Heating contractors sell, install and repair heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems, including ductwork, boilers, furnaces, thermostats, and so on. A well-rounded contractor is also going to offer services like air balancing, energy balancing, and sealing ducts. The contractor will need to also be well-versed so that should you need to have a heating or cooling system installed, he or she can help you choose the right one. How do you get all of this in one individual, though?

Of course, a trip through the Yellow Pages is one option, and that may indeed serve you well. But it's more likely that you're going to want to do your research carefully, and choose a contractor that has a good reputation, is properly licensed, bonded and insured, and gets good reviews from current customers.

Where to look?

As stated previously, of course, you can always look in the Yellow Pages. Another good place to get a referral for a heating contractor is from a neighbor, friend, or family member who has used a contractor and been pleased with results. You can also do some research online through one of the many "consumer watchdog" sites available; these sites rate contractors within a local area, and may indeed have someone listed who gets good ratings and is local to you.

What should you look for in a good heating contractor?

Here are some things you should look for in a professional heating contractor:

Certification and licensing

Most HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) contractors carry some sort of professional certification. The most common is the North American Technician Excellence certification. To get this certification, contractors must pass an exam that tests their knowledge on function, repair, maintenance and design for cooling and heating systems. They also must know the state mechanical codes that will protect clients' homes and equipment during installation and use.

Most contractors will display certification and licensing clearly in ads. If you don't see a certification listed, ask. If they can't provide certification proof, find someone else.

References, customer complaints, disciplinary action

It's always a good idea to check someone's references, and to see whether or not this person has any customer complaints or any disciplinary action taken against him or her. Again, there's plenty of competition in this area, so if you find any red flags with one contractor, it's probably best to find another contractor

Bonding and insurance

Any good contractor is going to be bonded and insured, so as to protect you against any liability for injury that happens on your property and any damage done to your property.

Length of time in business

Of course, even good contractors have to start sometime, but it's a better bet that you'll get a good contractor if he or she has had a business for a long time. Having a business for a long time probably means the contractor is good at what he or she does, and has kept customers happy for a long time.

Bids

Get bids from several different contractors, and get what's going to be done, including start and end dates, in writing. Look for contractors who give you very detailed bids including cost and specific equipment and supplies they'll be using, labor costs, what their policies are for change orders, and so on. Again, this tells you the contractor is experienced and knows very well what a particular job is going to cost.

Price

You'll note that this is the last section on the list, because it's actually the least important. Although a low price is good, a very experienced contractor may charge you more simply because he or she knows what the job is going to cost and can give you an accurate rate for a job well done. Don't settle for a lower-priced bidder simply because of that; the lower-priced contractor may be less experienced or may not have put all of the charges on the bid. In short, go with the most experienced and reputable contractor at the most reasonable price -- not necessarily the lowest price.

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