Finding an Aiken HVAC Contractor

If you are in need of a professional HVAC contractor for heating or cooling services, read this guide to help find the right one for you.

Good contractors are difficult to find. No matter what industry you’re in, the world is filled with people who claim that they can do something but only have financial gain in mind.

The HVAC world is no different.

In our experience, many HVAC contractors claim to be experts in AC installation and repair. However, while you may save some money initially, the problems that low-quality contractors cause in their work cost you significantly more money in the long run.

That’s why it’s important to know what to look for in a quality contractor.

Luckily, there are steps that you can take to protect yourself in the process of finding a contractor for your project.

Let’s look at a few different ways that you can find a quality Aiken HVAC contractor.

Find a Trusted Aiken Heating & Air Contractor

One of the biggest benefits to the rise of the internet is that it allowed people to communicate much more easily. In the business world, this means that customers can leave reviews and feedbacks on companies that employed them or whose services they used. Other people can now easily access this information to get a better idea of who is reliable and who isn’t.

So, where can you find trusted contractors?

You should first look through the Air Conditioning Contractors of America Database (ACCA). The ACCA is a non-profit organization whose primary interest is helping consumers find trusted contractors. Their database consists of over 60,000 professionals and over 4,000 businesses in the field of indoor environment and energy services.

When you find a professional or company listed in the ACCA, it generally means that you can trust them as an established and reputable service. However, just to make sure, you can always ask them for referrals from previous jobs.

Another option for consumers is to check resources like Angie’s List. Angie’s List serves as a public review and rating site for businesses. On Angie’s List, consumers rate professionals and companies on an A to F scale. The great thing about Angie’s List is that the reviews often go into detail about price, level of professionalism, deadlines, and other relevant information that allows you to go into meetings and negotiations better prepared.

Finally, seek out recommendations from family and friends. Word of mouth reviews has been an effective way to judge a company for centuries! Although, you don’t want to judge a service provider based off a few anecdotal cases or hearsay. You’ll want to carefully find people that you personally know and trust to have the same expectations and values. After getting a few recommendations, you should also cross-check those on the other platforms that we mentioned.

Check the Better Business Bureau

Before you sign on to do work with any contractor or company, you should always check with your local Better Business Bureau (BBB) chapter. With the BBB, you can look into a contractor’s history to see if anyone has ever filed any complaints against them. Be sure to check thoroughly because sometimes people can create multiple profiles in an attempt to get away from bad reviews. Use some judgment to determine if the complaint was legitimate or a malicious attempt to smear the company.

Ask for Essential Paperwork

The first piece of paperwork that you should check for is licensing material. Although it depends on where you are located, most states and municipalities require HVAC contractors to hold a valid license.

Several states require additional certificates to show that the contractor completed exams and any necessary HVAC training. To check your state’s licensing requirements and whether or not your contractor has met them, you can look through at the North American Technician Excellence website.

Next, you should check for the technician’s bonding. As protection against shady deals and as a type of financial insurance, a contract license surety is a must. Often a requirement to have to become a licensed contractor, you can check with your local government for specific laws in your area.

Additionally, ensure that your contractor provides worker’s compensation insurance. You need this in the unfortunate circumstance that someone injured themselves on the job on your property.

Be Thorough With Your Contract

As soon as you begin negotiations with your contract, you should get as much in writing (or email) as possible. Although you’re welcome to negotiate as much on the phone or in-person as you’d like, it’s always best to confirm everything via writing or email to ensure that your contractor can’t change anything at a later date.

Unfortunately, you can’t always trust verbal promises. If you’re getting a quote or a bid on a project, ask for it in writing or email to save for future reference. Also, make sure that all of the following details are in your contract:

The specific dates for which your contract will perform the work.
A detailed breakdown of the costs of both labor and equipment.
The dates on which your payments are due.
An official deadline for the deadline for your project.

Asking for Referrals

Before closing on the contract with your contractor, ask them for at least three different customer referrals. You should then email or call these referrals to answer any questions that you may want to have answered before you begin work with the contractor. Any quality contractor will be happy to provide you with these referrals, and it’s a very telling sign if they don’t supply you or procrastinate with any information.

In Conclusion

Having HVAC work done is not cheap, and you work hard for your money. Following these best practice helps to protect you against low-quality work and scams and that will cost your or your business both money and time.

Although it may feel a bit awkward at times, you should never feel bad about asking your contractor for paperwork, licensing, certificates, permits, and referrals. It doesn’t matter if your brother recommended them, you should still always research them.

If you’re looking for an Aiken HVAC contractor that provides quality work, don’t hesitate to contact North Augusta Air today for a consultation about your project.