Questions to Ask Your HVAC Technician

Having an HVAC technician you can trust makes a world of difference when it comes to maintaining your heating and air conditioning systems. Whether you’ve moved into a new home or simply don’t have an HVAC company you regularly utilize, there are some key questions you’ll want to ask any potential hire. These will ensure that you’re getting a great HVAC technician that you can rely on going into the future.

How Long Have You Been in Business?

When hiring a new company for any service that your household needs, it pays to choose one with experience. Although new companies can provide great service, it’s hard to tell if they do without a proven track record. With an experienced company, you’ll be able to check out their reputation online to get a good idea of how others have viewed their services for homeowners.

What Services Do You Offer?

When you invest your time in finding a new HVAC company, you want to ensure they can handle your needs. From home heating and cooling to electrical and even plumbing work, finding a contractor that can provide you with a plethora of services can be helpful. This makes it so much easier to have to call one phone number when you have a problem compared to finding a a different company for each problem.

Are You an Authorized Dealer?

It’s not uncommon for HVAC companies to become authorized dealers for certain HVAC system manufacturers. Typically, when a company is considered an authorized dealer, it means that their HVAC technicians have undergone the necessary training to install, repair, and maintain that brand of heating or cooling system correctly. Additionally, dealers do tend to have more availability for products and can potentially get them at a more discounted price than other HVAC companies.

Do You Have Emergency Service?

While you may not want to think about it, your HVAC system may break down on you. When this happens in the freezing cold of the winter months, it can be devasting for your home and family. Having an HVAC technician that you can rely on to come out at any hour of the night to repair your system can give you peace of mind. It pays to hire an HVAC company that offers the normal services you need alongside emergency service, so you don’t have to try and find another HVAC technician when you’re experiencing a breakdown.

Do You Offer a Maintenance Plan?

Scheduling annual maintenance for your heating or cooling system is an absolute must. This not only helps to enhance efficiency and decrease your likelihood of experiencing an unexpected breakdown, but it’s typically necessary to maintain the warranty coverage on your system. 

Having an HVAC company that offers maintenance plans can help you in a couple of different ways. Usually, you can receive a discount on service when you commit to annual service. Your chosen HVAC company will also keep track of your annual services, so you never forget to schedule one. Also, many HVAC companies that offer maintenance programs allow these members to get priority access to technicians when their systems break down. 

Will You Provide Me With an Estimate?

No one likes to receive an unexpectedly high bill. You want to ensure that the HVAC technician you hire is willing to provide you with an estimate for any work that they may perform on your system. This way, you can be assured that you can properly prepare your budget for the expense and get a secondary estimate if you so choose.

Are You Insured?

You never want to hire an HVAC technician who isn’t properly insured. Unexpected circumstances happen. Whether it’s a technician error or another problem, somebody will end up having to pay for the damages that occur. Making sure that your chosen HVAC technician has insurance will help to provide you with peace of mind that you’ll be covered in the event that something bad happens. 

Are You Certified?

There are two main types of certifications that HVAC technicians can get. These include NATE and EPA. NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence, and this non-profit organization requires participants to pass a thorough examination, ensuring that they fully possess the necessary skills needed in the HVAC trade. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification helps to ensure that HVAC technicians are capable of safely handling refrigerant, which is a toxic substance used in cooling products.

Do You Offer a Warranty?

All heating and cooling systems will come with a manufacturer’s warranty that helps to cover the replacement of parts that fail. However, it’s important to understand if your HVAC company has its own warranty for any of the work that it provides. Most HVAC companies will have a set warranty period for any work performed by their technicians. You may hear this referred to as a warranty or guarantee.

What Does Your Service Include?

When you’re employing an HVAC technician to perform an annual inspection on, say, your heating system, it can be helpful to know what they’re going to do. See if they’re going to be going beyond the normal cleaning of your system and changing the air filter. A good inspection will include checking the electrical connections and examining your ducting. 

Do You Offer Free Consultations?

If you’re thinking of upgrading your existing heating or cooling system, then you’ll want to see if a prospective HVAC technician will offer a free consultation. It’s standard for companies to offer a free consultation to new customers looking to install a new system. This gives you a test run to see if the HVAC technician can answer your questions and provide you with quality customer service. 

How Quickly Can You Get Replacement Parts?

When your heating or cooling system breaks, getting it fixed as quickly as possible is likely your top priority. When talking with a prospective HVAC technician, you should verify how long it typically takes them to get replacement parts. Do they have a direct line to the manufacturer or not? 

Do You Have Any Customer Testimonials That I Can See?

Established HVAC companies will have a long list of happy customers who provide them with testimonials to help solidify their great service. You should ask a prospective HVAC provider if there is a place where you can find any testimonials from their previous clients. In most cases, a good technician will be able to provide you with a website address or Google My Business page where you can find these testimonials and ratings.

Give Us a Call Today

Lightfoot Mechanical is more than happy to provide HVAC services for the entire Weatherford and Dallas areas. We can also assist with all of your heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical needs. We also provide duct cleaning and sealing. Call Lightfoot Mechanical today, and we’ll get one of our HVAC technicians on the way to your property.