HVAC is an abbreviation for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, and refers to the climate control systems installed in homes or commercial properties. Their task is to move heated or cooled filtered air throughout the building, to keep inhabitants of the structure comfortable. Literally, every structure in Columbus or Franklin County, Ohio or the United States has some sort of climate control system installed.
An HVAC contractor, therefore, is a business whose service technicians are tasked with installing, maintaining, and repairing those systems. In the state of Ohio, a professional license is required for a company to perform these services.
You would call on this type of professional expertise if your home or business has an air conditioner, heat pump or furnace that needs emergency repair, replacement, or routine maintenance.
What Can You Expect When You Hire an HVAC Contractor?
When you start your search for an HVAC contractor in Columbus and surrounding suburbs, you probably know that not every HVAC contractor has the same focus, skillset, or experience. Two local HVAC companies may offer two distinctly different set of services, so it’s a good idea to research HVAC contractors and review their websites, reviews and history before you call for service. By getting to know more about an HVAC service provider before you call, you’ll know whether they are the best company to handle the service or issue you need them for.
HVAC contractors are generally trained in all three areas of HVAC, namely heating, air conditioning, and ventilation. Some individual technicians choose to narrow their focus on one or several of these three categories. You might also find in your research that a company specializes in residential HVAC, while another services mostly businesses as a commercial HVAC contractor.
Different HVAC contractors might vary their service offering a little differently from other companies. A professional, trained and certified HVAC technician should be able to assist with three primary areas: maintenance, repair and installation. If you need to replace the furnace in your home, you would definitely hire an HVAC professional to help you disconnect the old furnace and install the new one properly. You might also call an HVAC contractor to perform routine maintenance on your system, or to repair broken or malfunctioning heating or cooling systems.
The Three Major Types of Services Offered by HVAC Contractors
Most HVAC contractors have specialists who handle each of these three types of services. Routine maintenance is usually the entry point of most new HVAC technicians; furnace or AC repair usually requires more experience and training to properly diagnose issues; and furnace or air conditioner installation requires the greatest experience and variety of skills.
In addition to these specific services, many HVAC contractors also consult on other ways to save on energy bills. They may be able to offer pointers on subjects like replacing or sealing drafty doors and windows, improving your home’s insulation, or even installing insulation around the air ducts in your home.
HVAC contractors may also consult on improving the air quality in your home. Many devices that can improve your home’s environment, like whole-house humidifiers or dehumidifiers, whole-house electronic air cleaners, germicidal light system installation, and thermostat installation repair or replacement are included in the service offering of HVAC contractors.
In addition to these very mechanical services, HVAC companies (including us) offer duct cleaning services to allow you to maintain a high level of air quality in your home or business.
Some HVAC contractors may specialize in very specific type of equipment, like boilers and water-based heating systems, which requires a totally different skillset and training than force-air systems. Solar-based home heating systems are also a very specialized niche for which you’ll have to find a specialist.
What Specific Work Do HVAC Technicians Perform?
As we have discussed, HVAC contractors cover a wide swath of mechanical, electrical, carbon-fuel and water-based systems. But what do they do on a regular basis?
- MAINTENANCE Inspection and maintenance services focus on things like checking pipes and tube joints for leakage, testing thermostats, checking and refilling refrigerant levels, testing electric circuits, inspecting fans and motors, cleaning air ducts, troubleshooting various components for optimal efficiency or faults, or changing HVAC air filters.
- REPAIRS The next step up from maintenance is the actual repair work necessary when problems are discovered. This portion of the job requires installing/repairing/replacing specific faulty parts on a heating or cooling system to get the heat or air conditioning running again. This is where a majority of attention is focused in the average HVAC contractor, as repairs are often on an emergency basis, particularly in the cold of winter or extreme heat of summer.
- INSTALLATION Tasks included in an HVAC system installation may include surveying/inspecting the current system and set up, taking measurements to ensure a new system is the proper size and capacity for the home; carefully de-installing the existing system, being careful to minimize the disturbance of comfort for the occupants of the home or office; connecting the new units, which can involve installing ductwork, wiring, tubing, pipes, or electrical supply lines; and a final check after installation to ensure the job is completed and the system is safe and ready for the homeowners to use.
The job of an HVAC technician is fairly complicated and can vary significantly from one home or office to the next. Every maintenance job and repair is different from the last. Every maintenance job may require totally different steps and processes than the previous, depending on the age and condition of the system being checked. Installations can also vary considerably, depending on the age of the structure and how well the existing system was installed. In some cases, completely new ductwork may need to be installed in a structure that had none before.
Experienced, licensed, trained and certified HVAC contractors have all the skills necessary to review the job that needs to be done and to perform each step required to complete a job successfully. The end goal, obviously, is to get the system running as quickly and smoothly as possible and restore environmental comfort to the occupants of the home or office.
When Should You Call an Experienced HVAC Contractor
If you are having to deal with an air conditioner or heating system that isn’t turning on, or if you feel like you need to replace an existing system with a new one, it’s time to call an HVAC professional.
Some of the signs that your HVAC system may require a repair or possibly replaced include inconsistent temperatures throughout the building; strange, unfamiliar noises coming from the furnace or AC; and suddenly high utility bills (like gas or electric).
If the system isn’t turning on or providing the heat or cooling that you need, you should definitely give an HVAC company a call.
Who is Central Ohio’s Highest-Rated HVAC Contractor?
Knowing when to call is important, but knowing WHO to call when you need the best is also extremely important. Dor-Mar has been serving Central Ohio since 1962, including Zanesville, Newark, and Columbus and all of the surrounding suburbs. We have worked hard to service our customers, and our online reviews show it.
As an experienced HVAC professional, we recommend you have your systems checked and routine maintenance performed twice per year, once in the Spring (before cooling season) and once in the Fall (before heating season). It goes without saying the safety and comfort of your family or office staff are important factors. Keeping what is probably the most expensive and important system in your home (heating and cooling) properly maintained will help keep your biggest investment of your life in good shape.
How HVAC Contractor Dor-Mar Can Help
Our team offers a wide array of routine maintenance and emergency services for your heating and cooling system, allowing your family to breathe fresh, safe, clean air and be comfortable year-round. We also offer a number of add-ons to your HVAC equipment that can improve your home’s IAQ, such as electrostatic air filters, whole-house humidifiers, duct cleaning, and more.