Selecting and Hiring HVAC Contractors

(advertisement)

Nearly all homes - whether apartments, single family homes, condos, or nontraditional dwellings - have some type of heating system, and more than 75 percent of homes in the USA also have air conditioning. Along with these features homes typically have, in addition, a ventilation system that supplies the building with a steady supply of fresh air as it also contributes to the circulation of warm and cool air throughout the various rooms in the house.

In many cases all three components - heating, air conditioning, and ventilation - are interconnected into one another and incorporated as a complete climate control system. HVAC - heating, ventilation, and air conditioning - is the professional field that covers the installation, maintenance, and repair of these interrelated systems. HVAC contractors are those professionals who specialize in this area of the construction industry. In order to qualify for certification and licensing - and to have the practical skills and technical know-how necessary to do their jobs - HVAC pros need to have well-rounded education and training.

They need to have, for instance, a basic understanding of construction and electricity and they may also need to know a bit about plumbing. If a heating system runs on gas, for example, they need to know about gas lines. When it requires drainage, they have to hook up some plumbing pipes to properly divert the water or condensation. And if they are hiding ductwork to create a ventilation system that snakes through the walls and ceilings of a home without being ugly and conspicuous, they will probably have to be adept at carpentry and fundamental structural design.