Many times potential clients ask us “What brands of equipment do you install?” We love when this happens because it opens the door to a very worthwhile conversation centered around “What’s more important – the brand of equipment you buy or the contractor who installs it?”
Most major manufacturers make decent equipment. But we’ve seen some of the most well-known brands of equipment installed by unqualified contractors in such a way that they will never work properly or provide the comfort and energy efficiency that they were intended to.
Perhaps Consumer Reports magazine offers some of the clearest opinion on the issue of what’s more important - What you buy or Who you buy it from? (Bold emphasis by me!)
The degree of similarity between manufacturer’s offerings is one reason that this report does not include a Ratings of furnaces by brand. The most important steps to selecting a furnace, we think, are to ensure that the unit’s specifications fit your needs, that it is bought from a contractor who installs it well, and that it’s adequately maintained. Our survey results help confirm the view: When we asked about the most common reasons for service calls for furnaces, about twice as many contractors cited human error—inadequate maintenance, for example, or improper installation—as cited defective equipment. - October, 1998.
In the end, it’s the contractor who will make the biggest difference in how well the furnace replacement goes. – October 1998.
Finding a trustworthy contractor to install and service an air-conditioning system matters the most. – May 2001.
We’ve chosen to sell Carrier and became a Carrier Factory-Authorized Dealer for several reasons. The obvious one is the broad brand recognition that the Carrier name offers. But more important to us is the service and support that we receive from our local Carrier distributor. If they weren’t providing great service and support it wouldn’t make sense to do business with them regardless of what brand they offered. We think the same is true for you in selecting an HVAC contractor to work in your home or business.
What do you think?
Regards,
Bobby Ring President Meyer & Depew Co.
Mr Ring ,
All of the contractors say they are the best, and give great service. But you don’t really know until after they do the job, and then it may be too late.
I used Sears to put a new fence in my back yard , even though they were
one of the most expensive bids, because they said they were guaranteeing
the job or my money back.
Before I replace my boiler ( the oil guy just said I should ), what is the number thing I should check for when I’m dealing with the contractors?
I live in Freehold, NJ
BWH
Dear BWH:
A lot of people get stuck in trying to figure out who to do business with. Lacking any other way of qualifying the contractors that have provided them with proposals, they resort to the one and only thing that they understand – who has the lowest price!
We’re all familiar with the saying – “You get what you pay for”. This is true in HVAC, too.
In my opinion, the number one thing you need to consider in deciding who should replace your boiler is simply who did you feel the most comfortable with in the proposal processs? Who did the best job of addressing your concerns and left you with a feeling of confidence that if you awarded the job to them they would complete it professionally, promptly and with the least inconvenience to you and your family?
You may be tempted to “go with the lowest price”. There is usually good reason why a wide swing exists between the highest and lowest priced contractors.
Some things to consider in evaluating a “low ball” price…
1. Are they licensed as a Home Improvement Contractor by the State of New Jersey and have they shown you a copy of their license? Is it current? Meyer & Depew Co. is registered as a Home Improvement Contractor with the State of New Jersey- Registration No. 13VH01053500.
2. Are they insured for liability and worker’s compensation and have they shown or given you a Certificate of Insurance as evidence that their coverages are current? Meyer & Depew Co. is fully insured for liability and worker’s compensation and carries a $5 million umbrella liability policy.
3. Are they applying for the required permits with your local building department so that their work is inspected to confirm compliance with appropriate codes? We ALWAYS take out permits. Its’ the law and it protect us and our clients. Contractors who don’t want to take out permtis generally are avoiding having their work inspected because they know it won’t pass inspection.
4. Are their technicians certified by NATE (North American Technician Excellence)? This is a sign that the company is quallity-minded and realizes that it cost less to do it right the first time than to have to repeatedly return until they get it right. Meyer & Depew Co. employs more NATE-certified technicians that any other NATE Quality Circle Contractor within a 50 mile radius of our office. NATE Quality Circle Contractors have a minimum of 80% of thier technicians NATE-certified.
5. Does the company have a dedicated service department and offer maintenance plans and 24/7 service? Meyer & Depew Co. has a dedicated service department with technicians on call nights, weekends and holidays. We offer several levels of service agreements designed to meet the needs of your equipment as well as your budget.
As you can see, it could cost a contractor who doesn’t do all of these things a lot less money to operate his or her business and they’re passing the “savings” on to you.
You’ll always do better with the guy that makes you feel most comfortable.
I hope I helped you understand what to look for and I hope you’ll consider accepting a proposal from Meyer & Depew Co. We service Freehold and all of Monmouth County and would be happy to help you.
Regards,
Bobby Ring
President
Meyer & Depew Co., Inc.