8 Questions You Should Ask Your HVAC Maintenance Provider
Are you looking for HVAC maintenance and wondering what to ask the company you hire? If so, you aren’t alone. HVAC units account for at least 12 percent of a home’s energy costs each year and maintaining the system is important.
When your system is operating efficiently, you will have a more comfortable home and keep your energy costs lower. Hiring a licensed professional to maintain your system is an important part of making your AC unit last longer.
Read on to learn 8 questions you should ask your HVAC maintenance provider!
1. Do You Have an Active HVAC Contractor’s License?
An HVAC unit is an intricate system of connected devices that operate to heat and cool your home. These systems are complicated and require the proper training and experience to perform the right way.
Since these systems have so many moving parts, most states require that someone repairing or replacing these units holds an HVAC contractor’s license. Before you agree to hire an HVAC company for your job, ask if they have an active contractor’s license for HVAC work.
If you live in a state like Florida, you can access an online database to look up a license holder. This will give you important verification information and any disciplinary action taken against the license.
2. Does Your Company Have Current Insurance Coverage?
The HVAC company you pick must have current insurance coverage for loss or injury. Although it may seem unlikely that an HVAC company will be injured while on your job, accidents can happen and it’s best to cover your bases in advance.
Find out if a prospective company has liability and workers’ compensation coverage, and will agree to add you as an additional insured before work begins.
Liability insurance will protect you from paying out of pocket for an accident on the property. Workers’ compensation coverage means that the company you choose has insurance in place to pay a worker for missed time at work if they are injured at your home.
3. How Long Have You Been in Business and Where Do You Perform Work in the State?
It’s important to learn as much as possible about a company before you hire them for HVAC maintenance service or a system replacement. Ask prospective companies about how long they have been in business and where they perform work in your area.
Some businesses perform only commercial or residential work, while others will do both. Although the basic components of an AC unit are the same at a home or office, commercial units can be part of a much larger system.
For example, you can learn about an HVAC’s condenser unit at https://www.schneidermechanical.com/what-does-your-hvac-systems-condenser-unit-actually-do/. This can help you to ask more pointed questions about the kind of repairs and installations a company performs.
Getting a sense of the kind of work your HVAC contractor does will also help you look for reviews on the internet and in-person. These will help you learn about the reputation that company has for its work in your area.
4. Do You Offer Any Kind of Warranty on Your HVAC Work?
Warranties are a great selling point for a company but it’s important to remember that a warranty is only as good as the company standing behind it. You should avoid hiring a company that’s inexperienced or that makes you feel uncomfortable about their ability to do the work.
When you discuss whether any warranty exists, clarify whether this is on the parts, labor, or both. Avoid relying only on what someone tells you is included in a warranty. As a good rule of thumb, you should require that important terms be reduced to writing and review the warranty in full before authorizing work to begin.
Make the warranty part of the HVAC maintenance contract that you sign. A good warranty can save you money on out-of-pocket costs in the event something goes wrong with your HVAC system later.
5. Does Your Quote Include All Labor and Material Costs?
In today’s digital age, the level of detail in a quote will vary depending on the company you hire. While a quote isn’t necessarily an indication of a contractor’s work quality, you should have the most important terms of the work included in the document.
Does the quote include all labor and materials? Is there any term in the quote for if there are unexpected costs that arise during the scope of work? The answer to these questions should be clarified long before you accept the bid and a contractor begins their work at your property.
6. Will You Be the Person Performing the HVAC Services at My Home?
Meeting with an HVAC contractor is an important part of the hiring process before you accept their bid for work. You may meet someone from an HVAC company that impresses you with their presentation and their knowledge about your system.
It’s important to learn whether the person that you speak with will be the one performing the work. Instead of that person undertaking the job at your home, they may subcontract the work to another group or use a staff of independent contractors.
This may mean you aren’t receiving the level of quality you expected based on your first meeting with the HVAC representative. Learn who is going to perform the work before you agree to pay that company for the job.
7. Why Should I Hire Your Company Instead of One of Your Competitors?
This is the kind of question that allows you to measure the passion and sincerity behind an HVAC company’s work. What about this company stands out from the rest? Why should this company receive the job instead of someone else?
These may not be questions your HVAC contractor is used to being asked but what they say and how they say it can go a long way towards earning your trust and business.
8. When Can You Start the Work on My HVAC Unit?
Don’t mistake being an HVAC contractor’s availability for not being the one you should pick for your work. Find out when a company can begin working on your unit so that you can plan to be at your home or office for the job.
If your system has stopped working altogether, you may be in a time crunch and need a company that can be out to your property right away. If a company doesn’t have immediate availability, this can help you remove them from your list of potential workers right away.
The Importance of HVAC Maintenance
HVAC maintenance is arguably the most important part of extending the useful life of your system. This means that finding the best company for your maintenance or repair job is a decision that will have consequences for years to come.
Are you interested in learning about other ways to maintain your home? Check out our blog section for other posts about home improvement projects you can start today!
