Installing a new furnace is a big decision, especially since installation is the single most important variable in determining the new furnace’s performance.
When choosing a new furnace, it’s easy to simply look at the equipment and compare manufacturer specifications, and it is true that regular maintenance is very important to your furnace’s health. The problem is if the installer you choose doesn’t perform a proper installation, you may never achieve the unit’s quoted performance in the first place.
Bad installation can quickly turn a top of the line high efficiency furnace in to a very expensive under performer. This is why install day is the single most important day of your new furnace’s life, and why you should be very particular about who you choose as your installer.
So the big question is: how do you know if you’ve chosen the best installation company?
There is no single criteria that you can look at. Making sure the company and its’ workers are licensed professionals is obviously an important step in eliminating potential installers, but it does not guarantee quality workmanship or thoroughness.
Instead we have to look at a combination of things, seen mostly in the way the company acts, to determine if they are the best installer for you.
1. Do they give quotes over the phone?
Many home owners like the convenience of receiving a quick quote over the phone, but every furnace installation company knows it’s impossible to really know how much a job will cost without actually visiting the property, it’s a ball park guess at best. Companies will try to tell you a number you want to hear, but when it comes to install day, they may increase the price as they work and find complications, or worse, cut corners to deliver the price promised over the phone.
This is why it is important not to simply choose the lowest bidder.
A quality installer will visit your property to make a thorough assessment of your home’s needs before giving you a price. They will determine exactly what your house needs to get the results you want and will present you with options to achieve your goals. They will also teach you about your home’s new heating system so and make sure you have a thorough understanding of how your system will operate.
2. Do they guarantee their work?
Most furnaces come with warranties to cover faulty parts and repairs, but this doesn’t mean you’re covered for problems with the install. You can run into problems with your furnace without any thing being wrong with the equipment itself which means it will be up to the installer, not the manufacturer, to make it right.
This means you could be left footing the bill for costly repairs if your installer decides it’s not their problem.
A good installation company will guarantee their work above and beyond the manufacturer warranties, there’s no reason for them not to, unless they’ve had too many bad installs in the past. A guarantee is a great way to see a company’s confidence in their workmanship and to show their customers that they will continue working after the install day to make sure they get exactly what they were promised.
3. What have their past customers said about them?
Do they have testimonials from past satisfied customers? Are they registered with the Better Business Bureau? Are they visible on sites like Homestars that allow customers to review their work?
It’s a good sign if a company’s customers are willing to go out of their way to say good things about them. It shows they deliver on their promises. Being on sites that allow the possibility of bad reviews also shows that they are confident in their abilities to keep their customers happy.
4. Are they available when you need them?
If you notice something is wrong, are you confident you will be able to reach them when you need them?
Companies with 24/7 Emergency Service will give you the peace of mind that you need when installing a furnace because you know you will be able to address any problems even if they happen outside of regular office hours.
No one likes talking to automated answering services either so it is even better if they have humans answering the phones 24/7.
5. Do you feel comfortable with them?
There’s a lot to be said about gut feelings.
If you’ve had them over to your house for an assessment just ask yourself “Do I trust them?”
People are generally pretty good at spotting when someone else is being insincere. If you don’t feel confident that they will deliver what they promise, they won’t be the right fit for you.
While these aren’t the only things to look for when choosing a furnace installer, finding these key characteristics can go a long way to insuring that your furnace installation is a smooth one.
Remember, install day is the single most important day of your furnaces life.
Take a little time and make sure the installer you choose is the best you can find.
Furnace King is a heating and cooling company with over 40 years experience, always putting customers first.
Call us today for a no cost, no obligation free Home Comfort Survey at (905)564-5464
or Click Here to have a member of our friendly team contact you.