Your heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system regulates the climate in your interiors, making your home a safer, healthier, more comfortable space. It is also a crucial component of non-residential structures and installations, including office and commercial buildings, schools, medical units, industrial facilities, modes of transportation and many more.
Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that your HVAC system is in good condition and is operating well at all times. A faulty system may lead to discomfort and health conditions among members of the household, especially small children and the elderly. It can lead to uncontrolled energy consumption which will mean a spike in your power bill. Issues with your HVAC equipment may even pose property hazards, due to the possibility of fire, gas leaks and busted hot water pipes. With today’s highly fickle and extreme weather condition, only the installation of a reliable HVAC system will make it possible to promote the well-being and comfort of those under your care.
With all these risks that may come from a faulty HVAC system, it’s important to attend to issues the moment you detect something is not properly working. And instead of attempting to take matters in your own hands, it makes sense to invest in the services of professionals. To make sure you’ll get more value for your money, consider the following when choosing your HVAC system contractor:
Check out relevant certifications. Not all places require a certification before someone can make a living out of HVAC services. But working with a certified or licensed professional, even when such credential is not required, helps you be more confident that the contractor has more than basic training and experience to be able to do the job well.
Request for a quote. Having a clear idea of the contactor’s pricing structure is an important part of your decision making process. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. At the same time, not because the rates are expensive doesn’t automatically mean that they will provide top-notch service. Seek someone with reasonable prices, without hidden fees and with rates based on logical parameters which should include an on-site evaluation of your home.
Ask for a pre-project evaluation. Speaking of on-site evaluation, this should be offered by the contractor prior to doing any type of work for you. An expert inspection of your HVAC system and connected components such as the gas pipes, ducts and water heater should be done so that the real issue can be detected and eventually addressed. Reputable HVAC contractors will recommend not a quick fix, but an in-depth solution that goes into the root of the problem.
Study the papers. Never agree to any project without the terms and conditions written down in a legal document that’s signed by all parties involved. The contact may also serve as the job order, which should indicate details such as work description, warranties and timeline. Aside from the contract, another very important piece of paper is the official receipt. Every dollar you pay them should be acknowledged with an official receipt containing their business name and address.