Choosing an HVAC Contractor: How Does Yours Rate?

Choosing an HVAC Contractor: How Does Yours Rate?

Choosing the right HVAC contractor can be quite a challenge. There are so many contractors that it can be very difficult to find a reliable professional HVAC contractor who’s best suited for your project needs. Some contractors claim to be professionals, but they are actually far from it in terms of having the right credentials. Following are some tips that will allow your to separate the true professionals from the ones who claim to be but don’t quite measure up.

If you do not already have a contractor in mind, ask friends, family, neighbors or co-workers for recommendations. They will tell you about their experience with a contractor whether good or bad.

Many professional contractors will belong to one or more of the following associations and will also be partnered with the federal Energy Star program.

  • Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)
  • Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA)

Choose a contractor who will inspect hour home situation before providing an estimate for the work you need done. Don’t choose a contractor who quotes blind estimates over the phone without ever stepping foot on your property.

The contractor should ask you about heating and cooling problems you have experienced with your existing equipment and explain to you why those problems developed, and offer solutions to correct those problems.

A professional HVAC contractor will be informed about the latest in technology and will not discourage you from purchasing high-efficiency equipment.

Receive estimates from three or more contractors and compare estimates. Never select the lowest bid. Extremely low bids can spell disaster because it could mean outdated equipment will be installed or that other corners will be cut.

At Ernst Heating & Cooling, we believe we’ll provide satisfactory answers to all of your questions about whatever HVAC work you need done. We’ve been serving Alton, Hamel, Maryville and the surrounding area since 1954. Please contact us to schedule an appointment today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Hamel, Alton, Glen Carbon, Highland, Greenville, and Troy, Illinois and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about choosing an HVAC contractor and other HVAC topics, visit our blog. 

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