February 17, 2020
It should come as no secret that not all HVAC companies are created equal. While many companies exist to help their customers, practice their trade, and make their community better, there are unfortunately those who simply don’t have their heart in the right place, can leave their customers exposed to all kinds of risks, and create far more headaches than they actually resolve. And for the average homeowner who simply needs their heating or cooling system fixed, being able to tell the difference between the two isn’t always easy.
If you want to make sure you’re hiring a reputable contractor to fix your HVAC system, then knowing what to look for is a vital part of the selection process. While we can’t guarantee that you’ll always choose a quality contractor unless you call our team here at EnviroSafe, we can tell you about seven things you should look for when considering a potential candidate to take on the job.
The first thing you should always look for from any home service technician, be it a heating and cooling contractor, plumber, technician, or anything in between, is an appropriate license from a governing body. A license is the government’s way of indicating those who have demonstrated an acceptable level of mastery over their craft, and that means that they have a certain degree of accountability as well. Every licensed technician is registered with the state of New Jersey, and that means you’ll have someone you can turn to if things go wrong.
While a license says that a contractor has a degree of skill, bonds and insurance policies ensure that you’re not at risk when they come to service your home. Did you know that if a technician is injured while servicing your home that you could be at risk of being sued for their injuries? Through premises liability laws, you could be on the hook if a technician is hurt while providing a service, even if it’s not necessarily your fault or anything you had control over. This is where insurance policies come in—an insured contractor will be able to protect you from this risk and be able to cover their crew members should anything happen.
Bonds protect your home by providing contractors with financial backing in the event something goes wrong during the service and seriously damages your home. For example, if a technician fixing a slab leak accidentally punctures a water line and starts to flood your basement, a bond will help pay for the additional repairs needed due to the mistake and ensure your home remains financially covered.
There’s one major truth in this world: money talks. And when it comes to the price of a service, money can certainly say a lot. Nobody wants to pay the most for a job; why pay twice as much for something when you don’t have to? Well, the truth is that it also says a lot when it comes to contractors. Beware any contractors that charge significantly less than the rest. A price that’s too low usually means corners will be cut somewhere, and you’re probably going to end up paying even more to fix that repair in addition to the original problem as a result.
Beware any contractor that does not have a physical office address that they are based out of. A contractor that has a physical office located somewhere is going to have their roots in the community and be tied to the area they serve. A contractor that simply works out of their truck does not really have any ties to their area and could just as easily vanish and never be seen again should they decide to do so. That’s not good news for you if you’re relying on a contractor to complete a serious job quickly and honestly. Unfortunately, the horror stories exist, but you don’t have to fall victim to one by simply looking for a contractor who is rooted in their community.
Believe it or not, the quality of a company’s appearance says a lot about them. Professional uniforms and distinctly-marked service vans are actually a pretty strong sign that you can trust a technician. A quality vinyl wrap or other type of vehicle graphics are a serious investment, and will not be undertaken by someone who isn’t genuinely trying to build up a successful business. If you see a truck driving around on the road advertising for heating and cooling services but the look is anything but professional, we strongly suggest you stay away.
If you’re looking for a truly honest and straightforward opinion about the service that a particular company can provide, ask for references from previous customers. Any reputable company will happily provide them, and good companies will even ask if they can use you as a reference in the future if you’re completely happy with the service you received. Previous customers are the best way to gauge the quality of an HVAC contractor, and there’s no better way to talk to some of them than to simply ask your contractor for the information of a few people you can directly reach out to.
Finally, customers may be one way to build reputation, but recognition can also come directly from the industry itself. Check for your contractor on places like Yelp, Angie’s List, or with the Better Business Bureau. These third-party companies are completely unbiased and allow customers to provide honest feedback about their experiences. If a company has a really poor rating in these places, then avoid them. If their ratings are good and they have loads of different reviews from all different types of customers, then you can trust them far easier.
If you need your heating and cooling system serviced, our team at EnviroSafe Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, Water Treatment can help! Dial (856) 208-5108 now to request an appointment.
