Choosing a Contractor Oakland CA

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(NC)-While homeowners willingly choose to undertake many kinds of home renovations, installation and/or repair of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment is usually considered an exceptional measure. The purchase of a furnace, air conditioner or ventilation system is a major investment and because of its importance in your daily life, it deserves careful consideration.

When making such as investment, probably the most important decision to be made is about the company that will install and service the equipment. To maximize your comfort, safety and peace of mind, be sure to deal only with qualified, professional contractors.

Most provinces require the hiring of a licensed or qualified HVACR tradesman to perform the work because of the safety concerns and consequences involved. However, homeowners frequently do not distinguish among contractors on anything other than price. You should be aware, however, that the lowest price is not always the best value.

There are some obvious red flags to look for when shopping for a contractor:

• Reputable contractors will not quote prices over the phone without seeing the job.

• Reputable contractors will not request large cash advances prior to the delivery of any equipment or materials.

• Reputable contractor will readily provide a full business address as well as a telephone number where the company can be reached. Reputable contractors will be happy to give you the names and addresses of customers they've done work for in your area. You may wish to contact the Better Business Bureau, which maintains records of consumer complaints about its members. You should also ask whether the contractor is a member of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors of Canada (HRAC-Canada).

HRAC, a division of HRAI, requires its members to carry relevant trade, fuel safety and municipal licenses as well as workers' compensation and liability insurance. They also list their members in good standing on a consumer website: www.hrai.ca.

Credit: www.newscanada.com