Choose a Quality HVAC Contractor

January 10, 2024
Choosing a quality contractor for your heating and cooling needs is an important process. Choosing the right contractor can make the difference between getting the most comfort and efficiency for your money or getting stuck with a system that doesn’t meet your needs.

Here Are Some Tips On Evaluating a Contractor:

Ask How Long The Company Has Been In Business

Common sense says that older, more established companies will have a better record of customer satisfaction.

Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning has been in business since 1987 and has met the needs of thousands of satisfied Puget Sound customers. Brennan is one of Puget Sound Energy’s strongest and most consistent performers in its Contractor Referral Service and recently received the Platinum Award that recognizes PSE’s top HVAC contractor.

Confirm That The Company Is State Licensed

A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor must have a state license and must be fully insured before he/she or his/her employees can charge you for work on your cooling or heating system. Laws concerning licensing and insurance were created to protect consumers. Contractors carrying licenses must follow (and are responsible to see that their employees follow) the mechanical codes which have been written to protect the consumer’s equipment and home. Furthermore, a person who is not licensed cannot purchase liability insurance.

To secure a state license, the contractor must have passed a state licensing exam. In addition to testing prospective contractors for knowledge regarding the design, function, maintenance, and repair of cooling and heating systems, the exam also tests contractors’ knowledge of the state mechanical codes. The mechanical codes were written to protect building owners from the use of substandard materials or shortcuts which could make the building unsafe. Compliance with the mechanical code reduces the risk of your heating and cooling system malfunctioning in such a way as could cause damage to the building or injury to its occupants.

Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning is licensed by the state of Washington. Our license number is #BRENNHA971R9. (Washington State License – Redmond, WA)

Confirm That The Company Is Fully Bonded And Insured

Licensed contractors are required by the state to carry insurance for their company. If your property suffers damage due to an error made by the contractor or one of his/her employees, the insurance will pay for the replacement or repair of the damaged property.

Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning is fully bonded and insured.

Don’t Confuse EPA Certification With State Licensing

Be aware that many individuals will imply that they are licensed to work on air conditioners because they possess Environmental Protection Agency certification allowing them to purchase and handle refrigerants such as Freon. An EPA certificate, while important, is a far cry from a state license. To obtain an EPA certificate, an individual must own and know how to use a recovery unit. The recovery unit captures the refrigerant which is released when a technician is working on an air conditioner or heat pump. This process reduces the damage caused to the ozone by refrigerants. An individual may become EPA certified and be allowed to purchase refrigerants for the purpose of servicing his or her own home, place of business, or automobiles. However, the possession of an EPA certificate does not qualify him or her to work for pay on others’ residential or commercial cooling and heating systems.

In addition to a state license, Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning possesses a Universal EPA Certificate, the highest level of certification granted by the EPA.

Ask About The Company’s Technicians

A quality contractor is up-to-date on the newest developments in equipment, technology, and design procedures in order to choose and install a system, which will be the most efficient and most reliable system for you. The quality and experience of heating and air conditioning technicians can vary significantly. Heating and cooling equipment is becoming more and more complex and computerized and to ensure excellent service, you’ll want technicians who are highly trained and certified as well as drug-free.

Industry-trained and certified technicians comprise the technical support department of Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning. Click here to learn more about Brennan’s superior technicians.

Ask About The Company’s Concern For The Environment

A quality contractor is concerned about protecting the environment. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC’s) used as air conditioning and heat pump refrigerants have been linked to the destruction of the earth’s ozone layer. A quality contractor offers environmentally safe products (such as products that are R-410-A-certified) and is trained and certified in the proper techniques for recovering, recycling, reclaiming and disposing of used refrigerant.
Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning offers a full line of environmentally friendly products and is EPA-certified to handle refrigerants.

Ask About The Company’s Indoor Air Quality Services

A quality contractor can help determine if your home or business is prone to indoor air pollution problems due to organic resins or vapors, poor air turnover or high humidity. If allergies are a problem, a quality contractor can service your heating and air conditioning system and recommend indoor air quality products that may prevent conditions that adversely affect your health and comfort.

Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning offers a full line of indoor air quality products to improve the quality of the air you breathe.

Ask For References Or Testimonials

A quality contractor will provide you with testimonials and/or references. Read comments about the company by previous customers. Consider following up by calling those people and asking them how satisfied they were with the dealer. Try to ask specific questions, about the dealer’s timeliness, ability to follow through on start and finish times, etc.

Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning has a long list of satisfied customers. Visit our testimonials page.

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