I highly recommend !! Andrew was very professional, respectful, and knowledgeable. He explained what needed to be done and even took pictures to show me and then provided me with the cost. He took his time and made sure everything was done properly. Andrew is a fantastic… Read more
I used envirosafe two years ago when I bought my house, they have been excellent from the moment I called them. Gage and Micheal were the technicians that came to my house to service my water softener system and these guys were awesome. They answered every question and… Read more
Andrew was absolutely professional and worked diligently to find a balance with the boiler system. It is very difficult system because one boiler heats four apartments. Andrew and his helper put new air pressure gauges on the radiators and made sure that all the radiators were… Read more
Andrew and Shawn were friendly, knowledgeable, informative and very genuine. Air was in the lines they needed bleeding and maintenance so that my heat could be properly working for the winter season. It was a pleasure having these gentlemen service my boiler so that me and my… Read more
I had a great experience with them today! Yesterday I realized our water heater wasn’t working. The trouble shooting was beyond my experience. I called them and the dispatch was helpful and had two technicians arrive within a couple of hours. The technician(s) were very… Read more
EnviorSafe came out to my home to repair a busted water pipe due to the cold weather within 3 hours of me calling them. Andrew, the technician who came to my home was very professional, knowledgeable and friendly and did a great job at a very reasonable cost. I highly… Read more
We have a well and our resin tank is over 16 years old. We thought the resin tank was failing. Fred and Sean showed up on time and were great. after inspecting the resin tank in only need maintenance, they did an amazing job. They were honest, very personable and the price was… Read more
I was referred to this company by my sister who had service done at her home for the first time. I called to get a repair/replacement (plumbing:overflow panel) tub wouldn’t drain out.One thing I love about the company, they were initially more concerned to fix the less cost… Read more
Jake and Marquan are excellent, and if you get either of them to provide service to your home, they’re both very professional, as well as great to converse with. The work done was handled properly, and I now have an all electric water heater with a tank, that is going to save… Read more
Avery was the technician that came out to service my softener system. super polite, very informative, and very quick. super friendly and made my first experience well worth it. will definitely be repeating business!
This is my second time using this company. I found them by luck (googling for someone that works with water softeners). Both times Gage our technician came to the house and repaired our water softener, replaced the pipe going from our well to the bladder and also fixed a leaky… Read more
I had Mike and Avery install a water softener and an RO system on my water system. From the very first visit I’ve been impressed with their knowledge, experience, professionalism and disposition. It’s been a long time since I’ve been impressed with any home service people. But… Read more
We used Envirosafe for several different projects from HVAC and a new boiler/hot water heater to replacing almost all of our plumbing lines. We did a few projects at a time over several months and the whole time Envirosafe was great to deal with. They made the process so easy,… Read more
Jake was very thorough, communicated and explained everything throughout the service process and was very professional. Even offered to clean around ac unit outside of service, all of this in the rain! Would definitely recommend Envirosafe to a friend.. ask for Jake! He’s great!
Avery stopped out to conduct our yearly maintenance on our water treatment system. He is a phenomenal employee. Not only was he training a newer employee, but he took the time to show me some things about our system that I did not know. His customer service and both guys over… Read more
We have always had a good experience with EnviroSafe. Bryan provided excellent service with our air conditioning repair. He was extremely knowledgeable and responsive to our needs.
Our relationship with EnviroSafe began in July, from installing a brand new unit, to a challenge with our dishwasher and more recently a hot water tank issue. Each and every representative we have dealt with has been professional, knowledgeable, timely and accommodating… Read more
I have used Envirosafe on several different occasions. Most recently I used them to tune up my boiler prior to the winter season. He discovered some leaks in a few other pipes related to my heating system and was able to fix it the same day. Would recommend for anyone who is… Read more
Envirosafe meets all our water and plumbing needs. They respond promptly and arrive prepared. Fred Perry is one their friendly hard working knowledgeable technicians who gets the job done with a smile and thoroughly explains the service. Envirosafe is our go to company for… Read more
From the original phone call where we were provided same day service, to Jeff and CJ arriving when they said they would. The whole experience was excellent. Jeff and CJ diagnosed and repaired the problem quickly and efficiently. We would use Enviro Safe again.
First, Emma was the greatest assistance in guiding me regarding service, scheduling and follow-up regarding addressing my problem with my heater. Next, Nate came the same day and diagnosed and repaired the problem quickly and efficient. Lastly, both individuals were so… Read more
Fred and Calvin showed up on time, were great communicators regarding our plumbing issue, possible options, the state of our repair during the job, and how much it would cost. They were friendly, conversive, and efficient in completing the job. Can’t recommend them highly enough.
Pleasant experience. Everything went as planned. All employees were courteous and professional especially Chris, Jake, Devin and the first technician whose name I can’t recall. Job well done
My technician was Jeff H. from Envirosafe. He was terrific. He fixed my problem and also spent time checking everything out. He was knowledgeable, kind and helpful. He asked if I had questions or needed anything else addressed. I only wish every service tech was this helpful… Read more