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Questions to Ask Before Hiring an HVAC Company

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.

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Cates Heating & CoolingExcellentCates Heating & Cooling4.7★★★★☆ Based on 398 reviews fromSee all reviews review us onPeg N.Peg N. ★★★★★ Can't count the number of years we have relied on Cates, spring and fall, to keep us hot or cold, depending on the season. Cates people are always polite, respectful, calm, have plenty of time to answer questions. In all these years we only had to call once because of an emergency, and someone came right away. Cates is the best.David L.David L. ★★★★★ Dillin was very professional, charming and hard working. I hardly noticed them working, they were very quiet and kept the house clean. We immediately noticed the difference with the new system working.Anne R.Anne R. ★★★★★ Over the MLK holiday weekend, with the extremely cold weather, my brand new furnace began to malfunction. I called Cates on Saturday and Vincent was here by noon. He got the furnace running, but was concerned that the problem might not be solved. He left his contact information in case of further problems. Mid-afternoon, it was clear that the furnace was still not heating correctly. Vincent returned and worked diligently to determine what the problem was. He stayed for several hours to make sure we had heat and our pipes wouldn't freeze overnight. He also diagnosed the problem and corrected it so that we have had no further issues. He went above and beyond to help us on that bitterly cold holiday weekend and we are extremely thankful for his dedication and strong work ethic! Cates is a great HVAC company!Jonathan S.Jonathan S. ★★★★★ Several family members use Cates Heating & Cooling and we decided to come back for a seasonal tune-up after using them in the past. We got onto the schedule within a week and just wrapped up our appointment with Kyle Adams. He was awesome. He was on time, ensured everything was running smoothly, he reattached our furnace cover, and replaced our humidifier filter. He couldn't have been nicer and worked efficiently. We've always had great help from Cates, and we'll be asking for him moving forward!Timmy L.Timmy L. ★★★★★ The heat went out this morning. It was 7 BELOW zero this morning in Lenexa. Thankfully I have a contract with Cates Heating & Cooling Heating and Cooling. I called at 6 am and Ethan got here at 8:30 am. Ethan found the problem, got the needed part and had the heat on in about 2.5 hours. My wife and I have been using Cates for more than 30 years and I’m sure glad I had them today. It got down to 55 degrees in the house.Peg N.Peg N. ★★★★★ Jake arrived at 8am and did a very detailed checkup of the furnace system. He was very patient to answer all my questions. Thank u Jake for a great job.Jane D.Jane D. ★★★★★ Mr Alvarado from Cates came to due the winter check up on my furnace and was wonderful. He cleaned and inspected more than I had ever experience before. And when I asked about myOriginal thermostate not holding steady, he showed me some options and went through them with me. We picked out the best one for me and in no time. It was installed and I am extremely pleased and happy with the service and the now consistent heat in my house. Thank you, Mr Alvarado and Cates.Lauren D.Lauren D. ★★★★★ We had our HVAC installed by Cates during the summer of 2020, and had nothing but a seamless experience. Afterwards, we had our annual tune-ups performed by another local company whom we had used in the past. However, we recently felt that this other company had misled us with the intention to upsell on unnecessary services that were related to the install. We called Cates to validate our concerns and they stood by their work. We’ll now be using Cates for all of our HVAC needs!Herndon H.Herndon H. ★★★★★ We had a LOUD noise in our furnace. Our service representative , Sean, diagnosed a fairly complicated problem within 15 minutes, ordered the parts needed immediately. A problem that had existed for some time was taken care of by a true repair professional in 24 hours. We've been w/ Cates for more than 30 years. This service from them only reinforces our decision to work with people who " get it". You want results, call these guys.Debbie G.Debbie G. ★★★★★ Jacob Alvarado was great. He identified a problem with my flue pipe. Lucky me that he found it. He scheduled a very reasonably priced service call to fix it. Thank you Jacob. Deb GeraghtyChase W.Chase W. ★★★★★ Kylar and Kyle came to install a new air scrubber and helped catch some severe damage a previous company missed while installing. They prevented a much larger issue with their thoroughness. Great guys, great company, will be going backJames H.James H. ★★★★★ My go to team. Kylar was great. He did a fabulous job on our installation. Will call Cates and request him next time.Alaina D.Alaina D. ★★★★★ I called Cates this morning due to my AC going out. Ethan arrived within 2 hrs of me placing the call for service. He fixed the issue and was professional. I highly recommend Cates Heating & Cooling for your needs.tredburn08tredburn08 ★★★★★ We received a quote for an HVAC replacement from Cates. Ultimately, we ended up choosing a different company, but I want to praise the level of friendliness, care, and professionalism that our estimator, Dan showed.He was very knowledgeable and shared that knowledge to give us a great understanding of the terminology