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#1. What Are Your Credentials?

This is perhaps one of the most important questions that you should ask. Many homeowners actually failed to ask this question because they say that the company has a website, so they believe that they must have the right credentials. This is not always the case.

Make sure that you ask the heating and AC repair company what type of credentials their workers have.

#2. How Many Years of Experience Do You Have?

This might not necessarily be an indication of whether you’re working with a good professional or not. However, there is some correlation with experience and quality of work. In general, you want to find a professional who has some years of experience under their belt. They will likely be able to tackle any heating and AC repair issues that come up with ease. They’ll also be more likely to provide you with various solutions.

With that said, some people do choose to work with professionals with a little less experience under their belt. This is because these professionals may be willing to charge less in order to get more experience.

#3. Are You Licensed?

Make sure that the heating and AC repair company and professionals that you are working with are licensed. You can ask them if they are licensed and for proof of their licensing. If they are licensed, they’ll, at the very least, know about the regulations and bylaws of the city.

#4. Are You Insured?

Insurance is one of the most important things that any heating and AC repair company needs to have. If anything should go wrong, the repairs involved with fixing everything can be rather expensive. You definitely don’t want to be on the hook for any accidents.

Although accidents don’t happen often, you still want to make sure that the professionals are properly insured. If they are insured, their insurance will cover the cost of repairing any of the damages that your home may have sustained. You should ask the heating and AC repair company to show you their insurance papers, so you can take a look at the amount of insurance and coverage that they have.

Make sure that your home insurance will cover anything that their insurance will not. It’s important to note that if you’re going through your insurance, your premiums will go up. This is why you want to make sure that the heating and AC repair company in Chattanooga, TN has good insurance. You definitely do not want to go through your own home insurance.

#5. Do You Have Any Specialties?

Some people will go out of their way to ask HVAC companies whether they have any specific specialties when it comes to heating and AC repair services. For example, they may ask whether the company deals with certain services more than others. If these services are what you’re looking for, you can rest assured that you’re in good hands.

#6. Do You Offer Any Warranties or Guarantees on Your Work?

A proud heating and AC repair company that is confident in their own work will provide warranties and guarantees on all of the work that they complete. You definitely want to make sure that the heating and AC repair company that you’re interested in working with offer some type of warranties or guarantees for the work.

For example, if a service should fail a week after you’ve received it, the company should send someone out to look at the issue and fix it free of cost. Make sure that the heating and AC repair company outlines what is covered under their guarantee.

Also, if a part or an appliance is to fail prematurely, you also want to make sure that it’s covered by the company’s warranty. In most cases, you’ll be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty; however, you might not have the time to deal with all of the paperwork or the steps that are involved with dealing with getting the warranty. Finding a company that offers some type of warranty can really take a big load off your plate.

#7. Can You Give Me a Quote?

Before agreeing to any heating and AC repair services, you should always ask for a quote. In general, a quote will give you more upfront pricing than an estimate. The quote should outline the type of duties that the company will complete and how much they’ll charge. It will also outline whether there are any additional fees that might be added onto the cost. For example, some companies do charge an overtime fee if you rush them to finish the job by a certain day.

It’s always a good idea to get a quote from several companies. This will help you compare and contrast what each company is charging for heating and AC repair services that you need. It will also help you avoid companies that are charging you an extra fee for living in a certain neighborhood.

Looking at What the Quote Entails

To get a better idea of what you’re paying for, you need to really dissect each quote. The different prices may reflect different types of warranties and guarantees. Or, if the heating and AC repair requires different parts, it may reflect the quality of the parts that you are getting. Some of the things that you should look at in more detail include:

• The cost of labor, as well as the amount of labor that is needed for the job. You want to make sure that everyone who comes to your home has a specific role. You also need to make sure that there aren’t any independent contractors that can charge a different rate.

• Whether there are any travel fees or overtime fees. These fees can add up really quickly, especially if you need to pay for mileage and gas involved with the travel.

