12 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an HVAC Company in Las Vegas

When it is 110 outside, most people hire the first company that picks up. You will do better by asking the same twelve questions of two companies and comparing the answers. It takes ten minutes and routinely saves hundreds of dollars.

1. Are you licensed with the Nevada State Contractors Board? The answer is yes, with a license number you can look up on the Board's site. Nevada requires the number in all advertising, so a company that will not give it is a company to skip.
2. Are your technicians EPA certified to handle refrigerant? Federal law requires it for anyone working with refrigerant. Yes is the only acceptable answer.
3. What is the diagnostic fee, and is it applied to the repair? $75 to $150 is normal in Las Vegas. Applied to the repair is the answer you want.
4. Do you charge flat rates or by the hour? Flat rate, quoted in writing before work starts.
5. What is your arrival window, and do you text when the technician is on the way? A real window and a heads-up.
6. Do you offer same-day service in summer, and what does after-hours cost? Honest companies tell you when they cannot, and tell you the emergency rate up front.
7. Will you show me the failed part and explain why it failed? Yes. Walk away from anyone who will not.
8. What warranty do you give on parts and labor? At least one year on labor; manufacturer warranty on parts, with the company filing the claim.
9. If you recommend replacement, will you give me a repair price too? Both prices, same visit, so you can decide.
10. Which brands do you install, and why? A clear answer with more than one brand. Be wary of a company that only pushes the brand with the biggest dealer bonus.
11. Do you pull the permit for a replacement, and is the permit in the quote? Yes and yes. Unpermitted replacements cost more at resale.
12. Do you offer a maintenance plan, and what exactly is in it? Two visits a year, a written checklist, and priority scheduling in the summer rush.

Red flags

• No license number, or a number that does not match the company name on the Board's site.
• A refrigerant "top-off" with no leak search.
• Pressure to replace the whole system on a first visit for a part-level problem.
• A price that changes once the technician is on the roof.
• Cash-only or a demand for full payment before the work.

Once you have two sets of answers side by side, the choice is usually easy.