5 Tips for Choosing a Residential HVAC Contractor
When you live in the South, you depend on your air conditioning system to keep your home cool on those hot summer days, so when you need home HVAC repair in Snellville, GA, you want a licensed HVAC contractor to quickly get your equipment working properly. Read on for 5 tips on choosing an HVAC contractor.
Professional Qualifications
You want a qualified, experienced professional to handle your HVAC system repair, so make sure the contractor has the proper license from the Georgia Division of Conditioned Air Contractors of the Construction Industry Licensing Board. That tells you the individual has been approved by the state, passed an exam, and has a minimal amount of experience (four or five years of experience depending on the license). Additionally, a licensed contractor is required to provide $10,000 cash or surety bond in the county in which he is working.
Evaluation and Solutions
Before deciding on who to hire for HVAC service repair get at least 3 bids. Once each contractor assesses the situation, ask for a written itemized estimate. Pay attention to the way they conduct the evaluation. Do they inspect the duct system for leaks? Do they check for loose sections?
Sometimes what’s needed is obvious and the solution is simple; other times there may be multiple, complex issues.
If you need a new system, there are a number of things to consider – the square footage of the house, how many windows there are, the direction they face, the R-value of the insulation – as well as energy efficiency ratings and warranties. When making a decision, don’t automatically choose the lowest price. A quality unit and installation may cost a little more but can be more than worth the difference
Efficiency Acronyms
When shopping for an HVAC system, be prepared to hear lots of terms and acronyms:
- Energy Star products satisfy established criteria and are dependable, energy-efficient products.
- SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) is a measure of energy efficiency for cooling equipment. A higher SEER rating means better energy efficiency. Even a small increase in the SEER rating can reduce power consumption significantly.
- EER (energy efficiency ratio) is measured over higher temperatures over a period of time aid measures operating efficiency. Usually, both SEER and EER ratings are displayed.
- HSPF (heating seasonal performance factor) is a measure of heating efficiency. A higher HSPF value indicates better heating efficiency.
- AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) measures the efficiency of fuel transforming to heat. A higher AFUE rating indicates that more heat energy is produced with minimal conversion losses. A decrease in fuel losses means more money saved.
Ask your HVAC repair contractor about the ratings on any system recommended, why they’re making that recommendation, and how it fits your situation. Understanding these ratings can help you make an informed decision.
Referrals and References
Ask for references and referrals with contact information. This is a step many people take, but then, for some reason, they never do anything with them. Make the effort to call or email the names provided to ask if they were satisfied with the HVAC repair the contractor provided and if they would hire them again if a need arose.
Special Offers
When you’re getting home HVAC repair in Snellville, GA, ask if there are any special offers or rebates available. Sometimes the simple act of asking about it can result in you saving a few dollars you may not have gotten if you hadn’t asked. Contact Emperor Cooling & Heating for an estimate today.
