Fall 2011
Steer Clear of Unlicensed Contractors
The idea of using an unlicensed contractor to work on your HVAC system can be seductive. They usually charge less and promise the same results as their licensed colleagues, so it seems like a good move. There is a great deal of risk involved in going with an unlicensed contractor, however. You may wind up spending more money to correct his mistakes, and in the meantime, your family’s health and comfort are compromised by a shoddy ventilation system. The results may even be dangerous to your home and safety.
Let’s take a closer look and some of the reasons to avoid the lure of unlicensed contractors.
Do it Right or Do it Over
While many unlicensed contractors are perfectly competent, the fact remains that they are unlicensed for a reason. Most often, that reason is because their skills are not up to snuff, which can spell trouble for your HVAC system.
If you hire an unlicensed contractor to do repairs or maintenance, there is a good chance he will make a mistake or do a poor job, requiring you to hire someone else to do the job over again. Although you may save money hiring an unlicensed contractor, those savings vanish quickly when you have to pay for the job a second time.
It makes more sense to hire a licensed professional the first time and save yourself the headache.
Protect Your Warranty
Like other home appliances and machinery, more HVAC systems and components come backed by a manufacturer’s warranty. This protects you in case something goes wrong with your system. It can be a great help if something does break down, and it also provides peace of mind.
Often, your warranty can be voided if anyone other than a licensed contractor does any work on the system. The reason for this is that manufacturers do not want to pay for possible mistakes made by subpar repair work, and neither should you.
Hiring a licensed contractor keeps your warranty protection in place.
The Reliability of a Professional
When you hire an unlicensed contractor, you have no idea whether you will find him again next time you need help. It may be a fly by night operation that will be out of town tomorrow, leaving you to deal with the mess if the repair work doesn’t hold up.
Hiring a licensed and established professional, on the other hand, means you always have someone to turn to for your HVAC maintenance and repair needs.
Quite simply, hiring an unlicensed contractor is a risky endeavor that often costs you much more than you could potentially save. Rather than gambling with your HVAC system, trust it to a licensed professional instead.
The Benefits of Tuning Up Your Heating System
The sun is setting earlier, the temperatures have started to fall and depending on where you live, you may have even seen flakes of snow start to fly. That means that winter is very nearly upon us, and heating season is about to begin – if it hasn’t already.
That also means that if you have not gotten an annual tune up of your heating system, time is running short to get it done. In case you need some reminders about why that is so important, read on to learn more.
The Tune Up
When a professional comes to your home to do annual maintenance on your HVAC system, you may wonder just what he is up to. Usually, it is just routine tasks. He will do a general inspection, tighten connections, check lines to make sure they are moving freely, lubricate any moving parts and clean the parts that get dirty easily, like filters, fans and vents.
Also, if there are any parts that need to be replaced during this time, he will take care of that as well.
The Benefits
That all seems simple enough, so why is it so important? There are several reasons, such as:
- Replacing worn parts early prevents major breakdowns later, such as in the middle of winter. Being without heat in the chilly midst of January while you wait for a repairman to make it through the snow is no fun.
- Tightening, lubricating and cleaning the various components of your heating system helps keep the whole system running smoothly and efficiently. This means your home is as warm as it can be, and your family is comfortable and happy.
- Routine maintenance extends the life of your heating system, so you can avoid dropping big money on a replacement as long as possible.
- You save money, not only on the replacement costs we just mentioned, but also on monthly bills and future repair costs.
When you look at all those benefits together, it only seems natural to have your heating system inspected and tuned up. The sooner, the better, so give a call to local professional today.
That way, you can be warm all winter long and rest easy knowing that your heating system is in great shape.
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