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Tips for Finding an Air Conditioning Contractor

08.22.2009 · Posted in Home and Garden Articles

Make Sure They are Licensed The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) will let you know right away whether or not your contractor has a valid license. One this has been confirmed you can also verify whether or not a they have a history of disciplinary actions. This can be verified on their website at http://www.license.state.tx.us. Local municipalities are also a great resource for finding who does the best work, and who does the worst.nnInsurance and Liability When considering a HVAC contractor, ask to see documentation that they carry general liability insurance to protect your property as well as workers compensation insurance on their employees. The State of Texas does not require employers to carry workers compensation insurance. Lack of adequate insurance could be a major problem for you if someone is injured on your property. An air conditioning contractor should always have these types of insurance and this will save you from a claim against your homeowner’s policy in case of an accident. nnStandard Procedures Once you identify and contact several HVAC contractors set up an appointment with each of them to visit your home. You should not be charged for this initial appointment. During the meeting the contractor should inspect your existing air conditioner and collect a wide range of information about your home, how many windows and type, which direction they face, and R-value of the insulation. The contractor uses all of this information to calculate the heat load to verify that the existing equipment is correctly sized and proposed equipment is also correctly sized. You should receive a written estimate from each contractor. If one contractor submits a bid that is dramatically different from the other bids ask the contractor to explain the difference.nnWorking with one brand of equipment has its advantages such as custom training on repair and installation directly from the manufacturer, along with warranty benefits. If you are receiving multiple bids on the job make sure all contractors are suggesting equipment that is equivalent to the others.nnBest wishes,

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