around the business and what the process would entail. Prices were very competitive and I would highly recommend this company based on my experience.Douglas D.Douglas D. ★★★★★ We have had Cates' yearly combined inspections of our furnace and AC systems for the past two years now. The AC inspection was completed by Kylar yesterday, and we are very pleased with the thoroughness and knowledgeable service he provided. Our furnace and AC systems are quite old (installed 22 years ago when we built this house), and we're trying to stretch out their functional lives as long as possible. Thus far, they work just fine, and the house is so well insulated that we place little demand on these appliances. But a regular thorough inspection by someone who knows what to evaluated and has the tools and skills to do this is very helpful for gauging how long we can expect to go before replacement. That's what we appreciate most about our service contract with Cates.Pat B.Pat B. ★★★★★ Cates has been our service people since 2010 (?) in two different homes. They have always been dependable and efficient. Highly recommended.Charlie R.Charlie R. ★★★★★ We needed multiple repairs including the replacement of our in home water pressure regulator, faucet installations, leak repair, clogged drains, toilet repairs and outdoor faucet repair. Our plumber, Brett Freeman, was great. He works efficiently and hard. He is super nice and very good at explaining all of his work along the way. Our problems took 5 or 6 days to resolve. We are super satisfied with our plumber and his work. Next time we'll ask for him by name. Charlie and ChrisKaren K.Karen K. ★★★★★ I have a warranty with Cates. They are always very responsive and timely and professional! They take care of everything in A/C and plumbing for a very reasonable fee. Thanks!Jay P.Jay P. ★★★★★ We had a Furnace and A/C replaced and they did a great job. They were on time and the tear out and installation caused very little disruption. They cleaned up after they were finished. Perfect. Great company!!!Richard B.Richard B. ★★★★★ We have been Cates customer for a long time. We decided it was time to replace our 20 year old A/C. Sales manager Greg was very thorough in explaining our options and gave us a nice discount for being long customer. Installers were very efficient and professional and were conscientious about keeping our house clean during their work even tho it was rainy outside. My wife and I were very satisfied with their work and with the new Carrier A/C that we hope to enjoy for the next 20 years. Richard in Overland ParkJohn W.John W. ★★★★★ My wife and I had numerous bids from a few local heating and cooling companies. One of those bids was with Cates. A service manager (Chuck) came out and looked at our old water heater and gave us a bid for replacement. This bid was not the lowest but he made us feel comfortable about his knowledge of water heaters. We called and set up a installation date and on that day Jake came out and replaced the water heater with a new one. We are happy with the attention we got and all questions answered in a professional manner. Thankyou Cates..job well done!.stefanie G.stefanie G. ★★★★★ Professional, prompt and fairly priced. They went above and beyond when installing our new furnace to replace the corroded and improperly installed one that came with the house we bought earlier this year. They even took care of a few related tasks to bring our heating system up to code and didn’t charge us a penny above bid. Very happy with our new furnace which is way more efficient than the original one.Annette J.Annette J. ★★★★★ We have used Cates for preventative heat/cool maintenance for several years, but finally needed heat/cool replacement with surprise water heater replacement. They were very responsive with next day installation. Great overall experience!EJFEJF ★★★★★ Absolutely fantastic! After dealing with 3 other A/C companies I was a bit nervous about hiring anyone as I had been lied to about what I needed. Finally, another company Temperature Pro (also very good - but couldn't install the unusual system we needed at the time) recommended Cates. That said a lot to me - if someone in the business says that is who they would use - spoke volumes. From the very beginning Pat Marsh in sales to the installers - a father and son team- (Preston and sorry I can't remember the Dad's name!) were outstanding! The epitome of customer service and professionalism. Could not have been happier. Timely, tidy and very well versed in everything HVAC. This was a really big job and they were super efficient. Without reservation I would highly recommend!!Larry F.Larry F. ★★★★★ Dan was outstanding. He was friendly, thorough, knowledgeable and very helpful. He always has tips for us that are beneficial to reduce our energy bills, improve the heating and cooling in our house and avoid costly repairs through preventative maintenance. This is the second consecutive time that we've had Dan and hope that he returns next Spring.LarryLiz H.Liz H. ★★★★★ Cates did a wonderful job with our new furnace and A/C installation. Dan was very professional and courteous, explaining our options and answering all of our questions. Cates went above and beyond to get our install done on short notice before family started arriving for Thanksgiving! The installers were great too! We highly recommend Cates!Sur W.Sur W. ★★★★★ Both Derrick & Vincent were on time, well organized & informative. Both were very hard workers. New Furnace