Verifying That an HVAC Company is Reputable

The search for the right HVAC company can be daunting if you don't know what qualifications to look for. Here are some recommendations to help you sort through the competitors and find a reputable company that can provide quality results.

Finding the Right HVAC Company

1. Ask friends and family for recommendations. This is where you start. Ask why your acquaintances are recommending the consultant that they use. Call several of these recommended companies and ask for references. Call the references and ask if jobs were completed in a reasonable time, and if the work was satisfactory.

2. Call the Better Business Bureau. Find out if the company you're interested in has had complaints filed against it, and if so, why. Also consider any good reviews issued by the BBB.

3. Read the online reviews with reservations. Many online sites offer a forum for reviewing a customer's experience with a company. But, bear in mind that some reviewers have an ax to grind, while other, more positive reviews might be posted by someone with an interest in promoting the company more than it deserves.

4. Check out certifications. HVAC industry certifications may be a sign of the company's professionalism. For instance, proclaiming that the company's technicians are NATE- (North American Technician's Excellence) certified signifies the technicians have been rigorously tested and qualified by the highest standards in the industry. Membership in the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) means the company has a stake in maintaining top professional standards.

5. Ask about licensing, bonding, and insurance. Oklahoma HVAC contractors are required to be properly licensed. Often, the contractor must be bonded and insured to qualify for a license. You should be sure your HVAC professional has liability insurance to protect your home in case a worker is injured or damage occurs.

6. Avoid contractors who give estimates over the phone. For the best results, HVAC contractors should always come to your home to assess repairs or installations, and give you a written estimate.

Contact Air Assurance for more information on hiring a reputable HVAC company. We serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “geralt/pixabay”

Look for a Tech With These HVAC Certifications

Choosing an experienced and skilled HVAC contractor to repair, install, and service the HVAC equipment in your home ensures your family's comfort and safety. A reliable contractor not only stays up-to-date on industry standards themselves, they also make sure that every technician they employ has current certifications that demonstrate their knowledge, training and experience. Here are some key HVAC certifications to look for in an technician so you can have peace of mind that your costly and critically important comfort equipment is in good hands.

State Licensing

In Oklahoma, HVAC technicians must be licensed through the Construction Industries Board (CIB). Applicants must pass an in-depth exam and meet the board's strict educational and work experience requirements. The HVAC company they work for should also be licensed and have the state-required surety bond and liability insurance coverage in place. You can verify an HVAC contractor or technician's license right on the CIB's website.

NATE Certification

Reputable HVAC companies insist that their technicians are certified through the industry-leading North American Technician Excellence (NATE). To gain certification through this nonprofit testing organization, technicians have to pass a stringent core exam on their general industry knowledge, along with a specialty exam in their choice of either service or installation.

HVAC Excellence Certification

Another prominent independent testing organization, HVAC Excellence offers certification for technicians at either the professional or master specialist level. Technicians who obtain a professional-level certification have two years of relevant industry experience and have passed a rigorous exam. To achieve master specialist certification, technicians must have three years of practical experience in addition to passing the exam.

EPA 608 Certification

In order to install, repair or service air conditioners or heat pumps that contain refrigerants like R-22 or R-410A, HVAC technicians need to be certified through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the certification requirements in Section 608 of the EPA's Clean Air Act, technicians must pass core and specialty testing to assess their knowledge on industry best practices for service and refrigerant reclamation.

To learn more about the importance of HVAC certifications, contact the Broken Arrow comfort pros at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC certifications and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “ArtsyBee/pixabay”

What Certifications Should HVAC Technicians Have?

What Certifications Should HVAC Technicians Have?

Before you hire someone to work on your HVAC equipment, be sure that they have the HVAC technician certifications required by law. Looking for additional industry affiliations translates to an even higher level of competence and knowledge. Considering what’s at stake with your HVAC equipment, it's important to do your homework to find the most qualified technicians in the region.

Legal Requirements

• Licensing. At a minimum, the technician needs to have an active HVAC license from Oklahoma. Applicants must pass a test that measures their knowledge of the components of HVAC equipment. Oklahoma issues separate licenses that allow the technician to work with gas piping and sheet metal.

• Insurance and bonding. An HVAC technician who works with a licensed HVAC contractor is covered by the mandatory requirement for liability insurance and a surety bond that protects their customers from any accident or financial harm from failure to deliver on the contract between the company and the client.

Additional Certifications

Because HVAC equipment is so complex, several industry groups offer HVAC technician certifications that help consumers select professionals who demonstrate advanced knowledge of the industry.

