When we hire a contractor to perform a service on our air conditioners, we put our trust in them to do honest, fair work. We expect professionalism, integrity and a job well done. However, it doesn’t always happen that way. Unfortunately, not every HVAC contractor has your best interest in mind. Next time you hire a contractor to service your AC, be on the alert for any red flags. You’ll know the technician who comes to your home is trustworthy if they do the following:
They Explain the Problem To You In a Way That You Understand
When you’re paying a contractor to repair your AC, make sure you understand exactly why the repair is needed and how the technician plans to fix it. Regardless of how much you know about HVAC, you should never be left in the dark about what is going on with your system. If, in explaining the issue, a technician uses complicated jargon that most people without air conditioning knowledge would not understand, they may be trying to make the problem seem worse than it actually is. And that means they’re going to charge you for services you don’t actually need.
A good technician will be able to explain the situation in terms you understand, so you can feel confident about what they are doing to fix the problem.
They Inspect Your AC Before Giving a Final Price
Many companies offer free estimates by phone or email, but it’s common for these numbers to change slightly once a technician actually examines the issue in person. If a technician gives you a final price before they even begin working, they may be using the opportunity to charge you more than they should. Some technicians may also do the opposite by keeping estimates low and vague and delivering an unexpectedly high bill in the end. To avoid being overcharged, ask your technician to notify you if any issues arise that would cause the final bill to exceed the initial estimate. Before they leave, have the technician show you that the work they charged you for has actually been done.
They Treat You and Your Home With Respect
A professional technician will be just as courteous and polite as they are skilled. They should maintain clean, and safe work spaces and avoid causing unnecessary disturbances or noise. When the job is finished, they should leave your home as clean as it was when they arrived, with no stray tools or materials laying around. Any technician who does not treat your home with respect clearly does not take their job seriously and may have not done a quality job on your AC.
Trust the Professionals at Colman Heating & Air!
One of the easiest ways to determine whether the contractor you hire is trustworthy is by asking if they are NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certified. Technicians with this certification have earned the highest level of industry training and are considered the best of the best when it comes to skills and service. At Colman Heating & Air, each of our experienced technicians are NATE certified, meaning you can trust us to do an honest and quality job every time. Give us a call today to schedule AC service with a company you can count on!
