Finding reliable HVAC companies in Boston might take a lot of work. The internet and phone books have made it easy to locate businesses in your region, but once you’ve narrowed down your options, it can take time to sort through all the hype and figure out which firm is truly worth your time and money.
8 Qualities to Look in HVAC Companies in Boston
We’ve seen it all when it comes to HVAC services and can give you some advice on what to look for.
1. Healthy Financials
Of course, only some service providers will be open to you perusing their books, but there are still ways to evaluate the company’s financial stability. Only hire contractors after checking their credit references with significant outside businesses and suppliers. Remember that hiring an HVAC service from a firm experiencing severe financial difficulties is a high-risk proposition.
2. Product Line
More is better when it comes to business HVAC providers and their offerings. The best heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) company will connect to major manufacturers like Trane, Carrier, Lennox, Daiken, Mitsubishi, and Honeywell and carry or install a wide range of goods and equipment from these companies. Only work with businesses that try to push less well-known pieces of machinery on you or offer a limited selection of services. Ideally, your HVAC companies in Boston will be brand-agnostic and have the purchasing ability to pick out the best possible system for your needs.
3. Knowledgeable Sales Teams
Technical specialists with solid engineering backgrounds populate the sales teams of the leading commercial HVAC businesses, making these teams exceptionally educated and competent. Their staff has extensive experience in the field and HVAC design and sales, and they can help with problem resolution and system design.
Look for businesses that can also contribute additional knowledge in generating “paid from savings projects” if you would rather use alternative sources of funds to fund your projects. Financing, rebates, and tax credits are common tools for covering the cost of HVAC system upgrades. Companies with this level of sales skill can assist you in estimating the payback time and savings from improvements that will help you break even.
4. Highly Trained Technicians
Successful HVAC businesses find and retain talented individuals with relevant experience and continue their education. You should look for a company whose technical staff is dedicated to keeping up with the latest developments in the sector in terms of technology, tools, certifications, licenses, and installation practices. To make sure the company you’re considering hiring has the breadth of knowledge necessary to service your equipment, you should request resumes and meet with their field service management team.
5. Information Technology Savvy
The HVAC industry is very technical, and HVAC businesses should also be technologically advanced in their administrative infrastructure.
- The HVAC company you’re using, do they keep tabs on how much it costs to service each appliance?
- Can they determine if it is more economical to fix or replace using past service records?
Is there a central hub where you can access your records whenever you like? Informed advice from your provider based on data gleaned from servicing your equipment will drastically cut operational costs.
If a commercial HVAC company is using something other than the latest and greatest in IT to run their business and complete installs, you should go elsewhere. This kind of discrepancy is suspicious.
6. Fully Compliant
HVAC companies in Boston in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning industry must hold different licenses, especially those in commercial and industrial settings. For instance, in Kentucky, a Master Contractor’s license is required for any construction work, while a Journeyman’s license is necessary for all service technicians. Special contractor licenses are also needed in Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia.
As part of the bidding process for an HVAC project, the HVAC companies in Boston, MA, you choose should offer a “turnkey” proposal that takes care of everything from acquiring the necessary permissions to completing the actual construction. The companies you hire will either have impressive credentials, or you will quickly learn that they don’t.
7. Affiliations and Awards
Good HVAC firms typically participate in and even win awards from several trade associations. It is important to determine if the contractors on your shortlist are members of any trade associations or other third-party organizations that recognize their expertise. In addition to providing useful references from peers and coworkers, this can also serve to paint a comprehensive picture of each organization.
8. Reputation and Price
Comparing the hourly prices of service contractors is a common but flawed comparison tool. This statistic usually correlates negatively with the technician’s experience at your location, putting the cost-effectiveness of service visits and maintenance at risk.
Consider if you want the lowest initial investment or total cost of ownership when shopping for new HVAC equipment. The lowest life cycle cost alternative can provide greater value over the building’s useful life because it factors productivity gains and utility cost reductions.
Conclusion
You should only consider contacting references and comparing prices once you have examined and authorized all of the requirements above. This makes it easier to cut out the time needed to screen out HVAC companies in Boston who could be a better fit.
Leading HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) provider Home Service Doctor has years of experience offering the best HVAC services in Boston, Massachusetts. We are skilled in repairing all makes and models of heating and cooling systems.
Read more about Signs of Trustworthy HVAC Companies.