With the winter season fast approaching, it is essential that your home’s heating system is operating at peak efficiency. Not only do you want lower energy bills but more importantly, you certainly want to avoid a furnace breakdown in the middle of the night in the middle of January! Getting your home heating system tuned up to meet all that “old man winter” can throw at it should be on everyone’s checklist. The top 5 considerations when hiring a heating contractor are:
1. Contractor Reputation
The best and most reliable source of information is from friends and co-workers. Ask why they have used a certain contractor and if they were satisfied? If they weren’t happy with the contractor, what was the reason? Another effective way to determine a contractor’s reputation is to read online reviews people have written about various contractors. There is no shortage of review sites and www.homestars.com is one in particular that caters to home renovations, including heating contractors. You may also want to check out a contractor’s rating through the Better Business Bureau. This is an independent body which, amongst other things, measures the number of complaints a company receives as well as the responsiveness to these complaints. The Bureau’s rating goes from a top rating of A+ to the poorest rating of F.
2. Professional Associations and Licensing
A professional heating contractor will have all the proper licenses required to work on your home heating system. They will also be members of professional trade organizations such as the Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute (HRAI). HRAI members adhere to a strict code of ethics pertaining to consumer safety and protection. There are over 1,300 contractor, wholesaler and manufacturer HRAI members across Canada.
3. Services Offered
You want a contractor working on your home heating system to do the following: offer 24-hour emergency service, offer a guarantee on the work performed, service all makes and models of heating and cooling equipment and if your heating/cooling equipment needs replacing always ask a contractor if a heat loss/heat gain calculation has been completed…and ask to see it!
4. Professional Appearance and Conduct
While it isn’t always a true indicator of the calibre of work a contractor performs, things such as a uniform, name badge and a vehicle in good condition certainly presents a professional image. A company without these should be avoided. How is the phone etiquette of the office staff? Were they helpful? Were you treated properly? If the answer to the last two questions is “No”, look for a different contractor.
5. Years in Business
Similar to #4 above, while there is no direct correlation between the age of a company and its effectiveness, a heating contractor with a successful track record of servicing customers for many years is certainly an indication that they’re doing something right!
Langton Heating and Air Conditioning has been servicing the Hamilton area for nearly 20 years. Call them today at (905) 312-9644 to book your home heating inspection