What are HVAC Contractors - Everything You Need to Know About HVAC Contractors

Today, technological advances are occurring fast, and people are incorporating more of them to increase their comfort and well-being. 

The HVAC industry is booming because the HVAC systems deliver a comfortable temperature, optimal air quality, and energy efficiency. Additionally, HVAC technology has changed a lot in the past few years. So replacing the old systems is also important.

You need a skilled HVAC contractor to install, repair, or maintain the heating and cooling systems. Considering its market size of about 45 billion USD in 2021 and a forecast market size of nearly 96 billion USD in 2027, you can start a career as an HVAC contractor.

Are you interested in becoming an HVAC contractor or having doubts about what exactly is the work of the HVAC contractor? What can make an HVAC contractor a qualified one?

To get all these answers and learn more about HVAC contractors, dive into this article. 

What/Who are HVAC Contractors?

Regardless of the outside temperature or climate, people become habituated of staying in their desired cozy environment at home or office due to these air conditioning and heating systems. The HVAC contractor is the expert who helps keep this system working.

The HVAC contractors offer services mainly in the three areas such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Some offer specialization in both residential and commercial or others in any one.

When people start looking for a credible HVAC contractor in their areas, they often see all contractors have the same overall expertise in the core components of the HVAC system, including commercial cooling, water heating systems, and solar technology.

So to shortlist a few among the available HVAC contractors and companies in town, a few things are often focused:

• First and foremost, the listed contractors or companies must be legit with a proper license and insurance policy.
• Next, the experience in the field and the expertise of their employees are checked. 
• After that, their past clients’ feedback and reviews are given a look. 
• For commercial areas, it would be a matter of a huge amount of money, so often customers prefer to get a first-hand review from HVAC contractor’s past clients. They get in touch with them and compare their personal experience with the individual.
• In the end, their in-depth cost breakdowns of all the services are compared because people want and hire the best HVAC contractors according to their budget.

As an HVAC contractor, you must ensure you have these things in hand to prove you are authentic and reliable. 

What Does An AC Contractor Do?

The HVAC contractors offer various HVAC services, from installation to repair, including overall maintenance. As mentioned above, the HVAC contractors work for commercial or residential clients, and some others work in both fields.

Their service offerings include:

• Installation of the HVAC system

The main task of any HVAC contractor is installing new HVAC equipment in any residential or commercial space. They properly install all the required ducts, pipes, supply lines, tubing, and electrical wiring according to the system’s size and capacity for space. Before leaving, they inspect and observe if the HVAC system is working efficiently or not and conduct a follow-up after a week or so.

• Inspection and maintenance

Getting a regular inspection and proper maintenance of the HVAC system is the only way to prevent any future shortcomings. So, the HVAC contractors offer inspection and maintenance services. 

They inspect the functionalities of tubes, pipes, joints, and the thermostat, as well as check if there is any leakage or short-circuiting inside or not. They also offer a thorough cleaning of coils, drains, and all components.

• Repair or replacement

If the inspection reveals any problems, they take action on the specific concerns. They try to repair the faulty component first. If repairing is not possible, they professionally remove and replace the malfunctioning HVAC equipment without disrupting the main electrical connections of the house or the building.

Different Types of Services that Professional HVAC Contractors Provide

Now let’s check the different types of services that professional HVAC contractors provide.

Air conditioning systems

An air conditioner gives cold air inside the house or enclosed space by removing heat and humidity from the indoor air. Sounds simple, right? But in reality, the AC unit is a bit complicated system. And several manufacturers build these different HVAC systems. 

So, only an experienced HVAC technician with the right set of tools can provide you with professional support and handle the complex system.

Heating

The heating system acts opposite to the cooling system. When HVAC is used as an air conditioner, it collects the heat from the inside of the house and pushes it out. When your HVAC is used for heating, it absorbs the heat from the outside and pulls it inside the house. 

So a heating system must maintain the house's interior temperature at a certain level, especially during harsh winters. Maintaining a normal temperature at this time isn’t just essential for the people’s comfort and ensuring the water pipes and other HVAC components don’t freeze.

