Questions to Ask HVAC Contractors Before Hiring Their Services
HVAC systems are vital for commercial buildings, providing heating and cooling that keep establishments comfortable for employees and customers. Contacting a professional HVAC contractor can efficiently install your systems and perform recurring inspections to ensure performance. But before hiring somebody, it’s important to know that they are reliable, skilled, and trustworthy. The best way to do this is by simply asking them. But how do you know what questions to ask an HVAC contractor to decide if they’re the right provider for your business?
Continue reading the following article to find out!.
Why Do You Need to Ask an HVAC Contractor Questions?
Before spitting off a list of questions to your potential contractor, it’s essential to understand why asking is necessary in the first place.
Aside from any independent research you may have dug up beforehand, you have no real way of knowing how qualified a contractor truly is. Hiring an unfamiliar contractor is like rolling the dice. If luck isn’t on your side, it could result in a non-functioning HVAC system. Depending on the time of year, that could cause commercial heating to fail and leave the building freezing cold, or a malfunctioning air conditioner to turn your building into an oven while also negatively impacting the air quality.
Having questions to ask an HVAC contractor provides insight into their capabilities and qualifications, letting you know if they’re a service you want to work with. In some cases, the way they answer and react to your questions might indicate whether they are suitable for your business, as opposed to the answers themselves. Some contractors may get snippy or offended that you are asking to begin with, but a professional understands that you’re doing your do-diligence in securing a quality service for your business.
Asking questions also guarantees peace of mind in knowing that your HVAC systems are being handled by the best in the business.
Looking for a commercial contractor that can answer all your HVAC questions with flying colors?
7 Questions to Ask an HVAC Contractor
Be sure to ask the following question when communicating with industrial HVAC companies:
1. What Are Their Certifications?
Likely, you won’t even need to ask this question, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Every commercial HVAC contractor must be licensed and have the proper documentation to perform work on units, such as installations and maintenance. Not only is this contractor’s license required, but it serves as a stamp of approval, proving that they know what they’re doing.
2. What Insurance Do They Carry?
As well as being licensed, an HVAC contractor should also be insured for liability. This is one of the most important questions to ask HVAC contractors, as it prevents you from being liable for any injuries that might occur while working at your location. If a service provider doesn’t have insurance, it should raise a red flag because it creates the potential for your company to get fined or issued a lawsuit in the event of an accident.
3. What Areas Do They Serve?
Before wasting your time—and the contractor’s—it’s a good rule of thumb to know what areas they serve before getting too attached to a provider. Assuming that you searched for HVAC services in your area, you likely already know whether or not they operate within your location. However, it doesn’t hurt to confirm that this is the case. It’s also important to be aware of potential trip fees that can fluctuate based on the distance a contractor must travel to get to your facility.
4. How Much Experience Do They Have?
One of the most important questions to ask an HVAC installer is how much experience they have. Units are complex pieces of equipment, which means a professional contractor needs a background in your specific commercial systems to install and repair them. Just because a provider has ten years of experience doesn’t mean that they are going to be familiar with your particular unit, or even the brand, for that matter. It’s best to clarify what type of HVAC you have so that you can guarantee they are capable.
5. Do They Offer Ongoing Preventative Maintenance?
A dedicated HVAC contractor offers more than general installation; they offer recurring maintenance to keep your systems at peak efficiency. But you won’t know if this is provided if you don’t ask, so consider the future of your heating and cooling systems alongside the present.
6. What Are Their Payment Options?
Another essential question to ask an HVAC contractor is what their services are going to cost you. The last thing you want is a surprise bill that is much higher than you initially expected. It’s also worth asking about financing options and if they are offered. Discuss prices upfront and clearly understand final costs before operations begin.
7. What’s Their Response Time?
When your HVAC unit needs immediate attention, it’s good to know how quickly your provider can be there to solve any issues. Do they have emergency maintenance around the clock? Are they only available on certain days of the week? Can they be there soon? Many companies like to boast about dropping everything on their plate to help, but knowing which ones can actually do so may influence your decision.
Need Answers to Your HVAC Questions? Ask SAM Mechanical Services
Knowing what questions to ask an HVAC contractor can provide insight, but that doesn’t always mean the answers suit your company’s needs. At SAM Mechanical Services, we have the answers you actually want to hear.
As New Hampshire’s go-to commercial mechanical contractor, we can answer any and all questions you may have to put your mind at ease. Our team has over 30 years of experience in plumbing and HVAC solutions, having developed the skills to effectively install, repair, inspect, and maintain your business’s heating and commercial air conditioning systems while optimizing their performance for the best energy efficiency. Our goal is to provide dedicated customer service, so we’re available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, in the event of an unforeseen emergency with your HVAC system.
Ready to partner with a commercial HVAC service that can guarantee efficient results? Give us a call, and we can get you started with a free consultation.
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