needed adjustments to fit with old duct work. Derrick did an outstanding job with the needed modifications. They both kept us up-to -date with progress. After a long day, the project was completed with total satisfaction by the homeowners. Super job!!Jodi G.Jodi G. ★★★★★ Arrived on time. Very polite and professional. Kept the carpets clean with tarps. Would highly recommend.Michael L.Michael L. ★★★★★ Dillon and John did a great job relocating out AC condenser and rerouting out furnace exhaust outlet pipe. Looks awesome! Thanks again!Linda J.Linda J. ★★★★★ The serviceman quickly adjusted our Aprilaire humidifier and taught us how to regulate it for our best comfort. He trouble shot the thermostat to get it where I wanted it. Excellent!Margaret C.Margaret C. ★★★★★ I have used Cate's since 1989 and would not go anywhere else. They are a family owned business and honest as the day is long. Prices are better than any I found when looking for a new air conditioner. I give them full 5 stars and then somelGail W.Gail W. ★★★★★ Joe and John were professional and friendly.They answered our questions, and Joe took his time making sure everything was running successfully. Dan explained the different options we could choose from for the HVAC system clearly and followed up after the installation was completed. We were comfortable with these gentlemen in our home. They were very considerate about leaving their work areas in our home clean. We were very impressed with Cates.Christie S.Christie S. ★★★★★ Professional, courteous, cautious with our furniture, carpet, etc. They were knowledgeable and showed us how to use our new equipment. Cleaned up after themselves, price was as quoted, even wore booties in our house to keep floor clean! Joe Stephens and Dillon Brooks are amazing and I would recommend Cates to everyone.Kyle L.Kyle L. ★★★★★ We had our entire HVAC system replaced by Cates and they did a great job. Fair pricing and quality work. Also very responsive to any questions or follow up needs.Linda P.Linda P. ★★★★★ This is the second time I’ve submitted this recommendation. For some reason the first one never went through. We have been loyal customers of CATES Heating & Cooling for the past eight years and have always referred this great company to anyone inquiring about AC/Heating services. A few weeks ago, in the middle of a COVID-19 lock down, I called CATES for what I thought was a thermostat problem. I had planned to have a new one installed when AC was checked this late Spring, so had a new one on hand. It was NOT a thermostat problem after all, but the furnace motor was in the process of burning out. CATES once again sent one of their fantastic servicemen, Ryan Peck, who installed the new thermostat and delivered the bad news about the motor. It was very close to the time he was off, but he called a supply company exec at home and arranged for the man to open up his shop for him so he could obtain the required motor. That’s CATES – that was Ryan Peck – going above and beyond their call of duty on a weekend after hours. I highly recommend this fantastic company and their great service people. I always recommend them to family and friends and now I extend that to anyone in need of a reputable, dependable company with great service people like Ryan! Linda & Ron Poplau, KCKSJessica F.Jessica F. ★★★★★ Fantastic, Honest Service! Cates will be our go to for all future HVAC business.We are beyond thrilled that we found Cates! We were shocked with disappointment after being told by a different company that we "should" replace our entire system for $9k, but to get our AC working again, we needed to replace the AC compressor for $4k.Enter Cates:We had called Cates to get an estimate for a new condenser unit and/or system. The man who answered the phone reassured us that they were interested in helping us make the best decision for our needs. This was already feeling much different than the first company we called. Cates estimator was not only able to diagnose the actual problem with our condenser (something the other company "overlooked"), but he FIXED the issue (photo of problem) and inspected the rest of our HVAC, in under 1 1/2 hours and for under $100! The rest of our HVAC was in good condition and he recommended we have a tune up done for the summer. If you're curious who the other company was, feel free to check out my other reviews. Thank you so much Cates!Tyler J.Tyler J. ★★★★★ Awesome customer service. Fantastic tech!!! Our service tech, Dan, walked me through all the trouble shooting. Made a few adjustments to our noisy furnace. Now it runs quiet and worry free. Even took the time to give me an in depth tutorial on all the crazy functions my thermostat can do (ie heat pump, delay, even change the color on background and font). He also made sure that all the sensors settings were correct and programmed to optimal efficiency. Now my thermostat is as excited for the Super Bowl as I am! GO CHIEFS!!!Cameron N.Cameron N. ★★★★★ Ben was courteous and professional in his time in my home. Diagnosed a relatively simple fix for our issue, and took care of it quickly and efficiently. Thanks Ben!Lee H.Lee H. ★★★★★ We have used Cates for our furnace and air condition services for over 25 years. In addition to yearly maintenance service they have also done repairs to them and replaced them. They have done venting adjustments to make the temperature in our home comfortable and their troubleshooting is always right on. All of their staff, from who answers the