With Tampa’s extremely hot summers it’s no wonder there are a plethora of AC repair companies and commercial HVAC contractors to choose from but, with so many to look at, how do you know what HVAC company to choose?
1) They Are A Fiscally Healthy HVAC Company
Since most commercial HVAC companies will not just hand over their financials it is best to look at the company as a whole to determine if they are financially stable. Does the company have marked or wrapped vehicles? How many trucks do they have working every day? Do they offer to finance? These are all things you can easily look at to determine if the HVAC company you are going to potentially do business with is financially stable.
2) HVAC Products Carrier & HVAC Brands Serviced
The product lines carried and brands an HVAC company services say a lot about them as a company. HVAC companies that do not carry any specific brands could be a sign that they are not established and have not built partnerships with known heating and cooling brands. At 3H AC we have built strong partnerships with some of the industry’s largest HVAC manufacturers.
If you have an HVAC company that says they only service a couple of brands that is a good sign that they are not confident in their abilities and are only used to working on and seeing certain brands. It may also mean they do not have the ability to source parts for the HVAC system you have resulting in long down times.
It’s really best to work with an HVAC company that can service all makes and models of air conditioners.
3) Knowledgeable HVAC Team
If you give an HVAC company a call and find that when you ask questions they have to go find the answer or they hesitate to answer certain questions, chances are you are dealing with people that are new and really do not know the HVAC industry well.
All of our staff is properly trained and can answer any questions you have. We can even walk you through some general troubleshooting tips over the phone to try and resolve small problems without an actual service call!
4) Highly Trained HVAC Technicians
The best HVAC companies hire the best talent. Just like our sales staff on the phone, the technicians coming out to do repairs on HVAC systems know every make and model of AC System inside and out. Beyond the initial training, all of our employees went through to become commercial HVAC technicians, we do additional training seminars regularly to keep everyone sharp and train on new technologies.
It’s this dedication to excellence that separates good AC companies from the best AC companies!
5) IT Savvy
Yes, being an excellent HVAC contractor goes above and beyond general HVAC troubleshooting and repair. Since HVAC is highly technical, the technicians you are dealing with should be IT savvy as well. Technicians have to work with back-office systems, building automation software, etc. so having a well-rounded technical background is important too.
Some important indicators of an HVAC company being tech-savvy would be:
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Do they have software that they use for tracking service costs, time, prices on HVAC equipment, etc. or do they have to call someone for everything?
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Can they tell you what would be best when it comes to repairing your HVAC system or replacing it based on historical data from your account? How well do they know you as a customer? (If you’ve used them in the past)
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Do they have a way for you to look back on your past repairs?
We recommend avoiding HVAC contractors that avoid IT aspects of HVAC as its a sign that they are not only easily confused by highly technical aspects of HVAC (or could be) but its also a sign that they are unwilling to learn new technology which means you may not be getting the latest and greatest in your next HVAC purchase with them.
6) Licensed & Insured HVAC Contractor
This really goes without saying but, you should always hire a licensed and insured contractor. HVAC work requires work with large amounts of energy which can not only harm the technician if they do not know what they are doing but also puts you at risk.
Improperly installed systems can be a hazard to employees and customers alike and can even potentially be a fire hazard.
A licensed HVAC company will also have the ability to pull all necessary permits for the work being performed.
7) HVAC Industry Affiliations & Awards
The best HVAC contractors will have affiliations with HVAC manufacturers (like Ruud) as well as other industry partners that show they are established and respected in the industry. These partnerships help paint a picture of the company and how they are established.
8) Reputation And Price
This is where people often fail at comparing companies. Oftentimes people just look to see if they’ve heard of a company often or if they have the cheapest or highest price.
From the standpoint of reputation, how often you’ve heard a company’s name does not necessarily mean that they are reputable. It often just means they advertise a lot. It does not mean the quality of work is there or that they use quality products.
For this reason, it’s important to look at some of the other things we’ve mentioned about selecting an HVAC contractor. Looking at reviews, BBB rating, etc. are much better ways of gauging a company’s reputation.
Choosing a company based on price alone is another common mistake. Price does not tell you anything about the quality of the job. If it’s too low it does tell you that the contract is either trying to scam you or they are using cheap products, but on the other end, it really doesn’t tell you a whole lot.
If you are going to compare prices, make sure you are comparing apples to apples when it comes to your HVAC system. Look for the same seer ratings, same accessories, warranties, etc.