft or injury to the property.

Insurance will cover expenses if someone is hurt while performing the job on your property. Otherwise, the claim could be filed against your homeowner’s insurance.

Look for good customer service.

Customer service starts with the person who answers the telephone, and continues through the completion of the job. From the moment you start interviewing the contractor or employees that represent the company, you should be treated courteously and professionally. You should not be offered a ballpark figure for an HVAC job over the phone. The contractor should come to your home to gather information, and provide a written estimate.

To learn more about what makes a good air conditioning and heating contractor, contact CCAC. We serve the Coastal Bend area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about your HVAC system, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.  

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Name”