It is hot and many indicators point to the trend continuing. Per the Copernicus Program.
If your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system fails, you will need to find a competent and trustworthy company to fix it. If you do not already have a reliable go-to option, here are seven factors to help you screen HVAC technicians in Westchester County.
- Licensing / Certification
- Insurance
- Experience
- Reputation / Reviews
- Written Estimates
- Communication
- Warranty / Guarantees
1. Licensing and Certification
Most states require an HVAC license, including Connecticut and New Jersey. The states that do not have a specific HVAC requirement often have local ordinances or adjacent requirements to promote high-quality control. Filing a surety bond, registering with the Department of Labor, or providing proof of insurance are proxies to demonstrate a minimal level of responsibility. In White Plains, for example, here are some requirements:
- a plumbing permit for gas fired units and water supplied equipment
- an electric permit for any electrical work
- a building permit to authorize the project
- a design or plan submitted by a professional for jobs exceeding $20,000
- manual J load calculation using approved software, tools & protocols
The requirements differ according to the various building departments in Westchester County. However, the White Plains example illustrates the multiple disciplines expected for a safe HVAC installation. With industry standards evolving, leading HVAC companies invest in NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certification, ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) training, or manufacturer education to hone expertise in specific equipment.
2. Insurance
Even with the most prudent individuals, accidents happen. Worker’s compensation will protect you if an installer suffers an injury at the installation site. Other mishaps, such as a plumbing installation that unfortunately floods your basement, should be covered by the contractor’s liability insurance.
3. Experience
For businesses, longevity is often a sign of serving customers well. Companies that provide bad service do not last a long time, get repeat business, or earn referrals. Companies that earn many contracts move up the learning curve faster. An experienced company has been exposed to a variety of challenges and can often provide several options as solutions.
Knowledgeable companies perform system inspections more efficiently. They will be able to recommend new technologies that should produce increased energy efficiency or reduced operating HVAC costs. Finally, experienced companies can offer maintenance plans to help extend equipment lifespan or avoid preventable problems.
4. Reputation / Reviews
There are many instances where it makes sense to rely on the “wisdom of the crowd”. A general rule-of-thumb: customers prefer companies with higher average ratings and more reviews on third party platforms (such as Google or Yelp).
Having said that, be aware that negative experiences generate more profound emotions. As a result, customers leave negative reviews without any prompting. Additionally, customers are more likely to share or report poor service.
Reviews that detail what transpired illustrate how companies deliver service. Excellent reputations are earned from repeated positive interactions. Bad reputations can come from a single, egregious mistake, especially one that is repeatedly mishandled.
Reasonable customers accept that perfection may not be possible. But compounding an error by failing to acknowledge it or taking corrective measures becomes intolerable for many customers.
Professionalism and self-interest motivate smart companies to demonstrate achieving customer satisfaction by earning favorable reviews on every engagement.
5. Written Estimates
A written estimate provides transparency. Additionally, it reduces disputes by assuring that all parties are on the same page in terms of responsibility, timing, and cost. A written estimate should outline proposed solutions detailing costs and estimated completion time.
Low Estimates might appear attractive at first. However, they could also reflect contractors being unrealistic or purposefully misleading to extract more fees after the job is underway. Being unpredictable might be fun in personal relationships but is anxiety inducing when it comes to home improvement projects. Go with the contractor who provides a reasonable road map and strays from it only in the most unlikely scenarios.
6. Communications and Customer Service
Communication is more than just managing expectations. HVAC contractors who have executed hundreds, if not thousands, of installations should be able to clearly convey what to expect in terms of time, costs, performance, and scheduling. Contractors who are responsive and respect customers are willing to answer questions and provide education when appropriate.
Hiring an HVAC company means having people work in your home. It is a good idea to fully vet HVAC services beyond licensing and insurance to include competence and respect.
Response time matters – from the everyday routine to urgent emergencies. Fully understanding options supports informed decision-making when tradeoffs must be decided.
7. Warranties / Guarantees
A confident company will stand behind its work, providing a reasonable warranty on equipment and labor. Beyond the warranty period, ask about maintenance plans to proactively avoid future issues or to assure that your HVAC system is operating at top efficiency.
Routine maintenance will identify potential before they become costly matters. System failures routinely happen at the worst times – often on a sweltering day when technicians are at a scheduling premium.
Choosing the Right HVAC Repair Contractor Westchester County
Incorporate as much of the above checklist into your evaluation process to assure that you can select a HVAC Repair Contractor in Westchester County who provides quality service. HVAC systems are expensive and complex. A qualified HVAC contractor ensures that you have properly operating equipment that will lower environmental impact and utility costs while you achieve climate control in your home or business.
At Thermodynamix, we are licensed technicians committed to providing exceptional service for all AC repairs or new HVAC installations. We know that growing our roster of satisfied customers fuels our business in the long term. Call us on (914) 909-4108 to learn more about our services. Schedule an appointment to enjoy the Thermodynamix experience.
