Questions To Ask Before Hiring A New Heating Contractor

Eventually, every homeowner needs to hire a heating contractor. You might need a new furnace. Or, you may need to have your existing furnace repaired. Regardless of what you need to have done, though, it is important that you ask the right questions before hiring a heating contractor. Here are those questions.

What brands of equipment does the company work on?

Most heating and cooling companies have contracts with specific brands. They only install those brands of equipment. If you need new equipment, it is important to find out what brands the contractor works with so that you can read up on those brands and see how you feel about them. Most heating contractors will work on and repair most or all brands of equipment, so if you only need repairs done, the contractors' brand affiliations are less important. However, you may still want to seek out a contractor who uses a brand you prefer in case you want to hire them to install new equipment down the road.

How long is the company's wait time?

In other words, how soon can the heating contractor get to you? If your heating needs are urgent, then you probably want to hire a company that offers same-day or next-day service. On the other hand, if you are not in a rush, you may not mind hiring a company that has a long waiting time but otherwise meets your needs. Think about your future needs, too. If you have an old furnace that you think may break down again soon, then you may want to hire a company with shorter wait times.

Do they also offer plumbing services?

Some heating and air conditioning companies also do plumbing. It's a good idea to hire one of these companies so that you can call the same company when you need plumbing work done. Also, having the same company work on your plumbing and HVAC systems makes things easier if you ever want to install radiant heating (which uses water) or a geothermal HVAC system. On the other hand, if your home's plumbing is brand new and you don't see yourself ever using one of these systems, an HVAC contractor that doesn't do plumbing may be just fine.

Finding the right HVAC company is all about asking the right questions. If you ask the questions above, you should be on your way to choosing a company whose work you approve of. Call local heating contractors for more advice.

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