Who Installs AC Units (And Questions To Ask Them)

Choosing the right company to install your air conditioner is a crucial decision. You want someone fully qualified to handle the installation process, which itself can be highly complex. It requires extensive knowledge of how home cooling works, so you don’t want just anyone to do it.

Here, we’ll go over qualifications for people who install AC units and what questions you should ask before you hire them.

Locating Professionals Who Install AC Units

Some of the key qualifications of an air conditioning installation professional include the following:

Certification

The first requirement of someone who installs AC units is certification.

There are many HVAC certifications out there, and each of them has its merits. Common designations for HVAC installation technicians include NATE certification and HVAC Excellence Certification.

Also, state laws often require licensing. The state of Virginia, for instance, strongly encourages people to only hire licensed HVAC professionals. Licensing shows that they’ve received proper training to handle air conditioner installation.

Experience

Just as important as licensing is experience.

Professional experience is often required for certain levels of certification or licensing, so it could be said that of the two, that experience is often more important.

Industry experience with installing air conditioning systems is vital since the process can be highly complex. Technicians need to determine the right size and type of AC unit to install in a home-based on its square footage, level of insulation, and so forth, meaning there’s quite a bit that can go wrong.

Insurance

Given that there are things that could go wrong during air conditioner installation, your HVAC installer needs to be fully insured.

Liability insurance protects homeowners if the installation process results in damage to the home or personal injury.

Local

Finally, the person you hire to perform an AC installation should be local. There are several reasons for this, the first of which is protection. Someone who operates out of their truck is harder to contact, and much harder to hold accountable for poor service than a technician from a brick-and-mortar location.

On top of that, local HVAC professionals have knowledge of the climate in the area, giving them a good sense for what is necessary when it comes to heating and cooling. This means they’ll provide much more effective AC installation that is designed to handle the local weather.

Finally, local AC installers are more accessible in the event of an emergency. Instead of trying to track someone down who may be from out of state, you’ll have a service provider nearby and ready to deliver prompt service.

Who Should Not Install An AC Unit

Looking at the other side, it’s important to know who not to trust with AC installation.

Unlicensed “professionals”

Someone unlicensed may or may not have the skills necessary to handle the installation process. You have no guarantee that the work they perform is at all reliable, so it’s best to avoid “professionals” who don’t have any licensing.

HVAC mechanics with no physical location

If your HVAC mechanic has no physical location, it’s much harder to hold them accountable for shoddy work. They, therefore, have less reason to provide the level of quality you’d expect from a local service, so try to find a company with a distinct mailing address.

Yourself

Finally, some people may be tempted to DIY their AC installation. Unless you have the training and experience necessary to do so, you shouldn’t attempt to install AC units at home. Doing so is not only risky, but it can get very expensive, especially if errors occur during installation.

Questions For Potential AC Technicians Who Install AC Units

When choosing someone to perform AC installation in your home, ask them these questions:

Are you licensed and insured?

Make sure they carry enough insurance to be licensed in the state. If they aren’t insured, don’t hire them. It’s too much of a risk.

Where are you located?

Getting a physical location gives you an idea of whether they’re local or not. Once you get an address, you can cross-check it with online resources to see if the address is legitimate.

If not, you likely won’t get much follow-up support with your system, nor would they be very accessible in the event of an emergency.

Do you have any references I can contact?

Asking companies who install AC units about former customers can be a great way to evaluate the quality of their work and determine whether they’re reputable.

What certifications do your technicians have?

Certified technicians are proven to have strong and current skills, meaning you can rely on them to do good work.

How long have you been in business?

Seeing how long a business has been operating will allow you to gauge their level of experience.

Also, an HVAC company that has been in the area for a long time likely has a solid reputation for performing quality work.

Choosing The Best Company To Install AC Units

As you look for these qualities and ask the questions above, you’ll be able to choose the best company to install your AC unit.
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