How is climate control in your home? More specifically, what about the cooling effect it has?
You will have time to fix any issues with your air conditioning system if you check it now; this will give you the opportunity to do so before the weather starts to get hotter this summer. Even if all that is required is some minor adjustments, the moment to take action is right now.
Why?
According to the industry experts at homeadvisor.com, the median price range for replacing an HVAC system is $5,000 to $10,000, with the average cost coming in at $7,000.
The summer is the busiest time of year for HVAC technicians, so it should come as no surprise that this is also the most expensive time of year to hire one of these professionals.
Be prepared
Check to see if there are any labels on your apparatus that list the model number. Make a note of that number for the contractors who you will be interviewing.
Next, educate yourself on the criteria that your state has set down for HVAC contractors, such as license and insurance.
In the final step, turn on the system and let it run for about an hour (assuming that it is in good working order). Then, examine each room in the house and make a note of any rooms that don’t seem to be cooling as well as the others.
Find contractors to interview
Referrals are always the best way to find a good contractor. Ask neighbors, people you work with, friends, and family who they recommend.
You might also find referrals if you’re a member of your neighborhood at nextdoor.com. Create a post asking specifically for referrals to good AC contractors.
Finally, don’t waste time interviewing companies with bad reviews. Check each one on your list by reading the reviews at Yelp and, on Google, search for “HVAC companies” or “air conditioning technicians” in your town and those reviewed by Google appear in three boxes at the top of the search results page.
Finally, head on over to the Better Business Bureau’s website to see if there are complaints against any of the companies on your list.
Make appointments with A/C technicians
When making an appointment with AC company representatives to visit your home, ask them to bring with them the following:
- List of references
- Copy of their state license
- Proof of bonding and insurance
- Proof of certification to handle refrigerants
During the home visit
The experts at energystar.gov suggest that “… the contractor should spend significant time inspecting your current system.”
This includes checking the duct system for leaks and inspecting your current system’s “… airflow to make sure it meets manufacturers specifications.”
Finally, request that the itemized estimate is in writing and that it should include not only the cost of the work to be performed but the model number of the equipment they will be installing (if applicable).
Request as well that the estimate include a schedule for the project and any warranty information for equipment to be installed.
Making the final decision
Before deciding on a company, call the supplied references for each one. Ask each customer the following questions, in addition to any that you may have after the interview:
- Was the job completed on time?
- Did the project go over budget?
- Was the completion of the project to your satisfaction?
- Were there any significant problems?
When you finally choose an HVAC contractor, go over the proposal or contract thoroughly, ensuring all of your requests are included.
Summer is almost upon us, so ensure that your home will offer shelter from the heat by fixing air conditioning problems now.