• NATE certification. NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is a nonprofit organization that certifies only the top performing technicians in the HVAC industry. The testing is rigorous and just a small percentage of those who take the tests pass. In order to maintain NATE certification, the technician must complete continuing education credits and retest every two years.It's particularly important to use NATE-certified technicians when you're choosing and installing a new system, since the entire selection, sizing, and installation process will affect your energy costs and comfort for years to come. Contractors who have earned NATE membership follow the most current and stringent recommendations for this crucial process.

• ACCA membership. ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) gives members access to an extensive library of technical resources, along with professional networking. ACCA emphasizes the exploration and execution of energy efficiency and environmental protection within the HVAC industry.

To learn more about HVAC technician certifications, contact Air Assurance, a NATE-certified contractor serving Broken Arrow homeowners since 1985.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).Credit/Copyright Attribution: “DeiMosz/Shutterstock”

Make Sure Your Technician's NATE Certified -- Because You Want The Job Done Right

Successful and safe installation of HVAC equipment requires a technician with a high level of professional experience and practical knowledge. A reliable indicator of HVAC technician competence and adherence to high standards is certification and recognition by professional industry organizations. If your technician's NATE certified, you know you're dealing with the best.In the HVAC industry, NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is a leading education, testing and certification source for technicians who install, repair and service air conditioners, furnaces and other forms of HVAC equipment. If you make sure your technician's NATE certified, you can be assured of excellent service from a knowledgeable technical professional who will do the job right the first time.Founded in 1997, NATE is a well-known nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the standards of HVAC technician performance through rigorous testing and certification. NATE is recognized by trade unions and industry organizations, including some of the more prominent such as the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).NATE has certified more than 26,000 technicians in diverse areas of the HVAC industry. To earn certification, individuals must prove a high level of general knowledge about HVAC equipment and focused technical knowledge in a specialty. Technicians must pass a test covering general HVAC information and at least one area-specific exam in either installation or service. NATE-certified technicians commonly hold certifications in areas such as:

• Air conditioning

• Gas or oil heating

• Air distribution and ventilation

• Commercial refrigeration

• Air-source heat pumps

• Ground-source heat pumps

• HVAC system efficiency

NATE statistics show if your technician's NATE certified, the rate of callbacks to revise or rework projects is nearly 13 percent lower than for non-NATE technicians. Nearly 70 percent of customers surveyed said they were extremely satisfied with the performance of their NATE-certified technician. Almost a third of survey respondents indicated high satisfaction with systems installed by NATE-credentialed professionals.At Air Assurance, all of our HVAC technicians are NATE certified, so you can count on us for professional, reliable HVAC sales, installation and service in your Tulsa-area home. Contact us today for more information on NATE certification or to schedule maintenance or new installation from one of our dedicated NATE-qualified professionals.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Why NATE-Certified Technicians Are Different From The Rest

nate certified technicians broken arrow oklahoma tulsa

There are many reasons to choose a NATE-certified technician when looking for assistance with heating, cooling or energy efficiency. NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence, and the NATE certification process ensures that the program's technicians have the skills to do a great job. When you hire someone who is not NATE-certified, you really have no idea about the training or skills of your technician.CertificationNATE-certified technicians not only undergo rigorous training, they must also pass specialized tests to ensure that they have full mastery of their trades. They must also choose a specialty to study more intensively. To ensure that NATE-certified technicians stay up to date with the latest industry technologies, they must retest every five years to stay certified.NATE technicians can specialize in the following areas:

• Air conditioning

• Air distribution

• HVAC efficiency analysis

• Heat pumps

• Gas or oil furnaces

• Hydronics, gas or oil

• Commercial refrigeration

• Light commercial refrigeration

• Ground-source heat pump loop installation

BenefitsWhen you insist on NATE certification, you can be sure of your technician's knowledge and skills. Surveys of homeowners who hire NATE-certified technicians show that most homeowners would hire a NATE technician again, because the job gets done right the first time. In fact, hiring a NATE-certified technician will often save you money in energy costs in the long run.You can also trust the NATE organization itself, because its sole purpose is to certify excellent technicians. The organization is a non-profit, third-party organization, so it is not affiliated with any one HVAC company.To hire a NATE-certified technician in the Broken Arrow area, contact the friendly experts at Air Assurance.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our websiteto see our current promotionsand get started today!     