phone to their service personnel are friendly and knowledgeable.Jeffrey M.Jeffrey M. ★★★★★ I use Cates for my home and also another building I'm responsible for. The technicians are knowledgeable and followup on any issues (a rare occurrence) quickly. I've also witnessed some pretty creative troubleshooting when unusual problems crop up.Florice B.Florice B. ★★★★★ My experience with Cates has been awesome. Ben is an awesome technician. Thank you for taking such good care of me! Please make Ben my regular technician!Florice B.Florice B. ★★★★★ My experience with Cates has been awesome. Ben is an awesome technician. Thank you for taking such good care of me! Please make Ben my regular technician!Katherine G.Katherine G. ★★★★★ We wouldn't use anyone else! Cates performs a thorough check up of our HVAC system every year in the Fall & Spring. They never try to oversell you products you don't need and they do an excellent job.Mark C.Mark C. ★★★★★ They show up on time and are friendly and professional. I like the new home warranty program too. Been a customer for over 10 years and happily relied on Cates with never a problem or concern. I have wished I had a plumber that I felt the same way about so was pleased to see Cates offers plumbing and electrical services now too. Their new plumber fixed three long term issues and like everyone at Cates was professional, thorough and quick. Now the water comes out of the refrigerator door like it used to instead of taking minutes to fill up a glass of water. I'll try the electrical services out soon too.Nancy T.Nancy T. ★★★★★ I'm a first time customer and couldn't be happier! I called for an appointment and less than 2 hours later my furnace was repaired. The technician, Mark, was super friendly, triple checked everything, and took the time to explain things to me. I highly recommend Cates Heating & Cooling.Michael and Lynn B.Michael and Lynn B. ★★★★☆ EXCELLENT SERVICE.. ON TIME, 2ND GUY WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.. HOWEVER, STILL WONDERING WHY AN 11 YEAR OLD FURNACE WITH THEIR NAME ON IT NEEDS A $780 PART THIS YEAR AND NEEDED A $350 PART LAST YEAR??Pam O.Pam O. ★★★★★ Cates Heating & Cooling-these folks provide excellent service year-round. I have used them for over 20 years and recommend them to everyone !Karl O.Karl O. ★★★★★ Technician was right on time and spent some time cleaning and adjusting our system during our bi-annual service visit. He got it ready for winter.Joe H.Joe H. ★★★★★ I've been a customer of Cates heating & cooling for over 20 years. In my opinion they are one of the best in their business. Good customer relationship and they have the knowledge and expertise to handle the situation. The employees are professional and completely helpful in explaining to the customer if either having new ac/Htg install or repair work done. I depend on Cates to get the job done right the first time. Good dependable company and a 5 star rating.Robert S.Robert S. ★★★★★ I'm a veteran and they bought and installed a window unit for me thanks guys your the best!!!Matt T.Matt T. ★★★★★ I have used the services of Cates for the last several years and it has been a great experience. They come to my house each season and inspect the heating and A/C and make sure they are functioning properly and give an idea of potential problems that may occur in the future. The techs and office staff are always friendly and their response time is great. I recommend Cates anytime I am asked about a heating and A/C company.Travis B.Travis B. ★★★★★ Have used Cates for many years and have been very pleased. Excellent service with very professional service techsTony D.Tony D. ★★★★★ We have tried many HVAC companies in the past. Cates is head and shoulders above the competition. Our service tech Chris was highly competent and professional. No need to look any further, Cates is the best!Regina T.Regina T. ★★★★★ This is the most reliable company that I've worked with in a long time. Greg Schmitt did the bid and was great, very forthcoming and explained all the options. His service man was timely and overly polite. He took out the old replaced all new and cleaned up all the mess. Great company.Reid L.Reid L. ★★★★★ Matt has taken care of us our last two calls. He is extremely knowledgeable and professional. We have been extremely happy with the service we have received!DeAnn G.DeAnn G. ★★★★★ Matt came to check out my C/A.He was very efficient & helpful.I asked about the inbalance of heating my home due to the placement of the thermostat at one side of my home instead of centrally located which caused the other side of my home to be much colder in the winter.He gave me a couple of ideas which would help. I will consider one before fall.Matt represents Cates is a very positive way.Linda T.Linda T. ★★★★★ I have been a client of Cates for 20 years now both at my retail store and also at my residence. Although every technician I have met in these past years have been great, I want to say that Ben H. has been so wonderful! I appreciate him explaining the problem and taking care of what needed to be done with such efficiency. In my situation my furnace went out on a Friday and Ben got it running over the weekend waiting to pick up a part on Monday morning to actually fix the problem. I was so impressed the Ben took the time to check with me during the weekend to make sure all was still running and warm. Thanks Cates and THANKS BEN H.!!!!! You are so Great!js_loader

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