Choosing the right HVAC service provider can mean the difference between forming a long lasting professional relationship and a poor experience leaving you feeling ripped off. Not all service providers are the same regardless of the industry, and HVAC is no different.

If you need your heater or air conditioner serviced, it’s important to spend a few minutes doing your due diligence instead of just calling the first provider your stumble across. The extra effort up front is worth it and can save you time, money, and a lot of headaches later down the road.

Here are three tips for finding the right local service provider for your needs.

Leverage the Internet

The days of pulling out a giant phone book and digging through the Yellow Pages are long gone. Now, you have access to an incredible amount of information on the Internet.

Spending a few minutes sorting through online reviews of the nearby HVAC service providers can help you determine which businesses are worth looking into and which are going to be a waste of time.

There are plenty of review sites like Yelp and Angie’s List, and even Google will show reviews of individual businesses. One tip though is to not just look at all of the positive or all of the negative reviews. Look at them all and look for patterns.

If a business has a shining reputation, don’t let one poor review turn you away. Likewise, if a business has a ton of 5 star reviews but also has a good amount of 1 star reviews where former customers complain about the same problems, you might want to heed their warnings.

Ask Around

While the Internet is a tremendous treasure trove of information, sometimes it’s difficult to determine the legitimacy of it all. It’s a great place to start your search, but once you narrow it down, it doesn’t hurt to get some advice from those you trust.

Ask your friends, family, and colleagues if they have any experience with the service providers on your short list. They may be able to reinforce the positive or negative reviews you discovered while researching online.

Sometimes they might even have an inside connection such as a friend or family member who works for one of the businesses. They may be able to get you’re a free consultation or a discount on service. So, you get great intel along with a potential discount making asking around a win-win scenario.

Go with Your Gut

Lastly, when you think you found the right HVAC service provider, it’s time to get them on the phone. You can actually go about this two different ways.

The most direct approach is to just pick up your phone and give them a call. If they answer politely, respond to your questions patiently and in detail, and seem like they genuinely care about helping fix your problem, you may have found the right provider. If on the other hand they talk over you, seem like they aren’t listening, and rush you off the line, you should move on.

The other approach is to fill out a contact form on their business website. Most business will request your email and your phone number. The trick here is to see how quickly they return your call. If it’s within a few hours and that call goes well, great! If you need to wait a couple of days to hear back, don’t bother.

In Summary

When you need help with your home’s heating or cooling system, you don’t just want any HVAC provider. You want to find the right one.

Spending some time researching companies online, asking your trusted peer network, and testing a provider’s concern are all ways to help ensure you get the service you deserve.

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