Choosing the Right Contractor

As you may have learned through all your research, installing a unit heater is not a DIY job.  This type of work is best left up to professionally licensed and insured HVAC contractors who can help you with many vital decisions like sizing, placement, and hook up.

When deciding on which contractor is best for your job, follow this simple checklist during your selection of a HVAC Contractor:

Are they licensed in your state?

Many states and municipalities require licenses

One of the essential steps in finding a contractor to partner with for your unit heater installation is ensuring they are licensed. Licensed contractors are committed to meeting and maintaining the state requirements to perform their job. Working with a licensed contractor will help ensure your installation has the proper building permits, meets the current building requirements, and most importantly is installed properly.

State-by-State Requirements

The licensing requirements vary from state to state. To find out if your contractor is licensed, you can call your local government’s Department of Building and Zoning to ask.

Are they properly insured?

Make sure you and your contractor are protected

The last thing you want to worry about when doing a home improvement project is something going wrong, but accidents happen. Hiring a professional licensed HVAC contractor with insurance will help put you at ease while your project is going on. Their insurance policies are in place for not only your protection but theirs as well.  The contractor should carry both general liability and worker’s compensation policies.

Are they NATE HVAC Certified?

NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence

NATE is the nation’s largest non-profit certification organization for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration technicians. NATE certified technicians must complete courses and exams to ensure they have the knowledge to install and service everything, from the basic HVAC equipment to the new technically-savvy HVAC equipment. Technicians who are NATE-certified know that NATE stands for excellence and quality service.

Learn More about NATE Certified Technicians

Do they come highly recommended?

Talk with family, friends, and research online

A trusted friend or family member who has had a positive experience with a contractor is a great place to start.  There are also many trusted online companies like Angie’s List, Home Advisor, Google, or Yelp that can have additional information on a specific contractor.