Finding a good HVAC contractor for furnace repairs, installation of a new air conditioner, or any other heating and air conditioning need can be a challenge. Unless you can get a referral from a family member, co-worker or friend, it’s hard to tell a good HVAC contractor from a bad one. Randomly choosing one from the phone book or the internet is a hit-or-miss proposition.
Many people depend on reviews of HVAC contractors that they find on the internet to help them choose a good contractor. These reviews can be helpful, but be cautious when using them and read the reviews with a critical eye. Think about whether this person may have some agenda in mind other than posting an unbiased review.
Remember, anyone can post reviews in most online sites. That means that those really enthusiastic reviews could have been posted by happy customers, or they could have been posted by the contractor themselves, their friends, family, neighbors, and so on. In addition, if there are a series of positive reviews posted at about the same time, you should be suspicious. It is easy to hire people to post positive reviews. Several long, positive reviews written within a few days of each other could indicate that these reviews were “bought and paid for.’
At the same time, be careful about negative reviews. Again, these could have been written by someone out to harm the HVAC contractor’s reputation. It could be a dishonest competitor, an angry employee, or due to a failed personal relationship.
When reading reviews posted on the internet, look for reviews that sound like they were written by a real customer. From these reviews, you can generally get a consensus about whether the HVAC contractor treats their customers right. When you find a contractor with positive reviews, be sure to confirm that they have been in business for at least a few years, have a permanent business address and telephone number, and that they are licensed and insured. Reading internet reviews with a critical eye can help you find a reliable HVAC contractor.
