Buyer’s Guide: 5 Things You Need To Know

5 Surprisingly Easy Steps to Hire a Reputable and Trustworthy Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor

(What everyone should know before meeting with a heating and air conditioning company)

As a homeowner, at some point, your heat or air conditioning systems will breakdown and you will have to get someone in to repair it.  You may not have the first clue who to call but finding and hiring a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) company shouldn’t be stressful if you follow these 5 surprisingly easy steps to hire the perfect heating and air conditioning contractor. Did you know in the state of California, it is NOT required that an HVAC technician be licensed, certified, or have specialized training in the industry? All plumbers, electricians, etc.… must be licensed to perform their services but not in the HVAC industry.

#1. Don’t Run into Problems

You need to make sure that the company you work with carries a surety bond of at least $15,000 and carries a minimum of $1,000,000. (one million dollars) in liability insurance. Before obtaining a state license, HVAC contractors must first purchase a surety bond. If a contractor neglects to finish the job, fails to obtain necessary permits, or doesn’t pay subcontractors, this bond essentially acts as insurance to protect you against unexpected costs.

#2. Check the Legalities So You’re Covered

The company you choose must be licensed with the California State Licensing Board (https://www.cslb.ca.gov/) a reputable company should have no problem showing you their paperwork.

#3. Keep Your Peace of Mind

Make sure the company you work with has had all their employees, technicians and installers drug tested and their backgrounds checked and the technicians that work for the company should be N.A.T.E. Certified. Being NATE certified means the HVAC technician has passed specialized tests in areas such as air conditioning, gas and oil furnaces, heat pumps, refrigeration, and air distribution. The technician then has extensive knowledge and hands-on capabilities at maintaining, installing, and repairing the equipment. Obtaining a N.A.T.E. certification is done voluntarily by any technician in the industry who chooses to. Obtaining a N.A.T.E. certification is an industry-recognized designation.

#4. Make Sure Your Covered for Years of Service

The systems that the company sells should carry a minimum warranty of at least 10-years on parts and labor. What’s great is that today’s HVAC systems are excellent! Assuming you maintain your system, you should get 15 years out of it. What isn’t so great is that a lot of contractors don’t have it together enough to guarantee their labor. That’s a shame, and it won’t change overnight. In the meantime, be sure to work with a company that offers a great labor warranty and has a track record of successful installations.

#5. Be Safe with Highly Rated Companies

Make sure the company you select has an A+ BBB rating (Better Business Bureau). The new BBB rating system relies on an A+ through F letter-grade scale. The grades represent BBB’s degree of confidence that the business is operating in a trustworthy manner and will make a good faith effort to resolve any customer concerns filed with the BBB.

California Energy Services Excels and Exceeds in All 5 Points Required to Hire a Trustworthy Company

Making sure you hired the right person is especially important when it comes to hiring a heating and air conditioning contractor. California Energy Services is licensed, bonded, and insured. It’s all about credibility and trust. And it’s about giving you, our customers, the confidence that we’re reputable, reliable, and responsible for doing business the right way.  So now that we got that out of the way, let us help you.

1. California Energy Services carries a surety bond of at least $15,000 and carries a minimum of $1,000,000 (one million dollars) in liability insurance.
2. California Energy Services is licensed with the California State Licensing Board (https://www.cslb.ca.gov/) California Energy Services has passed thorough testing to prove its competence and capabilities in being granted a license which is renewed regularly to ensure the minimum requirements are being met.
3. California Energy Services (CES) has all their employees, technicians, and installers drug tested and their backgrounds checked, and their technicians are all N.A.T.E. Certified. CES’ NATE certified technicians can help ensure lower utility bills through proper installation and maintenance of your HVAC systems. You can rest assured you are getting safe and more efficient high-quality service. It has been demonstrated that clients who choose N.A.T.E. certified technicians have a higher satisfaction rate with the work that is done in their home or office than those that use a non-certified technician.
4. California Energy Services carries a minimum warranty of at least 10-years on parts and labor. Labor warranties are hit and miss, but not with CES. You can have peace of mind that even labor comes with a 10-year warranty.
5. California Energy Services has been in business for over 23 years, has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 2011, and carries an A+ rating.

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