We know that you have numerous HVAC repair options in the Kansas City Metro Area, but before you select the company that is going to work on your HVAC system, you should ask a few important questions to see which company can best help you. Cates Heating and Cooling has compiled a list of everything you should ask before you hire an HVAC company.
1. Are You Licensed and Insured?
Almost every state will require that HVAC technicians are licensed. Unlicensed HVAC technicians shouldn’t even be considered to work on your HVAC system. You can ask for a license number and look it up through your state’s contractor licensing board. No matter how insignificant the repair seems, you should only trust a licensed technician to work on your system.
You will also want to make sure that the contractor has insurance. Insurance will ensure that you and the contractor are protected in the event that something goes wrong during your HVAC repairs. A good HVAC company will have both worker’s compensation and liability insurance.
2. Do You Have Any References?
When it comes to having someone fixing your HVAC unit, you may want to hear from past customers to see how their experiences were. When you speak to a reference, you should ask how the technician works and whether or not the reference would hire the company again. If the HVAC repair company won’t provide you with a list of references, you may want to find a different company because that is a bad sign.
3. How Much Experience Do Your Employees Have?
You can ask any company you are considering how much experience their employees have. Most homeowners will want a company that hires technicians with an appropriate amount of experience or sends inexperienced technicians along with an experienced technician that can guide them through your HVAC repair.
You may also be interested in knowing whether the companies you are considering have experience working on the specific brand or model of your HVAC unit. The more the company knows about your specific unit, the better able to help you they will be.
4. Do You Offer a Free Consultation?
It is always smart to compare pricing from different HVAC companies, but that becomes more difficult if the companies all charge for consultations. Companies that offer free consultations will allow you to comparison shop between competing companies and find the best deal possible. If a company doesn’t offer a free consultation, you may end up spending more than necessary in the long run.
5. Do You Subcontract Any of Your Work Out?
Some companies will say that they do all of their own work, but they really use subcontracted workers to get the job done. In these cases, you never know if the subcontracted workers are properly licensed or insured, and you want to know that your home and HVAC unit is protected by anyone working on it.
6. Do You Offer a Maintenance Program?
Once your HVAC unit is repaired, you need to keep up with regular maintenance. Finding a company that offers a maintenance program can help you save money on future HVAC needs. Plus, already having a maintenance program in place can save you time in the future as your maintenance will already be scheduled, and you will avoid running into common, avoidable HVAC problems.
7. How Long Will Repairs Take?
While cost is obviously an important aspect of HVAC repairs, you will also need to know how long repairs will take. Ask the technician to take into consideration the workload they are dealing with and how long the actual repairs will take. The actual repairs may only take three hours, but if the company can’t come service your unit for two weeks, that is probably a huge factor for you as the homeowner.
8. Do You Offer Warranties?
If your HVAC unit needs to be replaced, you should ensure that the HVAC company you purchase one through has warranties on their products. Warranties give you peace of mind should something happen to your unit early on in its life. You may also want to see if there are warranties on any of the more expensive parts used in HVAC repairs done to your unit.
Asking these eight questions can help you find the best HVAC company in your area for your needs. Finding out about all the important details of working with each company will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about each of the possible HVAC repair companies you have spoken with. Now, all you have to do is get that HVAC unit fixed!
If you are looking for an HVAC repair company in the Kansas City Metro Area, consider Cates Heating and Cooling. Cates Heating and Cooling is fully licensed and insured and is proud to serve the Overland Park area. Call Cates Heating and Cooling today at 913-888-4470 to set up a free consultation.