Questions to Ask Your HVAC Technician before Hiring

Posted: May 17, 2016

Posted: May 17, 2016
Posted by: David O’Connell, President, Wilson Oil

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. It’s good to talk to a several different contractors before making any decisions. Here’s what you should ask every HVAC technician before hiring them to work on your system:

Question 1. “Are you licensed and insured?”

Just about every state requires HVAC technicians to be licensed. Make sure to ask your technician if they are licensed, and grab the license number from them — you can then look it up through your state contractor licensing board. If they cannot supply a license number, you probably shouldn’t hire them to work on your system.

Also, it’s important to make sure your HVAC contractor is insured, just in case something goes wrong while they’re working in your home. Ask if their company has both worker’s compensation and liability insurance and ask to see proof of insurance.

Question 2. “How long have you been in the HVAC business?”

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.

Question 3. “Can you provide references from previous customers?”

Talking to past customers can give you a good idea of how the technician works. If they can’t or won’t provide references or reports from other customers, that’s a bad sign and you should most likely hire a different technician.

Question 4. “How do refunds, warranties, and guarantees work?”

If your current system is under warranty, a good HVAC technician will follow the terms of the warranty. If your system is past warranty, ask what guarantees they offer for a new system and/or repairs; they should give provide this to you in writing.

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. A reputable company will work with you to find a solution if a problem arises after a repair or a system installation.

Wilson Oil and Propane is a family-owned company that has been in business since 1926. All of our technicians are certified heating and cooling experts and we can install and service a wide range of home comfort products. You can depend on us to always be there for you.