Insist On NATE Certification -- Because The Job Needs To Be Done Right

When you hire an HVAC technician to work on your home equipment, you want the job done right -- the first time. Choosing a technician with NATE certification will help you to achieve that goal. Here’s why:

About NATE

There are three qualities you need to know about NATE, or North American Technician Excellence. It’s an organization that’s:

• Non-profit

• Third-party

• Independent

Why do these factors matter? Well, it’s the combination of these three attributes that makes NATE the go-to, coveted certification nationwide.

The NATE value

NATE is not motivated by a bottom line; it’s comprised of a panel of experts from across the HVAC industry, including manufacturers, contractors and utility companies; and its sole purpose is to test and certify only those individuals that prove themselves. Other certification programs are often motivated by profit: It’s to their advantage to certify when training individuals on their own equipment. But that’s not what NATE does.

The NATE testing process

In order to qualify for NATE certification, a technician must pass a series of tests. The testing process is rigorous, covering all aspects of the HVAC industry, real-life scenarios, and technological advancements. To maintain certification, technicians must retest every five years.

How NATE helps homeowners

So what does all this mean for you, the homeowner? When you hire a NATE-certified technician, you’ll reap several benefits. In fact, a survey of homeowners who have used a NATE technician reveals these benefits, as they were far more satisfied with their overall experience than homeowners who didn’t use a NATE technician. These homeowners:

• Would choose the same contractor again

• Experienced a higher general customer satisfaction

• Were highly satisfied with the system the technician worked on, in terms of efficiency, comfort, and noise levels

• Required fewer callbacks, because the job was done right the first time

The next time you need high-quality workmanship and want an experience that leaves you with a high sense of customer satisfaction, contact the experts at Air Assurance Heating, Cooling & Air Quality, and ask about our NATE certification. We've proudly served homeowners in the Greater Broken Arrow area for more than 30 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!     

Why NATE Certification Matters When You're Hiring An HVAC Contractor

Your HVAC system is what allows you and your family to feel comfortable in your home each and every day.  When searching for an HVAC contractor to do any kind of work on it -- be it repair work or a major upgrade -- you want to make sure you are working with someone right for the job.  Look for contractors who have NATE certification to find contractors who will be able to help you with your heating and cooling needs.  NATE, North American Technician Excellence, is the only certification program recognized by the entire HVAC industry.  It encompasses many different subsets of knowledge, each with its own test that must be passed.  In order to earn their NATE certification, contractors have to demonstrate that they can apply a vast amount of expertise to real-world situations.NATE certification matters because it means that your contractor will follow a strict set of rules and guidelines.  This is important for any level of work.  Preventive maintenance will leave your system prepared for the upcoming seasons while installations will be sure to be as efficient as possible.  This will help you save in both the short- and long-termCertified contractors will make sure that such problems don't occur so that you don't have to deal with warranty returns, callbacks or other such hassles.To get in touch with contractors that have NATE certification, contact Air Assurance Heating & Air Conditioning.  We can help you with any of your heating and cooling needs, big or small.  We have proudly served Broken Arrow residents for over 30 years.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!      

Air Assurance's HVAC Contractor Expertise Defined

An HVAC contractor should always be on the cutting edge when it comes to the latest in industry technology and techniques. With quality service being the top priority, it’s important that an HVAC contractor continually train technicians to ensure long-term customer satisfaction on each and every job. That’s why we at Air Assurance are committed to ensuring that our technicians have the necessary knowledge and expertise to properly serve the residents of the Tulsa Metropolitan area.It all begins with inhouse training. Here, our technicians not only have access to comprehensive technical training materials, but they have the direction and supervision of dedicated inhouse training and safety directors. Coordinated training onsite allows us to monitor the progress of our technicians and ensure that they are taking the appropriate measures to improve their knowledge base and perfect hands-on techniques and safety procedures.To ensure that our technicians perform up to industry standards and stay abreast of the latest in HVAC technological advances, we’ve also proudly affiliated ourselves with the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). With members in all 50 states and access to industry experts worldwide, the ACCA provides consultation, training and education in several aspects of the HVAC business. It can also help consumers in their search for the most qualified area contractors.One of the ACCA recommendations for choosing a qualified HVAC contractor is NATE certification. NATE, or North American Technician Excellence, is a third-party non-profit recognized industry-wide for its rigorous examination and certification of qualified HVAC technicians. If your HVAC contractor is using NATE-certified technicians, you can rest assured that they have proven their knowledge and expertise of the most modern heating and cooling systems.Through our inhouse training programs, ACCA affiliation and NATE certification, Air Assurance defines HVAC expertise for the Tulsa Metro area. If you have questions regarding your heating and cooling systems, our highly-trained, NATE-certified technicians are always standing by to serve your needs. For an expert consultation, contact Air Assurance today!Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.