Finding the 'Right' HVAC Contractor

17 years ago

I'm replacing a 2 ton HP & gas furnace for our second floor; today I'm thinking it will be something like a Trane XL15i or its sister American Std model, matched with an 80% furnace that sits in the attic. I have estimates from three Trane/AS contractors who seem to have good reputations based on BBB reports and the little feedback I find on local forums.

PROBLEM is, most people don't evaluate a contractor after living for 10 years with the system that contractor installed. So the question is, how do I find the contractor who is likely to do the best installation so my system's life will not be cut short by contractor installation errors? What kind of things should I ask him and look for?

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Comments (4)

classicdave
17 years ago
1. Ask for recent customer references, a good company has no problem giving you references.

2. A Factory Authorized Dealer or Comfort Specialist(Trane)
meet higher guidelines and have more training in the manufactures product they sell.
1. If you get a salesman, ask him that you request the company's best installers and ask if they are NATE Certified Installers.
Next ask, how much it cost to change out a warranty compressor if you buy a system from them and do not want to purchase an extended labor warranty.

Ask what their labor rate is on fixing warranty parts.
johnnyp_2009
17 years ago
I agree NATE certification is important. I had a new system installed 2 Sept, and the issues from the first "Bad" installer just got fixed today 9 Oct a month later.

My advice is if you can't trust an installer, go with a Contracter you can trust, thats what I did, because a well known contracter will ensure the overall job is completed to your satisfication even if they have to get a different installer after the fact, as in my case.
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rpfingsten
17 years ago
Charv... In my opinion picking the right contractor / installation is as important if not more important than the brand. I had to change out my heat pumps alittle over a year ago and I had no idea who to use. Obviously word of mouth is important, if you get good reviews from others who have used them.. also check with the bbb. Dont always go with the lowest bid. I had one contractor come in 4 grand below another contractor for the same equipment, but I had heard some not so good things about him, so despite the fact he was 4000 less, I opted not to use him. Good thing because last month he got a prison sentence for selling a local school system "top of the line equipment", but installing low end junk. Bilked the school system out of more than a million bucks... Turned out the guy I used came highly referred. Owns the company and did the installation himself. Wasn't the cheapest, but I believe he did a darn good job, and so far a year later not one problem. I got lucky.. good luck to you.

Roland
Pinebaron
8 years ago
For me it was locating a local HVAC company not intimidated by our requirements. I met three other HVAC companies in my area and though they all apparently do a good job, were unsuitable (one even refused my project due it being complicated) for our new construction. Finally the owner of last of the three companies recommended a fourth company who primarily does commercial work; I found them highly knowlegeable and did an amazing job so far. There's still lot left to do, only the furnaces wired to temporary thermostats are running at this time; we are three months away from completion.