For the last 30 years I have worked in Los Angeles as a heating and air conditioning contractor. Unfortunately, I've seen a lot of improper installations of home comfort systems and have heard a lot of horror stories. I want to save you the heartache!

How does a homeowner go about ensuring that they have a good experience with a heating and air conditioning contractor in Los Angeles? As I see it the most important factors to consider are:

• SAFETY - Competent and able to provide an excellent HVAC installation or repair.

• SAFETY - Trustworthy around your possessions and your family.

• SAFETY - Takes complete responsibility, should anything go wrong.

Referrals

There are several trustworthy sources for contractor referrals. Friends are probably the first people homeowners turn to when they realize that they have a need. You trust your friends to tell you the truth of their experience with a contractor. Another great place for referrals are local Chamber of Commerce organizations. Professional networking groups have an advantage over friend referrals because these professionals rely on each other for business and therefore they protect their reputation. If you were to have a problem with a contractor who your found through a Chamber you could ask the Chamber to intercede should you run into problems down the road. I would also recommend Neighbor2Neighbor.

Check the License

A glowing referral may not give an accurate picture of the kind of contractor you are getting involved with. I suggest checking with the CSLB Contractors State Licensing Board to make sure that the HVAC installer or repair person you are considering is properly licensed, insured for liability, and insured for worker's compensation.

Make Sure They Have Insurance

Liability is a must. Worker's Compensation is expensive, some HVAC installers don't want to pay for it so they tell a lie to the CSLB. They say that they don't have any employees. But how do they lift a heavy air conditioner onto the roof all alone? There's no way! If the person installing your AC system or furnace is anyone other than the contractor them-self they are an employee and should be insured. If the service technician who comes to fix your air conditioner is not the owner of the company, he is an employee. He should be covered by workman's compensation. If he is not, the person who is being forced to take the risk is YOU, the homeowner.

California law is very clear regarding worker's compensation. I have met homeowners with terrible stories of their life savings being wiped out by an uninsured worker, so I am pretty passionate about this. Think about it, if someone is willing to put you at risk in this very obvious way, how else will they be cutting corners? Also, if they don't care enough about their employee to insure them, what kind of technicians will be working for this company?

Technician Safety

You want to make sure that the people working on your heating and cooling system are certified by the EPA, Environmental Protection Agency. Service Technicians and installers are dealing with controlled chemical substances, electricity, gas and water lines in your home. Any one of which can devastate your home if handled improperly.

HVAC and electrical skills are taught in California's prisons. I actively screen all of my employees with drug-tests and background checks. My technicians and installers are independently Safety-Sealed. The majority of my business is residential, owner occupied homes and I am not willing to take chances with regards to the safety and security of my customers. When I find a great employee, I keep them on my team. Most of my guys have been with me 10 or more years.

Quality of Work

We provide a LOT of training for our team, it is an investment, and the return is worth it! Factory training, night classes, workshops and frequent trips across the country to attend seminars with a national HVAC Contractors organization. Each week we have an educational meeting featuring either field experts, manufacturer supplied instructors, or peer training. We focus on safety, codes, and best practices. Energy efficient heating and air conditioning technology is constantly changing and the breadth of knowledge needed to diagnose and repair HVAC equipment has never been greater than it is right now.

So there you have it. These are the important points to check when screening a heating and air conditioning contractor to work in your home. As always, if I can help in any way feel free to call 818-780-0701. I provide free over the phone advice to homeowners regarding their home comfort systems and free estimates for new systems.

For more insights from Dean & Lisa, check out the Kilowatt Blog!