Heating and Ventilating Contractors, How to Hire an HVAC Contractor!

Every industry has them, sneaky salesman whose one single goal… is to get you to sign a contract Fortunately, quality heating and ventilating contractors are very easy to find as long as you know what to look for! Another piece of good news; in the HVAC industry there are usually a few laws and general guidelines that must be adhered to, or the company won’t be able to buy the equipment to sell you!

In this gas furnace buying guide, we are going to look at a common question many homeowners have, how do you find quality heating and ventilating contractors to work with?

Finding Good Heating and Ventilating Contractors

Use the tips below to find a great contractor, and feel free to contribute to this article by providing your own tips at the end!

Ask Your Neighbors for Referrals

At some point, just about everyone you know has had a gas furnace repaired, or had a heating system installed in their home. Use your local network of family, friends, and neighbors, to find a reputable heating contractor to work with.

Check Industry Credentials and Professional Associations

Various industry related associations and certifications exist to help consumers identify well trained professionals. Common hvac affiliations are with ACCA, PHCC, etc. For the individuals working for the company, technicians and installers are trained and certified with NATE certifications!

Request Local Permits and Inspection

If your city or state requires permits and inspections for home improvements, (99% do) tell the heating contractor you want this done and don’t accept any excuses for not getting it done! Trustworthy and reputable heating and ventilating contractors will pull local permits and have every job inspected!

Work with Local and Online Referral Sources

Places like the Better Business Bureau exist for a reason! They are consumer protection services that make sure repeat offenders do not take advantage of consumers. Along with the BBB, you can check resources like Angies List, or use a screening service like Service Magic who pre-screen and verify credentials of all heating and ventilating contractors that are allowed in its system.

Insist on Detailed, Written Price Quotes

Written estimates and quotes become binding contracts as soon as both parties sign the document. Of course you may have buyer remorse laws in your area that provide a bit of time to change your mind, but once work begins, the contract will most often hold water in any court of law. Make sure you know EXACTLY what you are agreeing to, and what the contractors duties will be to complete the project.

Read User Generated Reviews

Face it, Google and Facebook have become a part of our lives. Use the information that’s readily available, to aid in your search for a good heating and ventilating contractor.

Ask For State License and Insurance Liability Information

All states require that mechanical contractors (HVAC)  maintain an active certification license, attend annual code training and carry liability insurance in case of accidents. Before you ever hire a heating and ventilating contractor, ask for verification of these very important documents, and verify with the authorities they are real!

Test Run the Heating Contractor Before Signing

After you have narrowed your choice to one or two contractors, call the service and repair phone at 7PM to see if they answer! Seeing how the heating and ventilating contractors handle customer needs when they are most important!

Make Sure you Get a Written Contract

This should be an understatement, but we still hear horror stories about homeowners who have no written contract for the job! Make sure you get a written contract, signed by yourself and the heating contractor, and that everything included in the project is written on the contract. Make sure the contract includes the negotiated price and if any additional costs may be added, what they may be!

Educate Yourself about Your Options

Being a smart buyer is not hard. Websites like ours have pages of knowledge for you to draw from and learn what to expect. Visit our Gas Furnace Buying Guides section to learn more about what to expect when you meet with heating and ventilating contractors.

Heating and Ventilating Contractors Reader Tips

What other tips do you suggest for finding a good heating contractor?