When it comes to servicing your HVAC system, you can’t settle for less. Poor service — or worse, poor installation — can be disastrous, causing your system to waste energy and damaging it over time, as well as potentially voiding the unit’s warranty. Before you let anyone work on your system, make sure they’re a certified HVAC tech. Here’s how to be sure of their qualifications.
Important Certifications
What does certified mean when it comes to heating and cooling? There’s no required certification to become an HVAC contractor, but there are several voluntary certifications a technician can pursue, which ensure the best-quality work. Chief among them is NATE. North American Technical Excellence provides training and testing for a variety of system types, including ACs, furnaces, heat pumps, etc. NATE certification ensures that your technician has both the training and the experience necessary to work on your system.
Another certification to look for is HVAC Excellence. With two different levels of certification, the Professional level ensures at least two years of experience, plus testing, while the Master Specialist level ensures at least three years, plus a more rigorous and comprehensive exam.
Checking Certifications
In order to ensure you have a certified HVAC tech, when they come to give you an estimate, ask to see their certification. Make sure it’s specific to Ohio, and write down the certification number. Then, you can verify it with the state’s department of licensing and registration. A representative can tell you if the certification is legitimate, as well as answer any questions about the certified HVAC tech’s training or other qualifications.
If the certification number doesn’t match anything in their records, ask the representative to search for the technician’s name to see if it yields any results. Confirm the technician’s certification status before allowing them to do any work on your system. If you can’t confirm it, look for another contractor. If you choose to move forward without certification, you do so at your own risk.
To ensure a skilled and certified HVAC tech services your system, contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services. We provide Dayton with quality home-comfort solutions.
