A lot of ambitious homeowners have become overconfident in their attempts to perform their own home repairs because Internet can make them seem easy. Unfortunately, many of those tasks are not as easy as they appear, and air conditioning repair is one of them. Your heating and cooling system is a complicated piece of equipment that requires a professional with years of experience and training.
Choosing the right service technician is essential to ensuring that your unit stays in top shape and enjoys a long and prosperous life. Here are a few key things to look for in any professional you hire to work on your cooling system:
Licensure
When an air conditioning repair technician is licensed, it shows that he has met minimum standards for training and experience. Each state licenses these professionals differently, so you’ll have to look up the right board for your state to learn more about the specific requirements. When you talk to a candidate, make sure you ask about licensure. Then check with the appropriate board to make sure that license is current. Licenses have to be renewed, which requires continuing education. You should be sure that any person you hire has a current license.
Insurance
Sometimes things can go wrong when someone is working on your cooling system, even if the person has years of experience and training. If the person working on your unit doesn’t have insurance and something goes wrong, you could be stuck footing the bill (or your insurance company could, which would send your premiums through the roof). Make sure that any person you hire has the appropriate insurance. Again, make sure you double check that the policy is current, and make sure you know exactly how much it covers. If the person has insurance that doesn’t cover your issue, you’ll still be out the money.
Reputation
The reputation of any service professional can tell you a lot. You will learn whether to expect good service, quality workmanship and honest billing. Before you hire someone to perform your air conditioning repair, take some time to learn about his or her reputation. Look up customer reviews online to see what people are saying. Find out if the person or the business has any reports filed against it with organizations like the Better Business Bureau. You will quickly learn what to expect from the person or the business based on the information you find. You can also ask for referrals from people you know to find good technicians.
Your air conditioner is such an important piece of equipment that you shouldn’t attempt to repair it yourself, and you shouldn’t hire just anyone to do it for you. These tips can help you evaluate air conditioning repair specialists so you can be sure that you are hiring the right person to do a good job at a good price. You’ll help protect your cooling unit and your pocket book.