Questions to Ask when Selecting an A/C Contractor
Looking For An Air Conditioning Company?
When you hire a contractor, you want honesty, fair pricing, and quality from a company you can trust. But how can you find out about a company before using them? There’s got to be a better way than trial and error. This is it. Here are nine simple questions you should answer before selecting a company.
9 Simple Questions You Should Answer |
Our Company |
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| Does the company hold an air conditioning license? State licensing is the minimum requirement to operate an Air Conditioning company. Licensing protects the public, including you. Unlicensed companies are unaccountable to regulators and often unavailable if things go wrong. The license number should be prominently displayed on vehicles, websites, and/or advertising. |
Yes! License No.: 83205 |
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Does the company employ NATE certified technicians? NATE is the North American Technician Excellence program. It is the air conditioning industry’s certification body for technical knowledge. The NATE logo should be prominently displayed on vehicles, websites, and/or advertising. |
Yes! | ? |
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Is the company insured? General liability and insurance protects you. Most companies will be insured, but not all are. Assume that any company failing to state that it carries insurance in its marketing or website lacks insurance. |
Yes! We carry full workers compensation plus liability |
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How long has the company been in business (under the same name)?
One air conditioning company in five closes every year. The best way to predict whether a company will be around long enough to honor its warranties is whether the company has been around in the past. Most reputable companies state their business tenure. Beware companies that close due to a poor reputation and reopen with a new name. |
Since 1982 | ? |
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Does the company have a physical address? Fly-by-night plumbers and uninsured moonlighters rarely have a business address. More stable air conditioning companies operate from a shop or office. |
Yes! | ? |
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Does the company have a website? Similar to a physical address, a website is a sign of legitimacy. Most air conditioning companies have a web presence today. |
Yes! |
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What is the standard guarantee? Not only does a better guarantee give you longer peace of mind, but better guarantees are offered by better companies. |
We have been here for 29 years |
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Does the company give the full price before work begins?
Some companies offer fixed quotes, no matter how long the work takes. Others charge by the hour and give open-end quotes, which means the work could cost a lot more than you expect if the company takes longer than the contractor expects. |
Yes! We give fixed prices before work begins |
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Are the company’s service vehicles clean and well maintained?
The condition of a company’s service vehicles is an indicator of the way they will take care of your home. |
Yes! | ? |
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