Choosing who’s going to be working on your commercial building’s HVAC system is an important decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s important to seek out a long-term partner that has your building’s best interests in mind and that has the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to provide top-of-the-line service.

Here are 4 specific items you should consider before deciding who your new commercial HVAC service provider should be:

What is their focus?

Does the prospective service provider handle both commercial and residential work? And if so, where do they focus most of their time and effort?

While it may be possible for one company to do an adequate job on both residential and commercial HVAC systems, the skill sets required for each are very unique. The differences between the two types of service are dramatic and a company that does both - especially if it’s too small to have teams of technicians wholly dedicated to one or the other - is likely not capable of providing the same high level of knowledge, experience, and quality that a commercially-focused HVAC service provider can.

What is their reputation?

Take time to research the experience and track record of any company you’re considering to work on your commercial HVAC system. This includes researching online for customer feedback, doing your due diligence to confirm any claims the company makes regarding their qualifications, training, certifications, and other 3rd party endorsements, and talking to current and previous customers to get a feel for how the company operates and the level of service they provide.

Are they recommending what’s best for you?

Once you begin requesting quotes, compare the recommendations made by the 2 or 3 providers you’re considering to determine trends or differences in their recommendations.

While it may be tempting to assume that the cheapest estimate automatically offers the best combination of products and services for you, it goes beyond pricing. For example, spending significantly less at the start of an installation project could require spending a lot more down the road, whether due to poor installation or low-quality equipment, both of which can end up requiring repairs and/or replacement far sooner than a higher quality installation would have required.

In many cases, the best way to determine which provider has your best interests in mind is to ask for a comparison of the proposed project’s return on investment. Your best bet as a building owner or facility manager is often to work with the provider who can prove the best return on the investment they’re proposing you make.  

Do you get along?

This may seem a strange consideration, but how you and your team get along with the provider’s representatives and technicians will have a bearing on how enjoyable and productive the relationship will be going forward. Remember, you’re looking for a HVAC service provider with whom you can trust and form a long-term partnership.

The next time you’re looking to hire a commercial HVAC service provider in Colorado, Arizona or Virginia, we encourage you to learn more about us at Tolin Mechanical Services. We’re proud to say our experienced team of energy engineers and HVAC technicians meet all of these important requirements and more. Find out how we can help you with your building’s requirements.