4 Questions to Ask Your Heating Contractor before You Hire Them

Finding a reliable heating system contractor who can help your system run well for longer is critical to keeping your home comfortable and your bills low this winter.

Like any investment, It pays to shop around. Here are 4 questions you should ask a heating system contractor before you hire them:

1. How long have they been in the heating and cooling system business? The industry is full operators who are here today, gone tomorrow – protect yourself by learning how long your contract has been in business (the longer the better!).
2. Are they licensed and insured? – Most states – including Pennsylvania – require heating technicians to be licensed. Ask your candidate for his license number and look it up via the state’s licensing board. If he can’t produce a license number, he’s probably not someone you want working in your home.

   Also make sure your heating contractor carries at least $5 million of liability insurance in case something goes wrong while they’re working in your home. Ask for proof of insurance for both liability and worker’s compensation so you’re protected.

3. Can they provide customer references? Word of mouth matters. If your contractor can’t or won’t provide references, it’s not a good sign.
4. How will they warrantee their work, and how will they keep my equipment warrantees in force? – A good contractor will stand by his work. Ask about his warrantee for all the work he performs – and make sure to get it in writing!

   Another important point: if your current heating or cooling system is under warranty, make sure your heating technician candidate knows it, and that he tells you what’s needed to prevent voiding it.

If you’re looking for qualified technicians for your heating system this heating season, contact Oehlert Brothers today! All of our technicians are licensed and insured, and most have more than 10 years of experience with every type of system.