When choosing an HVAC contractor, it is important to consider more than just the quoted price. Heating and cooling systems are complicated and interconnected, so if installation or service is performed incorrectly, you may be facing headaches for months or even years to come.
Precautionary steps to ensure your HVAC system is installed and serviced correctly starts at initial contact with a Fresno area heating and cooling supplier: Examine customer testimonials and HVAC contractor certification. Most importantly, ask and verify that the company holds a contractor license, as required by state law because here in California, HVAC businesses contracting for jobs valued at more than $499 must be licensed through the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). The stringent requirements of the Board include:
- Fingerprinting
- FBI background check
- financial requirements (such as bonds, insurance and capital)
- Proof of experience in the field
- Examination and experience requirements
- United States residency
These measures have been put in place to protect consumers by creating an avenue for customer recourse and to help keep unqualified contractors in check. Therefore, “California State licensed” means that long as you hire a license-holding HVAC contractor, the CSLB can assist with consumer complaints through:
- mediation
- referral to other agencies
- investigation
- legal action
- reinforcement of court-ordered restitution through penalties, requirements to repair, suspension or removal of license
It’s important when doing your fact-checking not to confuse being “licensed” with being certified. These are two different qualifications. A contractor need not be certified to be legally approved (licensed) to operate as an HVAC contractor in the State of California. However, being certified is an important added credential, giving you greater confidence that your decision to hire is the right one. Having your home heating and cooling system installed and maintained by professionals will extend the lifespan and give you the best efficiency available for your budget.
Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning is both licensed and certified, and we have been serving the Fresno area for over four decades. For any information on HVAC systems, including solar system design and other green initiatives, please contact us.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
Image courtesy of Shutterstock