Before anyone starts
Licenses, Insurance and Certifications
In this trade, HVAC technicians hold EPA certification, many also hold NATE certification, and the contractor should carry general liability and workers' compensation insurance.
Technicians who work on air conditioners are EPA certified, because handling refrigerant, the stuff most people call Freon, in stationary air conditioning takes technician certification under the Clean Air Act. The rule is published by the U.S. EPA.
"NATE" certification goes a step further: a NATE-certified technician has to meet standards for licensing, expertise and training. And the insurance matters to you directly, since an injury or damage on your property during a job should be the contractor's to cover, not yours. Ask about all three before anyone opens a panel.
