The HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) unit of a house is an important component for keeping you comfortable in your own home. An HVAC unit operates the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of your home, while also providing good indoor air quality, cool air, and thermal comfort. This is done by way of good ventilation with filtration.
HVAC professionals are trained to maintain these units. Due to the demand for such services, HVAC technicians are popular. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in this industry will be expected to grow by 13 percent between 2018 and 2028. This is a faster than average growth rate compared to many other job fields. With no shortage of HVAC professionals to choose from, it helps to be a bit more discerning when hiring them for your new air conditioner repair or installation needs. Here are a few things to look for when hiring an HVAC technician to repair or install a new central air conditioner.
1. Licensing, Certification, and Experience
As with any service that you hire someone to complete, you want to make sure that HVAC technician knows what they’re doing. Does this person know what goes into installing a new air conditioner? Can they make sure that your HVAC unit won’t break down again after they leave? Checking on the experience of an HVAC repair person can save you a lot of frustration.
With your HVAC unit possibly being the most expensive piece of equipment in your home, you can’t play games with who you hire to repair the unit. When placing a call to find a repair person, it’s a good idea to ask about the experience of the person being sent to do repairs. See if the HVAC professional has had stable work experience in addition to learning about feedback on the work that they’ve done.
In addition to the experience, it also helps if an HVAC professional has the proper licensing. Most states require that HVAC techs also hold licenses, which show that they’ve received official authorization to work in the HVAC field. Hiring an HVAC professional who is also certified as an HVAC technician is also a good indicator that the repairman knows what they’re doing.
2. Make sure they conduct a home evaluation.
When you are looking at having an HVAC unit installed rather than repaired, your HVAC professional should conduct a home evaluation. This walkthrough of your home will give your HVAC professional the ability to determine the best cooling and heating solution for your home. When they conduct an evaluation like this, there are several factors that will be taken into consideration: the square footage of the house, the R-value of insulation, how many windows are in the house, and which direction the windows face.
In addition to this, HVAC professionals should also inspect the duct systems for leaks, loose segments, and insulation. When an evaluation has taken place, then an HVAC technician will be able to provide you with a better idea of what type of new air conditioner should be installed and any associated costs for installation. They’ll give you a written, itemized estimate. With this, you should be able to compare costs, warranties, and energy efficiency among the proposals you’re given.
3. Knowledge of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Your HVAC unit manages indoor air quality (IAQ) within your home. The indoor air quality is the air quality within and around buildings and structures. This can be affected by gasses and microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria). Any mass or energy stressor can also create unfavorable health conditions.
The HVAC can affect the IAQ of your home by moderating humidity and removing contaminants from the air supply, while also maintaining consistent whole-home ventilation. Your HVAC professional should be able to understand the benefits of having a good IAQ for your home, and they might even offer you add-ons to your central air conditioner to ensure that this takes place.
You want someone who knows the inner workings of the IAQ. It’s like if you went to a bank to learn the ins-and-outs of reverse morgages, home equity conversion mortgages, a traditional mortgage, mortgage insurance premiums, or reverse mortgage work. You’d want an expert to advise you on the many aspects of these types of mortgages. Such components can boost your HVAC system’s efficiency, extend the system’s lifespan, and give your family a better quality of life.
4. Make sure they sell quality products.
When you’re visited by an HVAC professional, you want to make sure that they’re selling the most quality products. You want those products which will help to maintain an efficient HVAC system, which is perfect for your home and budget.
Make sure the materials which the HVAC professional suggests are Energy Star rated products. These are trusted, government-backed products that help save money and protect the environment. This rating was established to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. It’s good to have an HVAC professional who understands that providing quality central air conditioner units to their customers will be beneficial in the long run.
5. Puts quality service over everything else.
HVAC technicians should always be focused on the repair and upkeep of a new ac unit. Their expertise lies in maintaining these devices in the best way possible. You want an HVAC professional who values service above and beyond anything else. An HVAC professional should not be overbearing when it comes to the sales aspect of their job, though it is an essential part of their position.
HVAC specialists are tasked with selling new AC units and letting you know certain things like the average cost of a new AC system, and different add-ons to these new AC units. They should also be helping customers to make the right financial assessment when making a decision about installing a central air unit, as this is a huge financial decision. They’ll help you to figure out costs, monthly payments, and even how much future home repairs might cost for the new AC unit. Ultimately the service skills of these professionals are what should come before anything else.
