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When
shopping for a heating and cooling company, there are many
factors you should
consider. The
value of a service call includes more than simply the hourly
rate a company charges. Here
are just a few other factors you should consider:
1)
Is the contractor licensed with the Arizona Registrar
of Contractors? (Registrar’s
phone number: 1-888-271-9286).
Is the contractor certified to handle refrigerants?
The certification is required by law.
How long has the contractor been in business in the
Tucson area? HVAC
(heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) contractors come
and go in this town. Does your contractor have enough solid business history to
assure you he will be in business to stand behind his work in
a year from now?
2)
Is the contractor’s reputation for customer
satisfaction high? What
does the Better Business Bureau have to say about the
contractor? (Better Business Bureau phone number: 888-5353).
If your contractor is not a member of the Better
Business Bureau, you might want to ask why they are not
comfortable under that level of scrutiny.
Will the contractor give you a list of their current
customers to contact for testimonials?
3)
Are the service technicians highly trained?
Are the techs and their trucks neat in appearance?
If not, what are the odds they will take better care of
your property than they do of themselves and their vehicles?
What you see is what you get!
Are you truly comfortable with the technician in your
home?
4)
Does the contractor offer service on equipment they
install, as well as on equipment installed by others?
Is service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
including holidays and emergency situations?
Will the contractor be able to respond fast enough when
it is 110 degrees outside and your air conditioner fails?
Will you always be able to speak to a person, not a
recording, when you call for service?
5)
Is the contractor adequately insured?
If the technician is seriously injured while working at
your home, is the contractor adequately insured to cover the
situation, or will you, the homeowner, be liable?
6)
Does your
contractor offer free estimates for new equipment?
A professional contractor will not be able to
give you an exact price over the phone.
The contractor will need to come to your home to
determine the size of the equipment, as well as look at the
specifics of the installation.
Do not hire a contractor who wants to size your
equipment based solely on the square footage of your home.
When replacing a unit, do not assume that your new unit
should be the same size unit as your old one; it may not have
been sized properly in the first place.
To appropriately size a system, the contractor will
take many things into consideration, from the type of
insulation in your home, the total surface area of glass
doors, and whether the attic space is cooled, just to name a
few. By coming to
your home, your contractor can identify specific
considerations that apply to your home and lifestyle.
For example, if you have small children or pets with
access to an outside ground unit, the contractor
might recommend safety covers for that unit.
The contractor can ensure that the placement of the
equipment will allow easy access for maintenance and ensure
adequate airflow on all sides.
The contractor can ensure that placement of thermostats
will be away from direct sunlight, drafts, doorways,
skylights, and windows, to provide optimal performance.
If someone in your home has severe allergies, asthma,
etc., the contractor can recommend filtration devices with
this in mind. These
are all things a contractor CANNOT adequately assess over the
phone.
7)
Always obtain a written contract or proposal before
allowing your contractor to install a system. Be
sure the contract includes warranty information.
8)
Ask your prospective contractor if they use quality
checklists, how they verify completion of checklist items, and
how they ensure customer satisfaction.
9)
Is the contractor code compliant?
Does your contractor know when a permit would be
required? Is the contractor aware of local codes that must be adhered
to during new construction, as well as remodeling? Did you know you could have a code-compliant issue when
simply changing out your furnace?
10)
Does the contractor stay current with new technologies? Does the contractor offer energy efficient and quiet systems?
Does the contractor offer and honor extended
warranties?
11)
Weigh the costs. Remember
that the lowest price may not always be the best price. Carefully evaluate a contractor’s proposal to ensure you get
the quality equipment and service that best meets your needs.
There are many makes and models of automobiles.
The same is true for heating and cooling equipment.
Make sure you are comparing apples to apples.
Paying slightly more now may get you better equipment,
better warranties, better service, and lower utility bills. This means you save money in the years to come due to lower
costs of ownership.
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