Whether your AC has stopped blowing as cool as it used to, your outdoor unit is making a strange noise, or you think you just need a tune-up, finding the right HVAC company to work with is the first step to ensuring a successful outcome.
With so many national and local brands advertising your way, it can take time to differentiate between them and choose the best one for you.
Should you go with a big-name company? Should you search for a smaller, local brand? Should you just go with who your neighbor uses?
While these may all lead you to a reputable HVAC company, the key to finding the right one is knowing what to identify in a trustworthy company.
As a family-owned HVAC service company since 1979, San Antonio homeowners have trusted Wright AC Services for all their HVAC repairs, replacements, and check-ups.
We strive to be your top choice for all your comfort needs, but we know we aren’t always the right company for everyone. We simply want to educate you on all you need to know to find a trustworthy HVAC company to successfully take care of your needs.
This article will cover 12 things to look for in a quality HVAC company, including how long they have been in business, how they treat you, and much more.
After reading, you will know exactly what properties to look at when vetting multiple companies and can find the right one for you.
12 Things To Look For In A High-Quality HVAC Company
Finding the best HVAC company for you requires knowing what to look for (and red flags to watch out for). Once you know exactly what to look for in a high-quality company, you can narrow your options and make your decision much easier.
Here we will outline 12 specific things to look at in any HVAC company to determine if they are a high-quality, trustworthy business.
1. How long they have been in business
One of the first things you want to look at is how long this HVAC company has been in business. The longer a company has been in business, the more experience and expertise they have servicing your area.
When trusting someone with the comfort of your home, would you rather work with someone with 30 years of experience or 3?
Similarly, you may also want to know if the business is family-owned or not. While this does not affect the quality of the company, family-owned businesses tend to be in business longer than others.
Looking at the longevity of a company first will give you an idea of its experience, its values, and how it operates as a business.
2. They have an established place of business
The next thing that’s important to look at in a quality HVAC company is if they have an established place of business.
When you research the company online, look at the address listed for the business. Does it show a storefront or what looks like someone’s house or apartment?
If the address doesn’t show an established business, or they don’t have an address listed, this is a red flag. This can indicate an individual advertising themselves as an entire company when really they may just be a neighborhood handyman.
3. They have a valid phone number
Along with ensuring a business has an established building they operate out of, you also want to ensure they have a valid phone number (and answer when you call).
If an HVAC technician knocks on your door and gives you a phone number to call, but later the number isn’t in service or no one picks up, this is a big red flag.
A trustworthy, established HVAC company will have their phone number, or numbers, listed clearly on their business profiles, websites, and all other advertisements for you to easily call and get in contact with them. Many will also have self-service forms on their website for you to easily fill out your information and be contacted directly by the business.
4. They are insured and licensed
When working with any home service company, one of the most important things to know is if they are an insured and licensed business.
This means not only does the business have liability insurance and insurance for their tools, buildings, and vehicles, but that their technicians are insured as well.
You also want to make sure the business and technicians are licensed under the current HVAC requirements.
While this information may not be easily found or explicitly shown on their website, any reputable and trustworthy HVAC company should be happy to provide you with the proper documentation when requested.
5. They have certified licensed installers and technicians
Similar to the above point, ensuring a company has licensed HVAC installers working for them is essential for a trusting business.
Because your HVAC unit is a detailed, intricate system, a licensed technician who knows what they are doing must be working on your system.
Otherwise, inexperienced, unlicensed installers can put themselves, you, and your home in danger of electrical problems and prolonged discomfort.
6. They have photos of their own technicians
Another great sign of a trustworthy HVAC company is if you see real photos of the people who work for them. These photos can be seen either on their website, social media, or in person when asked.
Seeing photos of the people who will actually be working on your home helps build trust between you and the company and allows you to determine if they are who they say they are.
7. The technicians are clean and respect your home
One large factor that separates high-quality HVAC companies from lower-quality ones is how they present themselves and treat your home.
For example, a high-quality HVAC company will arrive at your home in a clean uniform, cheerfully greet you, and be sure to place booties over their shoes before entering your home to ensure no outside dirt is brought in.
Would you rather work with a technician wearing a stained t-shirt and ripped pants or one with a nice, company-branded shirt and clean haircut?
While as humans we try not to judge by outward appearances, it’s essential you can trust your HVAC company to enter and take care of your home.
8. The technicians are courteous and listen to your wants and needs
On top of presenting themselves respectfully, having a technician who listens to your needs and respects your time is crucial.
Any trustworthy HVAC company is there to provide you with the proper solution for your home and not waste your time. If any technician keeps trying to upsell you, pushes you to one option or another, or overall doesn’t listen to what you are saying, would you want to work with them?
You want to work with a company that listens to your wants and concerns, educates you on your different options, and helps guide you to the right choice.
9. The company has clean and branded vehicles (inside and out)
Looking at the vehicles HVAC technicians drive is also another indicator of their service and how they conduct business.
A company that presents themselves as clean, organized, and always branded is proud of who they are and how they do business. A technician arriving at your home in an unbranded truck and clothing may be a red flag. How do you know if they work for the company?
If you are very particular about the cleanliness of the companies you work for, you can also ask to see the inside of their service vehicles. This will tell you how organized the company is and can reflect on how they perform their services.
10. They are easily accessible after the service
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of any quality HVAC company is their service after the sale. Whether you replace your entire HVAC unit or just need one part replaced, you want a company that will be there for any issues in the future.
If something goes wrong with a new part the company installed or you just have a general question, a quality company should be a simple phone call away. If they offer an extended warranty on their products, this is another great sign of a trustworthy company that will be there when you need them.
The longevity of the company can also tell you how well their after-installation services are. A company that has been in business for decades must take great care of its clients, right?
11. Do they have subcontractors or employees that work for them?
Another thing to consider when comparing multiple HVAC companies is whether they have their own employed technicians or hire subcontractors.
A company with its employees tends to have more specialized and skilled technicians who are taken care of and insured by the company. When subcontractors are involved, it can be a little unclear how they do business, how they will treat you, and if they are licensed.
Sometimes subcontractors can be a toss-up on their quality of service and installation. To ensure you find the best HVAC company you can trust, choosing one that employs their technicians themselves may be the better option.
12. They thoroughly educate you on all your options
The final thing to consider when choosing the best HVAC company for your project is looking at how well they educate and inform you on all your options.
Because your HVAC unit is a large system with so many moving parts, there can sometimes be multiple potential solutions to your problem. A quality HVAC technician will thoroughly educate you on the problem and what they would recommend as the best solution. However, they will also help explain all your options and leave the choice up to you.
Finding The Right HVAC Company For You
Now that you know 12 things to look at when considering hiring an HVAC company for your needs, you can thoroughly vet multiple companies and know exactly what to look for to find the right one for you.
Finding the best company to work with all comes down to your wants, goals, and needs.
How long have they been in business for? What is your budget? What is most important to you?
Knowing what you want the final outcome of your project to look like and how you want to be treated during the process will help you to analyze these 12 characteristics of a business and determine if they are right for you or not.
When it comes to the comfort of your home, choosing a trustworthy HVAC company to work with is essential, and Wright AC Services understands that.
As a trusted San Antonio HVAC company since 1979, Wright has helped thousands of homeowners keep their homes comfortable and protected against the unpredictable South Texas weather.
We understand the importance of having professionally trained and licensed technicians, using top-notch products, and, most importantly, treating you and your home with care and respect.
Are you looking for a high-quality, family-owned HVAC company for your San Antonio home? Contact Wright AC Services today for all your HVAC needs and let us help maintain the comfort of your home!
