Eight questions to ask every hvac pro
Run this list with every contractor before you sign. Most legitimate pros will answer in under five minutes and appreciate that you're doing your homework — a pro who pushes back on these questions is telling you something important about how they do business.
- What is your state HVAC license number, and is it active?
- Do you carry general liability insurance and workers' comp?
- Will you perform a Manual J load calculation before sizing equipment?
- Are you certified to handle the refrigerant in my current and proposed system?
- What is your warranty on labor, and what is the manufacturer parts warranty?
- Will you pull the necessary permits and arrange inspection?
- Are you familiar with the current federal IRA and state rebates for heat pumps?
- What is your dispatch fee, and is it credited toward the repair?
Red flags to walk away from
If any of the following come up during a quote, stop the conversation and call a different hvac pro. The cost of restarting the process is almost always less than the cost of fixing a botched or unpermitted job after the fact.
- ⚠ A replacement quote with no Manual J calculation — almost always undersized or oversized.
- ⚠ A pro who will not show EPA 608 refrigerant certification.
- ⚠ "You need a new system" with no diagnosis of the underlying repair.
- ⚠ No written quote, no model numbers, no AHRI certificate for the matched system.
- ⚠ Refusal to coordinate available rebates and tax credits in writing.
The 60-second license check
Every U.S. state lets you verify a contractor license online for free — usually through the state's contractor licensing board, the secretary of state, or the department of labor. Search "[your state] contractor license lookup" and enter the license number the pro gave you. The lookup will show whether the license is active, what trades it covers, when it expires, and whether there are any open complaints or disciplinary actions. A fresh same-day check the morning of your appointment costs you nothing and catches recent suspensions.
Getting multiple quotes
Contact two or three local hvac pros directly and compare written quotes before you sign anything. For pricing context, see our hvac cost guide; for after-hours work, see our emergency hvac pros guide.