Serving Tampa & Surrounding Areas 
Although there’s a lot that you can do to maintain your Tampa, FL home, much of the maintenance that your HVAC system requires should be handled by a licensed professional. In fact, from the time that your heating and cooling equipment is installed until the time that it’s replaced, you should have a reputable HVAC contractor on your team. Read on to find out why hiring a licensed HVAC company is always important.
HVAC Companies Are Trained to Service the Furnace and AC Models You Own
All heater and air conditioner models have their own unique features, functions, and maintenance needs. Hiring a general handyman to service your air conditioner or furnace or attempting to do the work yourself could cause more problems than it solves. When you hire licensed HVAC contractors, you can rest assured that they’ll understand the needs and nuances of the units you own. They’ll choose replacement parts with the right specifications, and they’ll install them correctly.
Licensed HVAC companies also use the latest and most effective diagnostic tools. This allows them to accurately identify problems right away so that the correct repair techniques can be applied. The result is shorter wait times for homeowners, lower repair costs, and longer equipment lifespans. Best of all, when you have seasoned technicians on the job, they’ll be able to spot and resolve small, hidden, or still-developing issues before they’ve spiraled out of control.
Hiring a Licensed HVAC Contractor Will Ensure Proper Equipment Sizing
If you’re having a new furnace or air conditioner put in, you’ll want to hire a licensed HVAC contractor from the very outset. Many homeowners make the costly mistake of sizing their heaters and ACs based solely on the square footage of their properties. HVAC companies use the Manual J Load Calculation instead. This calculation accounts for numerous factors, such as:
- Ceiling heights
- Insulation amounts
- Window sizes and locations
- Household sizes
- Building layouts
By using advanced software and the Manual J to calculate the requirements for heating and cooling power accurately, HVAC companies help consumers sidestep the frustration and extra spending that comes with heaters and air conditioners that are either too large or too small for their service areas. Oversized heaters and air conditioners cycle on and then rapidly cycle back off before they have the chance to fully regulate temperature and humidity. Units that are too small run all of the time or nearly all of the time without ever achieving their goals. With correctly sized equipment, you can expect modest, manageable heating and cooling costs, consistently efficient performance, and fewer repair issues overall. You can additionally enjoy a truly comfortable living space.
Keep Your Home Up to Code and Stay Up to Date With Regulatory Standards
Installing your own air conditioner or heater could result in a setup that isn’t up to the current building code. Building code dictates how much clearance each of these units must have. It also establishes the basis for safe installation and operation. Given that your HVAC system is hard-wired directly into your electrical system, you want to be sure that it’s capable of working without shorting out, causing electrical fires, or creating any other hazards.
Safety is an especially important consideration when using heating equipment that’s either gas-fired or oil-fired. These appliances constantly produce harmful emissions like carbon monoxide during operation. If they aren’t vented correctly, these gases can make their way into your living area and cause serious illness, injury, or death.
The standards for heating and cooling equipment are constantly changing. Certain residential AC refrigerants are being phased out and new, single-ingredient options are being introduced. In many areas, people are moving away from gas-fired and oil-fired furnaces to heat pumps and electric boilers and furnaces. Working with a licensed HVAC company will help you remain abreast of these and other important changes.
Maintain Compliance With Your Warranties and Insurance Policies
All new heating and cooling equipment comes with a manufacturer’s warranty. Most of these warranties last approximately five years, and they’ll cover the costs of replacement or repairs for any issue resulting from defective components or substandard manufacturing. These agreements give homeowners much-needed protection against problems that arise from no fault of their own. However, they’re mutually binding.
Just as AC and heater manufacturers promise to pay for damages resulting from their manufacturing practices or parts selection, they also make it mandatory for homeowners to proactively prevent claims events. When activating their warranties, homeowners agree to have annual or twice-annual maintenance performed by licensed HVAC professionals. They also state that their equipment has been professionally installed. Installing, tuning, or repairing your heater or AC on your own could result in the automatic loss of these protections.
It’s important to note that failing to hire a licensed professional to perform work on your HVAC equipment can result in the loss of other protections as well. For example, if you have a home service agreement or home warranty that covers your home’s systems, hiring a general handyman or performing your own installation, maintenance, or repair work will lead to the cancellation of all relevant protections. This same is additionally true for any HVAC protections provided by your home insurance plan.
Successfully Manage Your Heating and Cooling Costs
Most consumers are renters before they become homeowners. As a renter, you’re generally stuck with the heating and cooling equipment that your landlord gives you. Renters rarely have any say about the efficiency, indoor air quality (IAQ) benefits, or features of their heaters and air conditioners. Becoming a homeowner gives you total control over these and many other factors. You can choose heating and cooling equipment that helps you keep your energy bills down even as it creates a comfortable, healthy, and overall safe living space. Working with an HVAC contractor is the best way to reach these goals.
Licensed HVAC companies help consumers explore their options in the latest furnace, heat pump, and air conditioner designs. Some even provide whole-house energy audits and other services that are aimed at lowering carbon footprints, reducing energy costs, and improving indoor air quality. If you want to establish and maintain an HVAC system that provides everything you need at an affordable cost, the surest way to accomplish this is by hiring professionals who specialize in HVAC services.
Get Solid Guarantees, Superior Workmanship, and Preventative Maintenance Plans
Licensed HVAC companies have professional reputations to maintain. Most do so by offering consistently superior workmanship and by standing behind the work they perform. You won’t get the same performance or guarantees when you do the work yourself or when you hire a party who’s unqualified or underqualified to provide the services you need. Although there are a lot of general handymen that offer HVAC services at ultra-low prices, hiring these individuals will likely result in far more spending in the long run.
You can also work with licensed HVAC companies to limit the costs and hassle of staying up to date with essential maintenance. HVAC preventative maintenance plans are designed to address all of the factors that matter to warranty issuers and insurance companies. They’re also intended to extend the lifespans of heating and cooling equipment, limit the likelihood of repairs, and optimize the efficiency of furnaces, heat pumps, and air conditioners.
We’re proud to serve residents of Tampa, Florida and the surrounding communities. As a licensed HVAC contractor, we offer an expansive range of first-rate heating and cooling services. We also provide electrical, insulation, plumbing, and indoor air quality services. To find out about our HVAC preventative maintenance plan or to schedule an appointment, get in touch with Home Service Heroes today!
