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What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring an HVAC Contractor in Santa Ana?

The efficiency of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and equipment significantly impacts your home's comfort and livability; this also holds for offices, workspaces, and other commercial properties. Hiring qualified and professional Santa Ana HVAC contractors who adhere to the provisions of the locally adopted California Mechanical Code and other relevant HVAC-related standards is crucial in guaranteeing that your HVAC systems and equipment are installed, serviced, or repaired correctly for maximum efficiency and durability. Other benefits of hiring these professionals include peace of mind in knowing that your HVAC equipment will operate safely and also reduced energy bills.

Therefore, always call a professional HVAC contractor to perform any work that involves heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment in Santa Ana. The following are some examples of jobs they can handle:

• Central AC installation, servicing, and repair
• Air duct cleaning and repair
• Furnace/Fireplace installation, tune-ups, and repair
• HVAC unit air filter replacements
• Upgrading HVAC systems and equipment to energy-efficient models

Are You Licensed as an HVAC Contractor in Santa Ana?

All heating, ventilation, or air conditioning work in Santa Ana that costs $500 or more, including labor and materials, must be done by contractors appropriately licensed by the California Contractors State Licensing Board (CSLB). The Board currently offers two HVAC contractor licensing options:

• A C-20 license: Authorizes the contractor to fabricate, install, maintain, service, and repair warm-air heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, including those that use solar energy.
• A C-38 license: Authorizes the contractor to construct, fabricate, erect, install, maintain, service, and repair AC units, refrigerators, refrigerated rooms, and other similar systems and equipment used for controlling air, liquid, or gas temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Celsius.

Requirements for obtaining these licenses include the following:

• A minimum of four years of acceptable and verifiable HVAC-related work experience
• A chlorofluorocarbon certification. Per federal law, the HVAC contractor must obtain this certification from an EPA-approved organization.
• A passing score on the CSLB's licensing examination
• A clear criminal background check

CSLB licensing indicates that an HVAC contractor is skilled and experienced enough to provide the services you need. So, we recommend that you always hire licensed contractors for your projects, even if the total value of your planned work is less than $500. Be aware that HVAC contractors that provide services worth $500 or more in Santa Ana without being licensed by the CSLB are considered guilty of a misdemeanor and face penalties of up to six months in jail and $15,000 in fines.

You can use the CSLB's Check a License tool to verify your prospective HVAC contractor's license status. Always do this before signing any contract.

What Rates Do You Charge for Your HVAC Services in Santa Ana?

While the cost of HVAC services in Santa Ana ranges typically from $250 to $16,000, the exact amount of money you will pay for your project will depend on the nature and scope of the work to be done and additional factors like the following:

• The types of HVAC appliances and equipment involved
• The complexity, urgency, and labor intensity of the project
• Your building's layout
• Permit costs and miscellaneous expenses like equipment enhancing components and post-project renovations

Requesting cost estimates from several HVAC contractors and comparing their quotes is an excellent way to accurately assess your project's expected cost and avoid being deceived by a dishonest contractor overcharging for their services.

Will My HVAC Project Require a Permit in Santa Ana?

You will need to pull a mechanical permit from the Santa Ana Building Safety Division before commencing any work that involves erecting, installing, enlarging, altering, repairing, removing, converting, or replacing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in Santa Ana. Only property owners, their authorized agents, and appropriately licensed contractors can pull these permits. In addition, depending on the project's scope, permit applicants may need to submit construction plans and relevant documentation for review before being issued the requested permits.

Contact the Santa Ana Building Safety Division at (714) 647-5800 or online for more information on the requirements and procedure for pulling mechanical permits for HVAC projects.

What Type of HVAC Services Do You Offer in Santa Ana?

Santa Ana's HVAC contractors offer heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services. These services include, but are not limited to, the following:

Note that you may have to pay a minimum service fee of $55 to $250 and separate hourly labor fees of $100 to $150.

Will You Be Doing the Work, or Do You Outsource the HVAC Work in Santa Ana?

When planning your HVAC project, you should always find out whether your job will be outsourced to a third party. Although professional Santa Ana HVAC contractors are generally skilled and competent enough to handle projects independently, they usually hire subcontractors to assist with large-scale projects with fixed deadlines.

If you agree with having parts of your work outsourced to subcontractors, we recommend taking the following actions:

• Confirm that each subcontractor is appropriately licensed, insured, and well-experienced for the task they will be assigned.
• Get lien waivers that protect you from being held responsible if your HVAC contractor fails to pay the subcontractors on time or reneges on their agreed-upon rates.

Taking these steps before the project begins will help prevent future issues with the subcontractors and ensure that the project is executed without a hitch.

Are You a Fully Insured and Bonded Santa Ana HVAC Contractor?

HVAC contractors who wish to ply their trade in Santa Ana must post and maintain a $25,000 surety bond and carry workers' compensation insurance for their employees, if any. In addition, these contractors must let homeowners know whether or not they carry general liability insurance before starting any work on their property. This general liability insurance is not mandatory; however, it is highly recommended that your prospective contractor carries it.

So, always confirm that your prospective HVAC contractor is adequately insured and bonded before committing to them, and ensure that their liability insurance coverage will be sufficient for the scope of your project.

You can direct questions concerning Santa Ana HVAC contractors' bond and insurance requirements to the California Contractors State License Board at (800) 321-2752.

Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your HVAC Work in Santa Ana?

Reliable and competent HVAC contractors always offer warranties that cover their services, and you should only hire contractors that are willing to do this. These types of warranties typically cover the HVAC contractor's workmanship for one to two years and the materials used for about five to ten years. Be aware that these validity periods and the warranty's scope of coverage largely depend on the HVAC contractor and the types of materials involved in the project.

Thus, before hiring any HVAC contractors in Santa Ana, always confirm that they warranty their services and request a written copy of any warranty you are offered.