Whether you need a new heater in your Hanover home or simply require routine heater maintenance, finding the right professionals to handle the job is important. The best heating contractors offer competitive rates, pride themselves on transparency, and have a broad range of capabilities. They’re also aligned with the top heating equipment manufacturers. Following are seven key things to look for when hiring a heating contractor.
1. Significant Industry Experience
Choosing to hire an established heating contractor with ample work history can be beneficial in many ways. To start, you can rest assured that the technicians working on your project know what they’re doing. Seasoned professionals have encountered a vast range of HVAC problems, and they’re expertly familiar with the top heating system brands and models. These attributes ensure fast and accurate diagnosis of problems, the application of the most economical and effective solutions, and fewer issues going forward.
It’s also much easier to learn more about an experienced company than it is to research one that’s only recently started in this field. Established companies can often provide a number of solid references, and they usually have plenty of online feedback to peruse. Before hiring any HVAC contractor, take some time to read through the reviews that other consumers have left. This will give you insight into their quality of workmanship, their response times, their level of customer service, and many other pertinent factors.
2. Professional Licensing and Insurance
Never hire an unlicensed and uninsured entity to complete any project on your property. Doing so can result in the cancellation of your own home insurance. It can also leave you footing the bill for any resulting property damages or personal injuries sustained on your premises. Although this seems like a no-brainer, many homeowners make the mistake of only looking for license numbers and insurance certificates rather than directly verifying these things with the issuing bodies.
Although many HVAC companies publish copies of their insurance certificates on their web pages, the only way to make sure that these policies are still in effect is by contacting insurers before work is started. Calling insurance companies to verify insurance is especially important if you have a fairly large project to complete. Should a contractor’s policy ever lapse during the work process because of non-payment or failure to meet the included terms, you’ll be notified right away. Contacting state boards to check the validity of contractor licenses will give you the opportunity to learn whether or not a company’s license has been suspended and whether a licensed party is currently facing any major legal issues.
3. Capabilities That Are in Line With Your Project Goals
Not all HVAC companies are equal in terms of their quality of work and their capabilities. You may have an aging furnace that needs to be serviced or replaced, or you could be looking to have your very first boiler installed. Working with companies that are familiar with the equipment type that you currently own or want is important. However, you also want to learn more about some of the expanded services that HVAC contractors provide. This is especially true if you’re looking to add heat to a home that lacks ductwork for supporting a central forced-air heating system or if you want to have a ductless heat pump installed. A good company can offer a diverse range of heater types. They can also assist with additional needs such as duct cleaning, custom ducting, indoor air quality, and cooling system maintenance, repair, or installation.
4. Excellent Customer Service
It’s not enough for an HVAC company to provide a broad range of services and products. Not all homeowners in Hanover, Maryland, are aware of the latest innovations in this field. More importantly, there are few consumers who are capable of determining which solutions are exactly right for their needs. The best HVAC contractors will always take the time to carefully explain each of your available options. This remains true whether they’re performing minor heater repairs or full-on heating system replacements. Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of each option helps homeowners make their own informed decisions about their heating and cooling needs. Some companies take the time to explain different services and solutions in person. Others maintain vast online knowledge bases that consumers can peruse at their own discretion.
Another sure sign of excellent customer service is a solid satisfaction guarantee. When HVAC contractors provide both the labor and the materials for any project, reputable companies will reliably correct any errors or oversights or replace defective products. They’ll also state their willingness to do so in writing. As you shop your options in local providers, ask to see copies of their standard job contracts. These should include clear language pertaining to any guarantees being offered.
5. Timely Service
Nearly every HVAC company in the region is inundated with service requests whenever the weather turns excessively hot or cold. Many homeowners make the mistake of waiting until they absolutely need their heating and cooling equipment before turning it on, checking its functionality, and performing important seasonal maintenance. Whether you’re caught with a last-minute issue resulting from negligence or have a well-maintained system that breaks down unexpectedly, you’ll want to have an HVAC contractor that can schedule an appointment fairly quickly. Moreover, if you need immediate service, you shouldn’t have to pay ultra-high rates to get it.
6. Competitive, Transparent Pricing
Don’t make the mistake of hiring the absolute cheapest HVAC contractor that you can find. Although price is definitely an important factor to check, you shouldn’t make it your sole consideration. Instead, look for companies that work hard to maintain competitive prices and that are totally transparent when issuing their estimates. When reading consumer reviews, check to see whether the contractors that you’re considering are known for having hidden fees. The top professionals in this field maintain strong supplier relationships and have established partnerships with many leading HVAC brands. This allows them to source essential products and components fast and at affordable prices. More importantly, it enables them to pass generous discounts down to you. A good HVAC contractor will additionally offer an in-person quote. Before any job is accepted or completed, you should get a line-by-line breakdown of all associated costs.
7. A Commitment to Energy Efficiency
When upgrading your home heating and cooling equipment, you always want to work with contractors who are committed to offering energy-efficient models and helping you enjoy their full benefits. These entities will explain the ongoing rewards of paying a bit more up front in order to limit your energy consumption, cut your home heating bills, lower your carbon footprint, and increase your overall comfort. They take the time to explain the advantages of having the latest and most cutting-edge features. They also train their clients in effectively using their upgraded heating equipment, whether they’re installing high-efficiency heaters, programmable thermostats, smart thermostats, or high-end heat pumps.
Energy efficiency doesn’t stop at installing high-performing heaters and teaching customers how to use them. HVAC contractors can also recommend important changes to the building’s interior. These might include ductwork replacement or repairs, sealing off gaps, cracks, and other air leaks in building materials, upgrading or adding insulation, and more.
At Beltway Air Conditioning & Heating, we offer top-rated HVAC products from Daikin, Trane, Goodman, and Lennox. We also provide first-rate heater repair, heater replacement, and indoor air quality services. Homeowners in the greater Hanover, Maryland, area can turn to us for custom ductwork, heat pumps, and much more. If you’re looking for a reputable, reliable heating contractor, call us today.
