Air conditioner contractors and professionals

For maximum energy efficiency and lower cooling bills, choose a good maintenance AC company. Proper air conditioner installation and maintenance is extremely important.

Certified professionals and contractors

When selecting a contractor and their maintenance services, prefer qualified ones. In USA consider members of organizations like SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association) or ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America).

Technicians should also be certified by organizations like North American Technician Excellence (NATE).You will find extensive listings of certified technicians at NATE and ACCA.

In Europe consider the AREA and its several national members: see AREA national members.

In Australia consider the AMCA and its associates.

Professional AC maintenance

Professional AC maintenance involves areas like coils and blower cleaning. But also areas like the AC airflow, refrigerant charging, duct sealing, etc.

See, on these issues:

AC failures and improper operation
AC filters
Refrigerant charge
Outdoor Coils Cleaning
Indoor Coils Cleaning
Blower Cleaning
Room air conditioner maintenance

Be skeptical

When selecting a contractor, be skeptical of very low prices; AC contractors offering very low prices may be trying to promote outdated equipment or not including key services and common warranties; and, in the case of commissioning services, they are probably omitting important tasks, warranties, inspections…

Be also skeptical of companies offering estimates over the phone without checking and inspecting the job to be done. Or of companies that do not advice high-rated AC: some companies do not keep their employees current with the technology advances and tend to discourage their clients to buy new and more efficient designs.

Tests and auditing

A good contractor or professional technician will ask you about the cooling problems you have, and will be capable of offering explanations and solutions.

Good contractors will determine your cooling-load needs, will audit your situation and the cooling energy bills associated with the equipment they are proposing.

Be also aware about the size issue: traditional contractors tend to oversize the AC systems they install, causing higher operative costs and low AC performance.

See: Sizing Air Conditioning

Proposals and costs

Consider different proposals, but when selecting a contractor or a professional AC technician, the lowest price criteria shouldn't be decisive. Initial low-cost solutions may involve large costs in the long run. Non-efficient AC units, improper sizing or faulty installation will cost you much more than the possible initial extra-investment.

Similarly, low-cost maintenance services may be very illusive: if the professional you hire doesn’t fix problems like inadequate airflow, or leaky AC ducts, or inadequate refrigerant charge, your cooling bills will be significantly higher.