What To Look For
In A Heating & Air Conditioning Contractor
Most people take for granted
the comfort provided by their central air conditioner, heat pump
or furnace until something goes wrong and the unit needs replaced.
When this happens, you need a quality heating, ventilating and air
conditioning/refrigeration (HVACR) contractor who is knowledgeable,
skilled and qualified to do the job.
A Quality
Contractor:
- Complies
with the state and local codes and regulations and carries proper
business and workers compensation insurance.
- Is
prompt and courteous and provides fast, reliable service while
attempting to perform service at your convenience.
- Has
the right skill and knowledge to not only service your equipment,
but if necessary, to design and install the right new equipment.
A quality
contractor is up to date on the newest developments in equipments,
technology, and design procedures in order to choose and install
a system which will be the most efficient and most reliable system
for you.
A heating,
ventilating and air conditioning system is designed to suit your
needs. Your contractor selects each part of
the system individually so that everything works at top efficiency
to provide the comfort you need. All the system
components are matched – the furnace, the condensing unit, fans and
blowers, air conditioning coil, the duct work – to produce a heating
and cooling system that will work best for you.
A quality
contractor listens to your problems and cares about your comfort
– attempting to find out if any rooms are too drafty or dry during
the winter, or too hot or damp during the summer.
A quality
contractor can help determine if your home or building is prone to
indoor air pollution problems due to organic resins or vapors, poor
air turnover, or high humidity. If allergies
are a problem, a quality contractor can service your heating and
air conditioning system and recommend system accessories that may
prevent conditions which adversely affect health and comfort.
A quality
contractor is concerned about protecting the environment. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydro chlorofluorocarbons
(HCFCs), used as air conditioning and heat pump refrigerant, have
been linked to the destruction of the earth’s ozone layer. A quality
contractor won’t release refrigerant into the atmosphere and is trained
and certified in the proper techniques for recovering, recycling,
reclaiming, and disposing of used refrigerant.
A quality
contractor will show you how to care for your system on a day-today
basis – for example, how to change the filter and how to operate
the thermostat. And, he or she will advise
you about the symptoms which could signal that there might be a problem
with the equipment. After servicing your equipment,
he or she will let you know when it should be serviced again.
If a new system
is necessary, a quality contractor will perform a load calculation,
explain any changes which might be necessary in your duct system
and present options to help you make the best decision regarding
replacing your old system.
A quality
contractor offers planned preventive maintenance service to maximize
the life of your equipment, and honors the terms of the warranty
on the equipment throughout the warranty period.
A quality
contractor does not offer price as the only consideration. While it is a major factor, there often are valid
reasons for price differences.
A quality
contractor will follow up with you to make certain that you are satisfied
with the service and with your new system.
WHEN CONSULTING
AN HVACR CONTRACTOR:
- Ask
the contractor for references. Find
out if other customers were satisfied.
- Ask
the contractor about his or her license.
If a license is required in your area, ask for the license
number.
- Ask
the contractor if he or she is a member of ACCA, the Air Conditioning
Contractors of America. Those
contractors have access to the latest technical information
regarding HVAC systems. And through
associations like ACCA, contractors learn how to make quality an
integral part of their company operations.
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