An HVAC contractor is an expert who installs, repairs, and maintains heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. Like HVAC technicians, their primary role is to keep your home as cozy and comfortable as possible. However, unlike a simple technician, who has been trained to work on all three systems, an HVAC contractor normally specializes in only one.
This might seem impractical, but given the number of competing systems on the market, it’s actually the most effective way to ensure your HVAC systems are repaired and serviced quickly. In fact, some contractors are not only experts in a single system but in a specific type of system. Some work only on commercial HVAC units while others focus entirely on residential ones.
What Does an HVAC Contractor Do?
Because your HVAC system consumes more energy than anything else in your home, finding a contractor who’s licensed and certified is one of the best ways to keep your utility costs under control. Contact them whenever you need help with:
- Repair. When your heating and cooling systems break down, your HVAC contractor will inspect the unit and determine the source of the problem. Normally, it can be narrowed to a specific part within your furnace, boiler, or air conditioner. Instead of mending the broken part, most contractors prefer to replace it rather than risk another failure.
- Maintenance. Most repairs can be prevented with regular upkeep. During a maintenance visit, contractors inspect your pipes, tubes, and connections for leaks. They test thermostats, check fans, change filters, refill refrigerants, test electrical circuits, clean air ducts, and evaluate the condition of vital parts. In addition, they clear out dirt and lubricate the system’s machinery, to prevent it from wearing down and seizing up.
- Installation. If you’re purchasing an HVAC system, or if your current system has reached the end of its lifespan, a contractor can help you select and install a replacement. They will assess your home and recommend a unit powerful enough to heat or cool the space without overloading your internal wiring. If you’re replacing an old system, the contractor will dismantle it before setting up the new one and connecting it to your electrical and ventilation systems.
When Do You Need to Call an HVAC Contractor?
HVAC contractors are most often called when your heating or cooling system fails. However, there are several early warning signs homeowners should watch out for, including:
- Unusual Noises. Boilers, heaters, and air conditioners should hum quietly in the background. A strange noise, such as a clicking, rattling, hissing, or banging, is a sign the system is in serious trouble. Even if you don’t hear a strange noise, if your unit is running unusually loud it’s a good idea to call a contractor to take a look at it.
- Too Hot or Too Cold. If your HVAC system can’t maintain a comfortable temperature, even at full power, then it’s developed a fault in one of its vital components. An HVAC contractor will be able to investigate the unit and locate the source of the problem.
- Temperature Inconsistencies. When one side of the house is freezing cold but the other is boiling hot, something’s wrong with your HVAC system. It could be a problem with the fan, filters, or ventilation system. Either way, you’ll need to hire a contractor to investigate the issue and repair it.
Protecting Your HVAC System
Agway works to ensure your home runs smoothly, with minimal disruption to either your comfort or finances. That’s why every one of our customers is automatically enrolled in our EnergyGuardTM repair program as soon as they sign up.
EnergyGuardTM covers you when your HVAC system breaks down. Rather than paying for repairs yourself, we pay for them instead. The cost of all covered parts comes out of our pocket, not yours. We even contact a qualified HVAC contractor on your behalf! There are no service fees or deductibles either. You pay only a low monthly rate and receive full coverage in return. Sign up today!
