Having your heating or air conditioning system serviced is an important yearly task. In order to ensure your system gets the best service possible, you need to find a certified HVAC technician. In order to hire the best contractor, follow these tips.

Know Your Local Requirements

Before you call anyone, you need to know the state requirements for heat, ventilation, and air conditioning contractors. A quick online search will tell you how much training experience a person must have before they can get a license in the state. This training can come in the form of technical school education plus on-the-job training or just on-the-job training. Most states require anywhere between two to five years of training.

It is important for you to know what the requirements are because experience is critical. HVAC contractors need to know about refrigerants, combustion systems, ductwork, and electrical wiring.

Check Licenses, Insurance, and Bonds

Do not be ashamed to ask to see a potential technician’s license before you agree to any work. In many areas, you can look up the status of your contractor’s certification online, so you do not have to ask for proof from the company. You should not be surprised if the person you research also has a plumber’s license. This is a requirement in areas where natural gas or oil is used in heating systems. If they are not a licensed plumber, they will have one on call.

In addition to checking out the license, you should also check the insurance. While you have homeowner’s insurance, you do not want to have to use it because your technician has had an accident. The company should carry liability insurance in order to protect not only you from accidental injury or damage but also to protect their own employees.

Many companies will also hold bonds on their employees. This gives you peace of mind that the job is completed as agreed upon. In most states, insurance and bonding are a requirement in order to obtain and maintain licenses.

Estimates

It never fails that your heater or air conditioner will go out at the worst time. While you might be tempted to work with whoever can come out on a moment’s notice, you should still get at least three written estimates from three different companies. Getting the estimate in writing allows you to see what differences there are between contractors and be able to ensure you can get the service from your chosen technician at the price you were quoted.

References

You need to ask your potential HVAC contractor for references. This list of recent customers can give you an opportunity to obtain real input on how well the company performed the service. You have to call the customers in order to find out what they think of the company. Do not forget to ask for relevant details about how their project went.

Hiring an HVAC technician can be a tedious process. You need to do your research in order to get the best service.