LongIsland.com

Homeowners How To: Selecting an Air Conditioning Contractor

Written by Carrie B.  |  06. August 2012

Looking to get central air conditioning installed in your home? If you are like most homeowners, you’ve been waiting for years to do a large project like this and you want to make sure to get it right. How do you choose which company to work with? Here is what you need to know.

Before choosing a company to install your central air conditioning system it’s important to make sure they are legitimately licensed and insured and have a reputation for quality and service. Nothing is worse than having unprofessional crews in your home and then finding out they’ve up and disappeared when you have a problem or need maintenance done.

Getting central air conditioning installed is a big job and a costly item. Ventilation systems and ductwork must be run through all the affected areas of your home which involves opening up walls and ceilings and repairing sheetrock as needed. Proper unit installation also involves providing electrical connections and installing the air conditioning unit in an outdoors location. Most jobs do require access to the attic and basement. Central air conditioning also requires some routine maintenance, so be sure to ask about a service contract and the cost of continued maintenance.

Make sure to do your homework before you sign a contract! Ask for references. Call past clients to find out how the crew treated their home. Ask about the quality of the work and if they were honest with the pricing and costs.

Make sure to hire reputable companies. If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is.
Check with your local consumer affairs office and make sure they have a clean record. Consumer affairs keeps track of complaints filed, pursues repeat offenders and keeps tabs on businesses that have not completed contracted work or have repeatedly misled their customers. They also keep records of companies who have been involved in scams. You can check with the Better Business Bureau to see how they are rated, how long they have been in business or if there have been any legal actions filed against them.

To assure yourself a worry free installation, work with a reputable professional…so when it’s all done you will be able to sit back and enjoy your cool home for many years to come!

Copyright © 1996-2024 LongIsland.com & Long Island Media, Inc. All rights reserved.