It’s time to schedule a maintenance visit for your heating and cooling unit and before hiring, be prepared to ask a few simple questions to avoid getting scammed.
As a homeowner, you’re doing everything right to maintain your heating and cooling system and keep it in working order. Now, it’s time to hire an HVAC technician to do the job. How do you know WHO to hire for the job? Here’s what you should be looking for or asking every HVAC technician before hiring them to work on your system:
“Are you licensed and insured?”
Almost every state requires HVAC technicians to be licensed (Hobson License# 058-179219). If they’re not, you probably shouldn’t hire them to work on your system. Make sure to ask your technician if they are licensed or look on their website in order to get the license number from them — you can then look it up through your state contractor licensing board.
Additionally, it’s good to make sure the licensed HVAC technician is insured, just in case something goes wrong while they’re working in your home.
“How much experience do you have in the industry?”
Have they been working in the HVAC industry for a long time? Are they relatively new? Knowing how much experience an HVAC technician has can help you feel more comfortable about hiring them.
In addition, consider asking how they learned their skills. If you have a specific brand or type of system, determine if they have experience with that as well.
“What are the ratings and reviews from past customers?”
Almost every HVAC technician will give you a written estimate explaining what work will be done and how much it will cost. However, it’s important to get references, too. Your first thought might be to ask a family member, neighbor, friend, or to post on social media that you’re looking for a technician. Any of these options would be a good place to start. However, it’s good to talk to a few different contractors before making any decisions so it’s strongly advised that you take the extra step to look into the businesses’ authentic reviews and ratings to help you make a decision. Trusted ratings and reviews can be found on Hobson Plumbing and Heating’s Facebook page, Google, Home Advisor or Better Business Bureau.
“How do refunds, warranties, and guarantees work?”
Your current system may be under warranty, and a good HVAC technician will follow the terms of the warranty. Or, you may be past warranty, in which case they should give you a new guarantee in writing. Hobson Plumbing and Heating has a 100% satisfaction guarantee with our work.
It’s also good to ask about how refunds work. Make sure that you are hiring a reputable company that installs the equipment properly and fully discloses their policy. In most cases you can’t get your money back should the repair not last, however, a reputable company will work with you to find a solution.
In addition, energy and cost efficiency are also important to many homeowners. If it’s something important to you and you want to know more, or if you feel your system isn’t working as efficiently as it should, bring it up with the technician to find out their recommendations.
You don’t have to be an expert on HVAC systems to find a good technician. With these tips, you can hire the best person for the job and ensure your system runs smoothly and efficiently, keeping your home comfortable and saving you money.
If you need to schedule an appointment to service your HVAC unit, please contact us or call 630-761-3400.