• The type of parts that you will be receiving. If you are looking to replace the parts with the same manufacturer and brand, you’ll usually be looking at a higher quote. However, if you go for aftermarket parts, you’ll usually get a cheaper price. A professional can usually walk you through the pros and cons of each choice. In particular, you should ask them about what their experiences have been with working with different brands.

The key is to read the quote in detail. If there’s anything that you don’t understand, make sure that you ask the heating and AC repair company to explain. You definitely don’t want any surprises.

#8. How Will Disputes Be Resolved?

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Although none of us go into contract thinking that there will be issues, you definitely want to make sure that you’ll be covered if anything does go wrong. In particular, you should ask the Chattanooga, TN HVAC company how disputes will be resolved.

For example, will you have to go through some type of formal process? And if so, how long will this take? Understanding how the disputes work can really help you figure out which company to go with. You definitely want to go with a company that is able to offer 100% customer satisfaction and guarantee and is easy to work with.

#9. What’s Included in the Service?

This is another question that kind of goes hand-in-hand with the quotes. You definitely need to know what’s included in the service. For example, if the service that you need involves ductwork, You might want to know whether the company would do all of the cleaning afterwards as well. Your ducts are likely filled with filth and dirt. You definitely don’t want to be the one who has to clean up the messes that come from any servicing.

This might also be a good time to negotiate for additional services. For example, you might ask the HVAC company to clean the external components of certain units before they leave. This might also be a good time to ask the company whether they offer any type of services to make sure that your home stays clean. For example, most HVAC companies will lay out mats and other types of equipment to make sure that dirt and dust does not get on your carpets or floors. Some companies will also require all of their employees to wear coverings over their shoes to avoid trekking any dirt into the home.

#10. Do You Offer an HVAC Maintenance Plan?

Another important thing to ask is whether the HVAC company will offer any type of maintenance plan. Once you’ve received a type of repair or service, you definitely want to make sure that the repairs and services will last. A good company will draw up an individualized HVAC maintenance plan for your home. The plan will be based on the needs of your home, as well as the types of appliances and components that you have.

Make sure that you go through the maintenance plan with a professional to make sure that you fully understand what you need to do to keep your home in tiptop shape.

#11. How Long Will It Take You to Arrive?

If you’re faced with an emergency, most HVAC companies do offer emergency services. However, they usually will charge you an extra fee for the emergency. With that said, you still want to confirm how long it will take for a professional to arrive. In emergency situations, you definitely want to look for someone who can show up in under an hour.

If you’re just looking for regular maintenance services, you might be able to wait for up to a week or more. In these cases, do you want to know what their availability may be? For example, do they have someone who can come out at a time that is convenient for you? Some companies offer some type of online scheduling, so you can see when their next availability is.

If you don’t see any times that are convenient for you, you can still call the HVAC company to inquire about whether they can send out a professional that may be outside of their business hours. Some professionals are willing to come early or come late depending on your needs. In these situations, expect to be charged a little bit more for the convenience.

#12. Do You Have Any References?

Last but not least, if you’re happy with everything else, you should ask the professional offering the heating and AC repair whether they have any references that you can call or talk to. By calling the references, you’ll get a good idea of what other people have experienced.

Make sure that you’re calling someone who receives the same type of heating and AC repair that you need. It’s also important that they receive the services recently. There’s no point in calling someone who received the same type of service a decade ago. It’s also not as useful to call someone about a service that you are not going to get.

If you’re not comfortable calling someone, you can highly consider taking a look at reviews online. After you’ve taken a look at a handful of reviews, you should get a good idea of what other people’s experiences have been.

Give Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air a Call for Heating and AC Repair Services in Chattanooga, TN

If you need any type of heating and AC repair at all, give Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air a call at 423-668-0507. We are a family owned and operated, and also offer 24-hour services, so we can respond to emergencies. We have a 100% satisfaction guarantee and have been providing heating and AC repair services in the Chattanooga, TN area since 1989. We can provide you with upfront pricing and quality services.

If you have any questions, our licensed technicians can provide you with honest answers. We put our customers first, and do not try to upsell our customers at any time whatsoever, so rest assured that you’ll be in good hands.