How do I Find a HVAC Installer?

Ask friends and neighbors for referrals. If this fails to produce leads, call a few local HVAC equipment suppliers and ask for referrals. Most suppliers interact with installers on a daily basis and quickly learn who is reputable and competent. You can also ask your local chamber of commerce for a list of reputable HVAC installers in your area.

Call your state licensing board. Ask about the licensing status of the installers on your list. This is public information but typically cannot be found online. A state license will let you know the installer is technically qualified. You can also ask if any claims have been filed against their licenses. This is your best source of information concerning the practices of a HVAC installer, as building code violations and violations of licensing laws are reported directly to the licensing agency responsible for enforcement and don't always show up in reports issued by business and consumer reporting agencies.

Pick three from your list who are state licensed and are in good standing with your state licensing board. Arrange for these three to give you an estimate. Use the time when they are evaluating the job as an opportunity to ask how long they have worked as installers. Five years is a good minimum.

Compare the estimates. Don't let price be the sole determiner. Consider their years of experience and general attitude on quality. Compare the scope of work outline in the estimates as well. In other words, an installer's estimate may be higher than the other estimates because he is proposing to install a new thermostat instead of re-using the existing thermostat. Another factor to consider is warranty. The industry standard on labor warranty is one year, but some installers offer up to five years.

Choose a HVAC installer and request a contract that outlines the scope of work and labor warranty.