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To
secure a city license, the contractor must have passed his city licensing
exam. In addition to testing prospective contractors for knowledge regarding
the design, function, maintenance, and repair of cooling and heating
systems, the exam also tests their knowledge of the city mechanical codes.
The mechanical codes were written to protect building owners from the use of
substandard materials or shortcuts which could make the building unsafe.
Compliance with the mechanical code reduces the risk of your heating and
cooling system malfunctioning in such a way as could cause damage to the
building or injury to its occupants.
Eastside Heating and A/C
has been licensed by all cities and counties in Denver Metro area.
Licensed contractors are required by the state
to carry insurance for their company. If your property suffers damage due to
an error made by the contractor or one of his employees, the insurance will
pay for the replacement or repair of the damaged property.
Don't Confuse EPA Certification with City Licensing
Finally, be aware that many
individuals will imply that they are licensed to work on air
conditioners because they possess Environmental Protection Agency
certification allowing them to purchase refrigerants such as Freon. An EPA
certificate, while important, is a far cry from a city license. To obtain
an EPA certificate, an individual must own and know how to use a recovery
unit. The recovery unit captures the refrigerant which is released when a
technician is working on an air conditioner or heat pump. This process
reduces the damage caused to the ozone by refrigerants. An individual may
become EPA certified and be allowed to purchase refrigerant for the purpose
of servicing his own home, his place of business, or his automobiles.
However, the possession of an EPA certificate does not qualify him to work
for pay on others' residential or commerical cooling and heating systems.
Eastside Heating and A/C
possesses a Universal EPA Certificate, the highest level of certification
granted by the EPA. Also, all our technicians are licensed by the EPA.
Beware of Companies which Pay Sales
Commissions
Given the high profit margin of replacing (as
opposed to repairing) old systems, many air conditioning and heating
companies pay their technicians a commission for selling new units to
customers. While it is sometimes a good idea to purchase a new (more
efficient) unit as opposed to patching up an old system, sales commissions
encourage technicians to recommend a unit replacement before it is
necessary.
Eastside Heating and A/C
does not pay sales commissions and we do not pressure our clients to replace
units before their time. Rather, we advise our customers of the pros and
cons of replacing (versus repairing) an aging unit and allow them to make an
informed decision.
Have a contractor do an ACCA Manual J Load
calculation.
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