Hiring an Air Conditioning Contractor

Contributed by Greg Bailey

How long have you been an air conditioning contractor?
Are you licensed or certified?
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Most trades are licensed through a state governmental agency such as a "home improvement commission". You'll need to find the agency in your state and verify that the tradesmen is, in fact, licensed and in good standing.\012
Is the majority of your work in repairs or installation?
Do you service the equipment you install?
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Are you and your employees trained and certified by the manufacturer of the systems you install?
What is a SEER rating?
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SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. It is a number that describes how well air conditioning works. A higher SEER means better efficiency and lower energy bills.
What is the difference between single stage, two stage and variable speed systems and which do you recommend?
What kind of licenses, permits and documents will you need before you can get started?
How do you price your services?
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Tradesmen such as air conditioning contractors price services in three distinct ways: 1. Time and Material - an hourly rate plus the cost of the materials (which may be marked up). 2. Flat rate - repair and replace a condenser $350 3. Bid - tradesman provides a comprehensive quote upfront for what the charges will be which includes all labor and material charges.\012