QUALITY HEATING AIR CONDITIONING INSTALLATION

You’ve decided to get a new energy efficient furnace or air conditioner? Great! You’re heading in the right direction to save yourself tons of money by lowering your energy bill. But if that equipment isn’t installed properly, you won’t be getting the savings you expect. In fact, according to Energy Star, common installation problems can increase your heating and cooling costs up to 30% and shorten the life of your HVAC equipment. Use these three tips to get a quality installation so you can maximize the energy efficiency of your soon-to-be-installed HVAC equipment.

Tip 1: Find a quality contractor

To get a quality installation, it only makes sense that you need a quality installer. Never hire a “fly-by-night contractor,” which is a freelance contractor who is unlicensed and uninsured. You might be tempted by their low prices, but remember the saying, “You get what you pay for.” Not only will you get sub-quality work, but you might get work that’s never finished and money you’ll never get back. To help you narrow down your choices of contractors, here are the three main things to look at to find a quality HVAC company:

• Reputation - What’s their rating on the Better Business Bureau's website? Are they a member of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and other professional contractor groups?
• Credentials - Is the company properly certified? Look to see if they have a North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification. It’s the HVAC industry’s leading authority for technical certification of HVAC technicians.
• Commitment - Look for dealer who is active in your local community so he or she can provide fast and convenient service when you need it most. A local and active contractor will be around to maintain your equipment, unlike freelance contractors who you may never see again.

Tip 2: Ask your contractor all the right questions

Once you’ve narrowed down your list of legitimate contractors down to three or so, it’s time to ask some very important questions to narrow down your list even more. The questions you’ll be asking fall in three main areas:

• Equipment (Will you measure my home and calculate the correct size for my equipment?)
• Ductwork (Will you check my home for ductwork damage and duct insulation, and then make repairs if necessary?)
• Maintenance (Will you show me how to replace the air filter(s) in my new system?)

Here’s a full list of questions you should ask contractors. Print it out and ask away!

Tip 3: Get everything in writing

Once you’ve found the contractor you want, get a work proposal that details:

• What you’re paying for.
• How long the job will take.
• Warranty information.

This ensures that your installation is completed on time, and you get the quality that you deserve. Here at Ragsdale Heating, Air and Plumbing, we strive for 100% customer satisfaction on everything we do, including installation. So of you are not satisfied, neither are we. Contact Ragsdale today to get a quality HVAC installation in your Atlanta-area home so you can maximize your home’s energy efficiency.