How to Choose the Right HVAC Contractor

Choosing the company or contractor to install your home’s heating or air conditioning comfort system is, in many cases, more important than the choice of what brand of equipment to install. Proper installation and maintenance is necessary for the equipment to work safely, reliably and at maximum efficiency.

Here are important guidelines when selecting your next home comfort system contractor:

• If you have been recommended a contractor, or already know of one, that’s a great place to start. If not, consult family, friends and neighbors to see who they’ve used, and learn what their opinions are concerning the installation AND reliable follow-up work.
• Most leading residential HVAC contractors have the proper training and credentials to perform quality work. Look for a local contractor that has a NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certificate and offers ENERGY STAR products.
• Never give your business to a company that has NOT come to your home (at no cost to you) to survey all the needs and ask the questions necessary to design a properly-sized system for your specific space. Avoid those who try to offer any upfront price over the phone.
• A properly-trained comfort specialist is not just a sales person, but a fully qualified home comfort design engineer that will take all the measurements needed for heat-load or cooling-load calculation. A properly-trained estimator will never simply look at the size of the existing equipment and offer a proposal based on just that information.
• A good contractor’s representative will not only survey the home, but will inquire about specific heating and cooling problems you’ve experienced, and suggest ways to solve this situation as part of the proposed replacement system installation.
• A good company will offer you a written, firm quotation for all the proposed work, listing all equipment to be installed, work to be completed and associated warranties that will be in place after the job is complete.
• A trusted contractor will be not only fully insured, but also bonded. The company’s employees should be background-checked and have drug screenings on an on-going basis.
• We suggest that you get several proposals for the work to be done, and select the bid that seems to offer the best total value to you (not necessarily cheapest price). Be skeptical of the extremely low bidder. Double check the reputation of each contractor with the several reporting agencies like the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List and Yelp. Look for an A+ rating on all!
• Please remember, a reliable company is one that is professional, courteous and thorough. How a company treats you now reflects upon how they will treat your home during and after the installation process.

Our team of professionals at ServiceMark Heating, Cooling & Plumbing have been the go-to local HVAC installation experts for well over 60 years. Your total satisfaction is our reward. Please do not hesitate to call us with any questions or to make an appointment for a FREE IN-HOUSE EVALUATION of your home’s comfort system. Our comfort engineers are highly trained to guide you and educate you on making an informed choice.