When it comes to our home heating and cooling equipment, complicated systems can be expensive and the level of skill it requires to repair, service and install them can seem somewhat high at times.
Because of the level of skill involved in HVAC work, it’s not unusual for a homeowner to attempt to curb the associated costs by hiring an unlicensed contractor or repair person that might charge a lot less.
Keep in mind, however, the type of work a lot of these people perform comes with its own costs, as there’s a hidden price tag on all substandard craftsmanship.
Combine these hidden costs and risks with the liability risks, safety hazards and voided warranties, and it becomes crystal clear why the experts say you shouldn’t do business with an HVAC contractor that isn’t state certified.
To better illustrate the Dangers of Hiring an Unlicensed HVAC Contractor, our licensed experts here at Upper Arlington Heating & Cooling put together the following list:
Inferior Craftsmanship
Our technicians at Upper Arlington Heating & Cooling undergo extensive testing, training and hands-on skill assessments that go above and beyond the standard NATE-certification we require to work on our customer’s systems. We keep these requirements in place to show our customers that our team members are using the “Best Practices” possible.
Conversely, homeowners who hire an unlicensed contractor have to go off the person’s word, which runs thin in this business. What homeowners often find is that those who lack licensure have lower price rates because they aren’t as experienced or their level of work isn’t the best. Often, this costs a lot of homeowners more down the road with other problems or outright system failure. Keep this in mind: Hiring a reputable company that’s NATE-certified is the best way to avoid these types of risks.
Voided Warranties
On top of the risks associated with lack of experience and skill, hiring an unlicensed contractor has another risk that some homeowners don’t find out until something goes wrong. Because almost all the manufacturers of HVAC equipment require their customers to have only NATE-certified professionals perform the work, having someone who isn’t certified makes any and all equipment warranties null and void. As such, if the shoddy work results in something going wrong, this means the customer is no longer covered by the warranty they got from their manufacturer and they’ll have to pay out of pocket to fix it.
Liabilities
If an HVAC contractor hasn’t taken the time to get their license, a lot of times they don’t take the time to get insurance coverage as well. Certified contractors are more likely to carry liability insurance in addition to worker’s compensation coverage. At Upper Arlington Heating & Cooling, we insure all our technicians with maximum coverage.
With that said, if an unlicensed technician works on your heating or cooling system and doesn’t have insurance, you are liable for everything that happens. If they have an accident, become injured during the job or if work results in damage to the home, it’s going to cost you one way or another.
Safety Hazards
Last but not least, substandard workmanship won’t merely affect your family’s budget and comfort. It can also put you and your loved one’s in the way of harm. If electrical work is done in the process and the wiring isn’t done right, it can cause an electrical fire. If you have a gas furnace and substandard work is performed, a gas leak could cause a fire, or carbon monoxide poisoning which could be fatal.
Don’t risk it! Pay to have it done right!
If you need help with any type of HVAC work and you’re looking for a company that’s licensed, insured and affordable, call the licensed and NATE-certified HVAC service technicians at Upper Arlington Heating & Cooling today at (614) 490-7507, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
