Are you handy when it comes to carpentry and other home repairs, but doubting your ability to work on your home HVAC system? It is perfectly acceptable. A heating system installation is a highly technical job, and the outcome should be able to meet safety standards. It is why it’s crucial to hire the best heating contractor to do the job right.
Finding the best heating contractor is as important as choosing the ideal unit for your home. If the contractor installs the heating system incorrectly, or recommends the wrong size unit, your heating unit will cost you greatly in maintenance and energy costs.
So that you can make the right choice and not deal with many heating issues soon after your furnace was installed, make sure you hire the right guy to do the job. Hiring the best heating contractor is as crucial as buying the right home heating system to give you absolute peace of mind and not compromise you and your family’s health and safety. A poorly installed furnace will result in outrageously high heating bills and furnace problems for many years to come. The truth is, there was a report issued by Natural Resources Canada disclosing that heating is the biggest contributor to the energy bill of an average Canadian household, which accounts to about two-thirds of a family’s average power consumption. So, upon knowing that, what should you remember when hiring a heating contractor then?
- Ask for recommendations.
Perhaps, you have a family, a friend, or an acquaintance who recently had some work done on their furnace and can give you suggestions. The edge of recommendations by word-of-mouth is that you can often get an honest to goodness recommendations or impression from family or friends. No matter what method you apply when getting in touch with a heating contractor, don’t forget to ask them for references from clients they have worked with in the past.
- Only choose licensed and qualified heating contractors.
When looking for a heating contractor, only hire those who are licensed and have a good reputation. Verify the reliability of the company, their qualifications as well as insurance coverage to ensure you and your property is protected in case something untoward happen while they are working on your home heating system. Good professionals likewise often suggest doing the regular maintenance of your furnace that they also installed. Choosing to work with a competent heating contractor right from the very beginning will benefit you in the long run since you’d likely be working with this contractor for a very long time.
- Compare estimates.
Be wary of heating contractors who give estimates even if they haven’t seen your home yet. A reputable professional will check your home first before suggesting the most economical heating solution. Before deciding, call several heating contractors and compare estimates and rate of services since rates often vary from one heating contractor to the other.
- Be open to other alternatives.
Competent heating contractors are experts who share their knowledge and skills. In short, if they believe what you want to happen is not for your best interest, they will let you know. Don’t avoid contractors who don’t agree with your ideas; good heating contractors can give you better options more suitable for your situation and heating requirements.
So, will you go after the heating contractor who asks the most reasonable price or the one with more years of experience? It is all up to you. But prior to signing any contract, ensure that you have chosen the expert who’ll respond to your needs at a price you can afford.