Only the right HVAC contractor can help with installing and repairing any of these.

Ventilation

Let’s understand how ventilation works. Fresh air is intake from the outside or from within the home, and this process is called ventilation. This process occurs in two ways, either natural ventilation, where the air present in most homes moves in and out of the house. Or, the other type is mechanical ventilation which uses a mechanical system where the air is moved in and out.  

So the ventilation part of the HVAC system deals with the fans, vents, and exhausts that control the air exchange in your home. 

Ventilation in HVAC systems is of different types, such as exhaust-only mechanism, supply-only, etc. So again, an experienced HVAC contractor can only deal with these types of mechanical ventilation.

Ducting

The air movement to different parts of the house is possible with ductwork. In fact, all air movements require a passage of air ducts, and though it looks less complicated, only an HVAC contractor can give duct-related services.

Indoor air quality

First, understand that the HVAC system’s purpose is more than just cooling or warming a particular space. Rather, it also plays a crucial role in improving indoor air quality and providing comfort for everyone inside the building. 

So to improve this, the HVAC contractor must suggest their customers install humidity control, air cleaners, or purifiers, or even sign up for duct cleaning services.

What Will Customers Look for in an HVAC Contractor?

From the customer’s point of view, installing an HVAC system is a pretty expensive process. So he/she will look for a reputed HVAC contractor for installation, repairs, and maintenance. To get good business, you must have the following capabilities as an HVAC contractor.

Now let’s check about them.

1. Experience and knowledge

Installing an HVAC system is not everyone’s cup of tea. It’s a complex process, and only skilled HVAC professionals can handle it. So experience and expertise count more than the price. So you must have good experience and knowledge about HVAC systems to excel in the job. 

Typically, the HVAC contractor’s years of experience, several years in business, and how the company ensures its technicians keep up with the changes in products and technology matters. Thus, it is recommended to have a strong portfolio of your work to better avail yourself of HVAC services.

2. Reputation

Since a huge amount of money is involved, customers often get skeptical about choosing a new company which is why they opt for established firms. They check various sources such as online reviews and third parties and compare before clicking on an HVAC service company. This highlights the importance of proving that they are authentic. So get referrals from people you know and gain trust.

3. Licensed and certified with Internation Code Council

Many HVAC contractors claim they are licensed, but they work without one. So, reputed HVAC contractors that don’t hesitate to show their licensing paperwork and proof of insurance and bonding to customers are reliable. This proves their authenticity. Also, HVAC technicians must clear NATE certification (North American Technician Excellence) to prove they are efficient, knowledgeable, and professional. 

4. Versatile

HVAC technicians are often expected to handle the heating, cooling, and ventilation parts. In this industry, some people niche down and specialize in either one. But HVAC technicians are expected to be well-versed in a wide range of models and work flawlessly. So quality contractors will keep upgrading themselves with new technologies. For instance, they need to learn about energy efficiency, install the latest energy-efficient models, and educate the customers about the same.

5. Rebates and special offers

The tax rebates vary for every city and state in the US when you opt for energy-efficient HVAC systems. But your customers won’t be tracking these beneficiaries. So it’s your work to educate them on the trends that are constantly changing. 

6. Provide a free in-home estimate on equipment replacement

Providing a proper estimate without evaluating the house completely is merely a waste. To get a proper estimate, one has to do a thorough inspection in and around the house to get the perfect size of equipment to install. 

If the HVAC professional doesn’t inspect the house, how will they come up with a proper estimate? So, ensure to give your customers a free in-house estimate on equipment replacement. 

Conclusion

HVAC contractors offer various services mainly in three different areas: air conditioning, heating, and ventilation. Some credible contractors offer specialization only in one of those HVAC services, while others offer to specialize in either commercial or residential HVAC expertise.

Either way, they should have proper licenses and work experience to prove themselves as legit. If you are aspiring to become an HVAC contractor, we hope this article was insightful and gave you everything related to what HVAC contractors do.

If you are an HVAC contractor and looking to manage your HVAC jobs, you can check a list of HVAC software for your business to manage jobs and technicians.