You rely on your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) to maintain your Georgia home’s indoor comfort. When you need help with the system, you want to make sure you hire the right person or company for the job. Let’s look at a few steps to hiring a professional HVAC contractor who will meet your needs.
Do Your Research
Fortunately, there are many ways to start the search for a reliable HVAC contractor. First, you may want to begin online. You can use search engines and online platforms like Google or Yelp to find local companies in the area. Also, don’t forget about social media. Many companies use these platforms to help find customers, but even if that’s not the case for a specific company, you can often find information about it.
Note how the companies present themselves. A well-maintained website and active social media presence often indicate that a company is serious about its business and customer service.
Ask Family and Friends for Recommendations
When asking for recommendations, you should talk to your friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors to see if they have previously worked with an HVAC contractor. Make sure to ask them about the types of work performed, the service quality, and the technicians’ professionalism. “Knowing” a person differs from hiring someone for a project. You want to make sure they have personally employed this company for a job.
Additionally, remember to ask them about their overall satisfaction with the completed work and whether any issues arose after the service was provided. All this information can help you better understand the HVAC professional’s work ethic.
Check Their Credentials and Qualifications
Before hiring any company, you need to ensure they are licensed, insured, and bonded. With that, you have some protection from accidents or damages. A licensed company is required to abide by state regulations and standards. Also, insurance coverage is important so you will not be held liable for any on-the-job injuries or damages.
All reputable HVAC contractors will have some form of accreditation. At minimum, they need a license, but many companies have technicians with certifications from industry organizations, such as NATE (North American Technician Excellence). NATE-certified technicians are known for their high level of training and knowledge in the HVAC field.
With that, you can make sure these technicians are up to date with the latest HVAC technologies and best practices. When you hire them for the job, you can have some peace of mind knowing that knowledgeable and skilled professionals are handling your project.
Look at Reviews
While you should check out the company’s reviews, always take them with a grain of salt. When reading these ratings, you need to gather your information from multiple sources. Check out platforms like Google Reviews, Facebook, Angi, or HomeAdvisor to get a complete understanding of a company’s reputation.
Also, when reading reviews, look at the big picture. If you notice a consistent trend of positive or negative feedback about certain aspects of a company’s service, make sure to take those observations into account. Sometimes, a customer is more likely to leave a poor review than a good one, especially if they believe the company did not resolve their problem.
You may want to pay attention to how the company responds to both positive and negative reviews. Professional responses can show a commitment to customer service, but negative responses can be a red flag. A lack of responses, however, doesn’t mean that the company doesn’t care – some avoid responding as a general rule to avoid controversy.
Check Better Business Bureau Ratings
If there is one organization that monitors customer complaints and reviews, it is the Better Business Bureau (BBB). When it comes time to search for an HVAC company, you may want to look at the BBB’s website.
The BBB also provides a platform for resolving disputes, which can be helpful if any issues arise with the service provider. HVAC contractors are rated with letters, with an A+ as the highest rating. A company with a high BBB rating indicates reliability and great customer satisfaction.
Visit Their Website
Most professional companies will have a website to advertise their services. You may want to explore their site to see the services offered, such as installation, maintenance, and repairs. Along with that, you can check out their past projects and customer testimonials. Plus, websites should give you some insights into the skills and qualifications of the HVAC team.
A well-designed, informative website reflects a company’s commitment to customer service. Like any other professional website, it should be easy to navigate. Along with that, it should provide detailed information about the contractor’s services and policies.
Meet in Person
After finding one or two HVAC contractors for the job, it may be time to schedule a home visit or consultation. During this time, you will want to discuss the job and your expectations. If you need someone with experience with specific types of HVAC systems or brands, that can be a critical element in the decision-making process.
This is the ideal time to ask questions about the company, such as:
- How long have they been in business?
- What specific expertise do they have?
- What are the qualifications of your technicians?
At this time, it is not just about what they say but how the HVAC contractor presents their business to you. You may want to observe their punctuality, willingness to answer questions, and overall demeanor. If they take a professional and courteous approach during the initial consultation, that is often a good indicator of reliable service.
Remember to always trust your instincts. You want to choose a company that makes you feel confident in their services.
Request Quotes and Compare Contractors
After you contacted a few companies, you might have received a couple of quotes for the project. Now is the time to compare the estimates.
Remember that the cheapest option is not always the best one when comparing quotes. You need to look at the overall value. If a quote is unusually low, the contractor might not have included all the necessary work for the job. Sometimes, a low quote could indicate the use of subpar materials.
This is also the time to ask about warranties on parts and labor. Any reputable company should offer guarantees to stand behind their work. Details about the warranty should be included in the quote.
Along with the quote, you will also want to evaluate the contractor’s scope of work. A company that provides comprehensive services is more likely to be able to meet all your HVAC needs over time.
Whatever you do, make sure that everything is put down in writing. Verbal quotes provide no protection if the contractor fails to adhere to the scope of the job. With a written contract, you have options if they fail to live up to your expectations.
If you need a professional HVAC contractor, reach out to Precision Heating & Air in Dallas, Georgia. For over 30 years, we have helped clients in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area with their home services needs, including repairing, maintaining, and installing heating and cooling systems. Our team can also help with heat pumps, ductless mini-splits, and indoor air quality issues. We want to make sure that you stay comfortable in your home throughout the year. If you would like to schedule an appointment, contact us today.
