With winter in full swing and more harsh weather on its way, you need your furnace in good working order.
Neglecting regular furnace maintenance is going to result in big problems. It might not be today or next week, but your furnace is going to start to show signs of wear and, eventually, it’ll break down when you need it most. That’s when you’ll have to get emergency furnace repair.
If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, you need to know what to look for. There are 140,000 furnace repair services in the country and hundreds in Kentucky alone.
In today’s post, we’ll give you a quick guide for finding emergency furnace repair services. Having a good HVAC professional fixing your heating system will bring you peace of mind should anything at all go wrong with your furnace.
Check HVAC Repair Reviews
When you’re in an emergency furnace repair scenario, you don’t necessarily have time to do extensive research. The quickest way to get a sense of what the best HVAC services are in Madisonville is to look at ratings and reviews.
A quick search on Google, Yelp, or another listing site of your choosing will show you all of the options. Take a few minutes to sort through them all and separate the top-rated options from the rest.
Look at the reviews that former customers have left the top companies. No one can tell you more about a furnace repair service in a few sentences than a former customer.
The main thing you’re looking for is red flags with the quality of repairs or customer service. Choose two or three of the HVAC services with the fewest red flags and give them a more in-depth look.
Make Sure They Offer 24/7 Services
Before you start reviewing each furnace service’s qualifications, make sure that they offer emergency services. The best and most reliable HVAC repair services will make a point to state that they offer 24/7 services, making you feel a bit better about calling them at all hours of the day/night.
There are plenty of companies out there that advertise their emergency services, but when you dig a bit deeper, it’s clear that their definition of “emergency” isn’t the same as yours. Once you verify their availability, you can begin to look at their certifications and expertise.
Look At Certifications
It’s important to look at a company’s certification to ensure that they’re qualified to do the work they claim they can do. To work on HVAC systems in Kentucky, you need to possess an HVAC license, which is issued by the Kentucky Department of Housing, Building & Construction.
Individual HVAC workers must possess one of three licenses:
- Apprentice license
- Journeyman HVAC Mechanic license
- Master HVAC Contractor license
For emergency repairs, you shouldn’t be dealing with apprentices. A journeyman or master HVAC contractor has the skills to tackle all emergency furnace issues.
They should also be able to provide you with proof of insurance. Every contractor who enters your home, whether it be for furnace repair or roof work, needs to have liability insurance. If something goes wrong in your home and there’s no insurance coverage, you could end up footing the bill.
Look At Experience
The next thing to look at is the amount of experience your HVAC repair service has. When you’ve got someone who has been around a long time, there’s a better chance that they’ve seen similar problems to the ones happening with your furnace.
This experience is invaluable in correctly diagnosing and promptly fixing your furnace. If you have an inexperienced contractor on your hands, offering emergency repairs doesn’t matter. They need to have the experience and expertise to fix a wide range of furnace problems.
Get Quotes
You should obtain quotes from a few of the top HVAC repair options in Madisonville before choosing one. In an emergency, you may be inclined to pick the top-rated company and have them come as soon as possible, but this could result in higher than necessary costs.
You’re always going to pay a premium for emergency repairs, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shop around. Estimates should be as detailed as possible, which can sometimes be difficult with emergency repairs. For that reason, it’ll be important to accurately describe what’s happening over the phone.
Armed with a few different quotes, you can quickly figure out which one fits your budget. Remember, the cheapest quote isn’t always the one that saves you the most money.
If the repairs aren’t good enough, you may end up having to make more repairs in the future. That is unless they offer service warranties.
Ask About Warranties
Another important thing you need to inquire about is warranties. With a heating system, warranties should come in two forms: service warranties and manufacturer warranties.
Service warranties guarantee that the repairs you pay for will work, otherwise the company will come back and do them again at no cost. You should never have to pay extra because the HVAC contractor didn’t do their job.
Manufacturer warranties cover the parts that the technician uses. If, after a few months, the problems arise again and it’s due to faulty parts, the manufacturer will be on the hook for the cost.
In-Home Evaluations
Once the emergency repairs are complete, a good HVAC technician will perform an in-home evaluation to give you a sense of how well your HVAC system is functioning. If they do a heating check and everything looks great, you can rest easy knowing your emergency was a one-time thing.
An in-home evaluation may get to the root of deeper problems, however. If you’ve got an older furnace, the technician may recommend a more energy-efficient furnace option, which will save you money in the long run.
Get the Best Emergency Furnace Repair Services in Madisonville
HVAC problems often arise at the worst possible time, but if you use this guide, you’ll find high-quality emergency furnace repair. For those in Madisonville, Fulcrum Mechanical is your best option for getting your furnace up and running again.
We’re a family-owned and operated HVAC company with experience in a wide range of HVAC services, including 24/7 emergency repairs. To get your furnace issue dealt with right away, contact our team.
